5th Gen 4Runner maintance

Just joined your group. Might be asking a question that has been discussed. I have been seeing post on other pages that the 4runner needs to be in four wheel drive about once a month to lubricate system. Because I'm not close to any off-road trails or even dirt roads, my question is whether it is ok to drive a short distance on pavement on 4 wheel drive to accomplish this lubrication?
Thanks in advance. Hoping this is a forum where one can ask questions without derogatory responses.

 

pavement is ok as long as you dont make any turns.

 

Welcome here man

JETSPD is right
I think I've read on other threads that it is the 5th Gen Limited Full-Time 4WD that can sometimes have issues if not used for months ?

 

I google searched dirt roads and found one not too far from me. But as long as you drive in a straight line that should do the trick.

 

Thanks, I appreciate your input

 

Thank you, since it's my wife's I don't get a lot of seat time to head out to the desert. Just want to avoid any mechanical issues.

 

Thank you, since it's my wife's I don't get a lot of seat time to head out to the desert. Just want to avoid any mechanical issues.

 

Welcome!
A bit of straight line driving on pavement or wet surfaces won't hurt it. After al it was built for a bit of controlled abuse.

 

Straight road is fine.

 

Thank you, I appreciate your response. Just don't want to do anything stupid.

 

Thank you, I appreciate all the responses. Wife loves her 4Runner, so gotta take care of it.

 

I often put it in 4H and drive for around 10 to 15 miles every month or so. I have actually taken turns with it too at controlled speeds.
Don't off-road or hit the dirt track so whatever lubrication that needs to happen has to happen on highways and local roads.

 

What? So wheeling is compulsory with this truck?

 

https://www.4runners.com/threads/exercise-your-4h-4l.23491/

 

Why just straight roads?

 

Because it's a part-time system. Part-time 4wd is not designed to be used on dry pavement. When turning, the wheels travel at different speeds, and there is no mechanism in a part time system to compensate for this. The drivetrain will bind up, and eventually something will give (or break). On low traction surfaces a tire will generally slip and relieve any pressure, but on dry pavement the tires will be much less likely to slip, thus transferring the load to the drivetrain.

If you have any knowledge of full-time 4wd systems with locking center differentials, another way to look at it is that a part-time 4x4 is in effect always locked.

Edit: wide, sweeping turns should be ok, but tight parking lot style turning will definitely cause binding.

 

It should be!

 

This has some info on how the system works. https://aguyagirlandatrail.com/2022/12/07/winter-driving-with-4wd/

 

Aah thanks for the explanation. Very helpful.

 

Another way to find dirt roads, or really any cool stuff, is to remove head from keyboard and go explore

 

So basically if you're stuck in a parking spot in the snow where you have to make turns to get out of said parking spot you are s.o.l because the part time 4wd can break?

 

Where can I find more info on the Limited 4WD, I have not used any other modes on mine as it is Full time 4WD all the time but it seems I should be switching to the other modes once in a while?

 

Yep. If you are driving on snow covered streets and you pull into a paved parking lot that has been cleared of snow - you should switch back to 2WD if you have part time 4WD. Making tight turns on a high traction surface would put the most strain on your drivetrain if in 4Hi or 4Lo. If you have a Limited with full time 4WD - you can drive in H4F (high 4, center diff free) on any kind of surface without issue. If you drive a Limited with full time 4WD on a high traction surface while in H4L or L4L (center diff locked) you will have the same drivetrain binding issues that the part time 4WD 4Runners have. The full time 4WD system is great if you live in a climate where you get a fair amount of snow and have to deal with situations like I described - main roads cleared of snow - but side streets/parking lots still covered with snow - leave it in H4F and don't have to switch in and out of 4WD frequently. Other than that - part time 4WD is great too - easy to go back and forth between 2WD and 4WD. If you tow a lot - there are benefits to the full time 4WD also - more traction with power going to all 4 wheels.

 

The street my house is on is pretty straight. Usually every month/2 months, or so, I will switch into H4L as I am almost home. When I am about a block away I'll stop, put it in neutral and switch into L4L - then drive to my house. I'll stop before turning into my driveway, switch back into H4F, then pull into the driveway. I've only had my Limited for about 7 months - but I drove a part time 4WD Tacoma TRD Sport for almost 13 years before. I did the same thing with the part time 4WD in the Tacoma - and I never had an issue with it going in/out of 4HI/4Lo in the 13 years/145K miles I had the truck.

 

Snow is a low traction surface, so you're good to go.

Also mud, sand, dirt.

 

Step 1: Check https://www.onxmaps.com/
Step 2: Go have an adventure.

 

Use as you need it. The system is not going to detonate because you made one turn.

 

Threads like this really highlight how big of a fail it is that Toyota is refusing to add "auto 4wd" to any of the new models.

 

True, but I discovered that windup can happen in a hurry. I visited a guy out in the country who had a long, steep, rutted gravel driveway and went into 4H for a little bit. I had a mental lapse when I turned around on the concrete pad at the top. The steering was fighting back vigorously by 120 degrees or so when I realized my mistake and shifted back to 2H. It spit some gravel when I got off the pad.