How often should a person engage 4 wheel drive in order to keep it in good working order? I ask this because after my last surgery I am not sure if I will ever be able to get up in the mountains and hunt again. But, even if I don’t I will always drive a Jeep. In the past I have tried to engage 4 wheel drive every couple months for a couple 100 feet during the times I can't get up in the mountains. Is that enough. I am sure there are a ton of other drivers who are in the same boat.

 

There is a pretty good chance that you occasionally drive on a dirt road or even an unpaved alley or driveway. Put it into 4WD during those times and you won't have to worry about it.

And if you don't even get on dirt roads, you can drive perfectly straight on a flat paved road in 4wd for short periods at a reasonably slow speed without harming anything.

 

Drive on 4X4 one minute each week, and on 4 LO one minute each month and you will never have problem.

 

wow,thats quite the formula

 

That may work to keep the Jeep running properly but is it enough for the driver?

 

Grizz- the only thing extra you are exercising in 4wd is the transfer case itself. Everything else is always turning- even in 2wd. Since all the internals of the transfer case are splash lubed, shifting into 4hi or low does nothing. The one good thing you are accomplishing is keeping the transfer case linkage freed up....

 

I always try to engage it every once in awhile, when I think about it. I am glad someone brought this up so I know now.

 

Keeping the cable free is the ONLY benefit . All the rest still rotates in 2wd.

 

mine doesnt

 

Your front drive shaft doesn't rotate in 2wd