4hi on highway?

So I did about the dumbest thing I’ve ever done yesterday. I accidentally left my 2018 Tundra in 4hi when I left the cabin yesterday and drove 200 miles on the freeway still engaged in 4hi. As I was pulling into a parking spot this morning the truck came to a stop and wouldn’t budge. It was then that I noticed the 4hi light. I turned it off and then I was able to move again. I have driven about a dozen miles since then and it sounds and feels okay.
How screwed am I? Dare I use 4-wheel again? Can I drive for awhile in 2wd until I can schedule it to be checked out?
I heard you can’t engage at speeds over 55. Any chance it disengaged while I was going 80?

FWIW, you sometimes make these bonehead moves after you reach 70.

 

I think that means do not turn it to 4Hi at that speed which is not the same as running it in 4hi at that speed.
I bet it is just fine.

 

The only danger of driving in 4Hi is binding in the corners. If you didn't have any binding then the only thing you did was waste gas. The owners manual recommends driving 10 miles per month in 4WD to keep shit lubricated. You're not going to be doing that anywhere else other than on the interstate. You can drive any speed you want, all that means is the 4WD won't engage or disengage above those speeds.

 

Worry not.. relax and have a cold one.

 

Agree that is fine to drive straight on the Highway in 4H although Toyota says it should be in conditions where the tires can individually slip, but the following quote would really concern me. "As I was pulling into a parking spot this morning the truck came to a stop and wouldn’t budge." Maybe the OP could expound more on this statement.

 

Probably binded up while you were parking (wheels turned hard L/R). You will be fine, drivin many highway km’s on mostly dry highway in 4x4 when there is patchy ice.

 

as I was turning into the spot, it was really hard to turn the steering wheel and the truck slowed down like I was driving on a flat tire. As it came to a stop, I didn’t want to force it so I backed up, turning in the other direction to align myself in the space. When I got out I went right over to see if the tire was low. Only when I came out of the store and started it up again, did I see the 4hi light on.

 

That's binding. Not good, but you're probably fine. I'd drain the front diff, check for shavings. Odds are, you're fine, but I'd do it anyway for peace of mind.

 

"Sir we have intercepted communications of you saying you were driving hi on the highway. Do you want to explain yourself?"

 

Your truck is totally fine. Probably good for it ultimately to get everything in the diff and tcase warmed up and well lubed.

 

I am not close to 70 and have made said bonehead move. Work truck not my tundra but it was just fine.

 

Where do you draw the line between lubricating, and overheating? The fact that he had a hard time turning the wheel to the point the truck didn't want to move leaves me wondering. I agree that it might be a cheap investment to check and possibly change the front Diff oil, but that's just me.

 

Rear diffs don't overheat, why would the front be any different?

Front diffs do bind, which is what he experienced when he turned the wheel. That oil couldn't burn to the point it would become so thick it would stop the truck.

 

Not trying to start an argument here, but I never said that oil burning had anything to do with his hard turning. Rear Diffs are set up completely different from the front since they don't have to turn. Driving 200 miles on the highway at high speed in 4 Hi is something I would think most here would probably discourage. Like I said earlier, just my 2 cents.

 

You've ruined your truck. You should be ashamed. You need to buy a new one and give your old one to me, I will take care of it.

 

I don't recommend it because there's no need, but there's also 0 harm as long as you don't bind it.

 

Pulling into the parking spot all you were feeling was all 4 tires trying to grip the pavement while you were turning sharp.

Running at speed in a fairly straight line on pavement in 4x4 isn't going to hurt a thing.

No damage done here, but have it checked out if that makes you feel better.

A few months ago my 4 year old was helping clean the Armada. She turned the 4x4 dial and I didn't realize it until we backed out of the driveway a few hours later. When I made the sharp turn backing out onto the street I felt the front tires start to bind up on the pavement, same feeling you described and something I've felt many times before in other 4x4 rigs I've had. I stopped and knew exactly what had happened. Flipped it back to AWD and went about my way.

 

Have driven nearly 30 years up here in Alaska and on my 3rd Tundra (after two Tacomas).

Truck goes into 4x4 in November and stays there until April. Have never had any issue, and a very large number of Alaskans / Canadians / etc spend extended periods of time and miles predominantly in 4x4. Your truck is totally fine.

Binding can be a problem, but slight binding that you didn’t force is no issue at all.

 

You need to drive in 4hi on freeway, unless you find some dirt road to engage it

 

Seems I'm outnumbered here, wish the OP luck in whatever he decides to do.

 

I've done dumb shit since I was 15. The max speed is for engaging, not driving if I read the owner's manual right. Sounds like you didn't have a problem until you tried a low speed turn. Normal. If it was me, I'd keep on trucking in 2wd and maybe try 4wd in an appropriate place that you can get out of. If that doesn't feel right, then get it checked.

 

Canadian checking in, my truck is constantly in 4x4 during winter months and it doesn't have any issues after 34,000 kms

 

Thanks all! It’s getting close to 70,000 miles so I think I’ll have the front diff oil changed.

 

@Bappa i have driven many a truck many a time in 4hi for long distances including the city. I’ve even had the front tires hopping and chirping trying to get it into tight parking spots because my front actuator on my first gen went bad…a lot more than I’d like to admit. 400k on it and still no shavings and no problems