exercising 4 wheel drive?

A question for you 4wd experts. Picked up my new 4wd SE 2 wks ago. I expect to be using the 4wd only in winter. My salesman told me I should run it in 4wd every now & then, even if it is necessary to run on dry pavement, to get lubrication to components that might go dry if not "exercised". Is this true and if so, how often & how far? Is there something on this in the manual?
Thanks for the help.

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Yeah, it's a good idea to give the system a few minutes' use each month. I've heard people mention hearing about front diffs that were half rusted because they had never been used since the vehicle was purchased. Half the diff sat in the oil, half didn't...

Also helps keep the seals from drying out.

Brent

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in my opinion you should atleast put it in 4wd once a month and drive it about 15 feet in order to keep the gears lubed up and moving.

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Silver Ice Xterra Xe
4x4 auto 3pk

Since you've gotta put it into 4wd every now and then to "exercise" it, why not exercise it properly? Trails are fun. Just a thought.

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2000 Black SE 4x4, 5spd
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"not all those who wander are lost"
-J.R.R. Tolkien

I'm with you there. Nobody needs to tell me to put in in 4-wheel drive. It's a struggle for my wife to keep me out of 4-wheel drive on the weekends.

Get out and have some fun!



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Join the Xterra Offroad Webring

2000 Aztec Red 4x4 V-6 XE-3Pak
www.xterra4x4.com

I wouldn't drive it on dry pavement in 4WD. Atleast find a gravel road or do it when it rains, IMO. Of course others mentioned the best way, which is to drive offroad. If you absolutely must drive it on a dry road, I think keeping the hubs engaged but putting the transfer case into 2WD would give the necessary lubrication without binding up the driveline, but I'm not sure. In other words, shift into 4WD just long enough to lock the hubs and then put it back into 2WD but don't back up and unlock the hubs for awhile.



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ChuckH
2000 SE 4x4, Aztec Red

Chuck,

Yes, that would suffice.

Brent

Luckily with the snow and our monthly Xcursion, it's worked out that I've put it on 4wd once a month- I'm glad, because I didn't know that. Thanks guys!

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XROCK
www.hxoc.net
Super Black Xterra-
The Peoples Champion

I'm wondering why would you buy a 4X4 if you don't intend to use it. Why not take it out every once in awhile and have some fun.

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-John
**Gold Rush**
'01 Xterra 4X4 XE 3-Pack

Storm,
I bought 4wd because last Dec. & Jan. I was stuck at home for 4 and 5 days at a time when it snowed. It took that long for the village to clean the snow from my street. But unless it is necessary to "exercise" the 4wd occasionally, I probably won't use it except in the winter.

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