4wd usage

[Skywagon]

2025 Z71 Tahoe 5.3 4WD. Do you ever exercise the 4WD even if you don't need to use it? Is that a good thing to do occasionally?

 

[ReaperHWK]

2025 Z71 Tahoe 5.3 4WD. Do you ever exercise the 4WD even if you don't need to use it? Is that a good thing to do occasionally?

Yes. It’s good to move the gears and shafts in the front transaxle and transfer case. Once in awhile I’ll throw it on 4wd high when cruising around 30mph on a straight road for a mile.

 

[BacDoc]

Yes. It’s good to move the gears and shafts in the front transaxle and transfer case. Once in awhile I’ll throw it on 4wd high when cruising around 30mph on a straight road for a mile.

I agree, mechanical stuff doesn’t do well sitting for long periods of time.
I would engage 4WD occasionally just to get the stuff moving. Just for short distances if you are not going offroad.

I just have RWD but if I had 4WD I would definitely take it off road every couple months just to see how it handles and enjoy the experience.

 

[Marky Dissod]

2025 Z71 Tahoe 5.3L 4WD. Do you ever exercise the 4WD, even if you don't need to use it? Is that a good thing to do occasionally?

Very generally speaking, in less-than-good weather, or whenever tires have less-than-good grip (soft- or off-road, for example), use 4WD.
This winter I've used 4WD to get into and out of parallel parking spaces that too much packed snow made inaccessible to 2WD,
but apart from that I usually use either 2WD or the part-time 4WD setting if the weather allows it.

When using 4WD, do your very best to avoid tight@$$ turns unless the road surface allows for some slip - mud/sand/snow etc.
If you remember that it's effectively a 'locked axle' of sorts, you'll get why tight turns should be avoided on grippy surfaces.
(In theory, you could drive in a straight line in 4WD-Hi - maybe even make very gentle lane changes? - and everything'd be fine.)

 

[ReaperHWK]

Very generally speaking, in less-than-good weather, or whenever tires have less-than-good grip (soft- or off-road, for example), use 4WD.
This winter I've used 4WD to get into and out of parallel parking spaces that too much packed snow made inaccessible to 2WD,
but apart from that I usually use either 2WD or the part-time 4WD setting if the weather allows it.

When using 4WD, do your very best to avoid tight@$$ turns unless the road surface allows for some slip - mud/sand/snow etc.
If you remember that it's effectively a 'locked axle' of sorts, you'll get why tight turns should be avoided on grippy surfaces.
(In theory, you could drive in a straight line in 4WD-Hi - maybe even make very gentle lane changes? - and everything'd be fine.)

The new trucks are really auto 4wd and let the fronts and rear spin freely and provide power to wheels only if others are slipping . You can technically use it on dry roads in auto mode.

 

[Fless]

Consult your Owner's Manual for proper operation.

 

[ReaperHWK]

Consult your Owner's Manual for proper operation.

View attachment 479539

That’s it.

I use auto mode occasionally to get stuff moving and 4wd high only if driving straight at speeds below 50 to get the gears moving.

 

[Marky Dissod]

The new trucks are really auto 4wd and let the fronts and rear spin freely and provide power to wheels only if others are slipping.
You can technically use it on dry roads in auto mode.

I suppose you CAN, but I'd only do this if it's at least raining, unless what's under my tires 'lets' me use 4WD,
'cause when it goes 4WD, it's not AWD, it's 4WD, until it goes back to RWD.

But that's me.

 

[RoadTrip]

I run mine in 4WD even at highway speeds when the road is wet, snowy or icy. I have noticed at those speeds the steering pull is much more neutral and I enjoy that reduced steering effort for less arm and shoulder fatigue.

 

[blanchard7684]

2025 Z71 Tahoe 5.3 4WD. Do you ever exercise the 4WD even if you don't need to use it? Is that a good thing to do occasionally?

yes absolutely.

 

[swathdiver]

2025 Z71 Tahoe 5.3 4WD. Do you ever exercise the 4WD even if you don't need to use it? Is that a good thing to do occasionally?

Absolutely, use it or lose it!

There are countless posts on this and other forums of folks with 4x4 engagement problems usually right around the first snow because they did not use or maintain their 4wd system.

I run mine through all their phases, even if only a couple hundreds yards about once a month. That includes putting the 2-speed transfer case into low and neutral.

 

[Skywagon]

Thanks for input. The last 4wd vehicle I owned was a couple of decades back so wasn't sure of todays thinking. I live near the beach with some moderate to deep sand. I'll do some driving in 4wd there.

 

[swathdiver]

Thanks for input. The last 4wd vehicle I owned was a couple of decades back so wasn't sure of todays thinking. I live near the beach with some moderate to deep sand. I'll do some driving in 4wd there.

Just got back from dropping dinner off to our kids out in the country. Got to run the truck in 4WD for a couple of miles on the way home. Nice ride with my wife and we got to see some deer grazing along the roads.