2013 Ford F250 4X4 Problem

[Xiph0id]

So in July of 2013 I bought my F250.
Love the truck, works great with the camper.

Fast forward to Sunday....

Driving home to Leduc on hwy 2 south.
Road is very icy, so I decided to put truck in 4WD high.
I have Auto/manual locking hubs with ESOF 4X4.

I put it in 4WD doing about 90-100 as I have many many times before.
The sound is like a high speed grinding. I put back into 2WD and try again, same result. The grinding only happens for a few seconds then goes away.

So I decided to leave it in 4WD, grinding has stopped.....

Then I slow down and start to merge into the 2A south lane, then....

BAMM, Long clunk.

Fast forward to this week, doesnt make the high speed grinding when shifting only sometimes a couple of small clunks. But not always makes clunking under load/acceleration whether the hubs are locked or on auto.

Makes no noise whats so ever in 2WD.

Decided to bring the trunk in for warranty.
Drop it off this morning.
Guys calls me at noon tells me good/bad news.

Good news - Tells me it's covered under warranty even though.....
Bad news - Transfer case is pilled up and teeth are everywhere
Will take a week to get parts and fix.

I asked him how this happened.
He tells me it is because I shifted into 4WD while doing highway speeds.
I inform him that the owners does not state anything about speed when shifting into 4WD.
He tells me that "I shouldn't really shift into 4WD about 50"

WTF? Shouldn't????

All of a sudden I'm supposed to know his Ford procedures?

What got me is that he told me it was covered under warranty even though I shifted into 4WD doing highway speeds. Wierd.....


So my questions.
Would prefer facts and not rules of thumb, recommendations or lucky rabbits feet.

1. Does any of your 4WD trucks have a speed to shift on fly into 4WD limit?
2. Do you shift on the fly into 4WD on the highway?

[Junglefisher]

I never go into 4H at anything over about 30kmh.
But my truck (Dodge) doesn't seem to say not to, I'm just old school.
Definately never transfer if your wheels are spinning.

[DUKE-1]

yozers dude 100km /hr in 4x4?/ i keep it under 60 kms/hr. and that i feel is pushing it. i wil put in 4x4 under that speed first though. . at least its under warrenty and all good .

[Xiph0id]

Originally Posted by DUKE-1

yozers dude 100km /hr in 4x4?/ i keep it under 60 kms/hr. and that i feel is pushing it. i wil put in 4x4 under that speed first though. . at least its under warrenty and all good .

Why is it pushing it?

[bucktaker]

Dont feel to bad my 2013 gmc 2500hd did the same thing but I was stuck in tractor rut...and yes when the dodge showed up it got stuck too

[pseelk]

I have an o5 Dodge diesel.It still has the stick shift for 4wd.I pull it in whenever I need it.I have put it in 4x4 at highway speed several times /No issues at all.

[Smokinyotes]

I was told on both of my Duramax's not to drive over 80km/ hr in 4wd. My 03 had a vibration if you drove over 80. On my 2011 duramax you can't tell your in 4wd even at 110.

[4thredneck]

I usually take my foot of the accelerator then shift, this makes sure I'm not spinning.

[Bearbreath]

My Tacoma manuel states not to shift into 4wd going 100km

[SeanH]

Originally Posted by Xiph0id

Why is it pushing it?

Because if its too icy to do that speed in 2 wheel drive, you should not be doing that speed in 4 wheel drive. The 4 wheel drive will keep you going at that speed, but what about stopping or maneuvering? Not gonna help you there.

[Dacotensis]

The gears aren't meant to be turning that fast you could pile up your front diff as well. Oil heats up quicker.
Keep it below 70.
I would never run my 4wd at anything over.
Too much heat. Boom!!!

There was a thread going here a few days ago of some guys saying that 140 on the hiway in 4x4 was a good idea.
It's moronic to even suggest it....and guys told him so.

Now we can see the result.
Mods, make a sticky.

[Rod1960]

Originally Posted by 4thredneck

I usually take my foot of the accelerator then shift, this makes sure I'm not spinning.

Same here and usually not above 60 kph.

[Sitting Bull]

I had an 02 dodge diesel. drove over 200km at 110kph. My 4x4 light was burnt and did not notice. I was lucky had no problems. My 01 and 02 dodge both say not to drive above 80, my 06 duramax says the same.

[pseelk]

Originally Posted by Smokinyotes

I was told on both of my Duramax's not to drive over 80km/ hr in 4wd. My 03 had a vibration if you drove over 80. On my 2011 duramax you can't tell your in 4wd even at 110.

I've had my Dodge up to 110 in 4wd with no problem.Why would it matter how fast you go in 4wd.Just curious,never knew it could cause problems.

[mulie4x4]

I just looked in my manual for my dodge and it has no speed recommendation, but it does say there is a safety that well not let it shift into 4 wheel drive if all the requirements needed to shift into 4 wheel drive are not meet it well not shift and the light well flash. But as a rule I never try to shift into 4x4 unless under 80kmh and it is also very helpful if you take your foot off the gas when shifting into 4x4 and then accelerate when you see the 4x4 light on solid.

[4thredneck]

Modern 4x4's the front end is always turning, it doesn't matter how fast your going when you engage. Older 4x4's had hubs, if they weren't engaged you couldn't engage the 4 wheel drive. My dad bought his first 4 wheel drive in 1970 and we have had 4 wheel drive ever since. We used to leave the older 4x4's in 4 wheel drive all winter, sometimes they would stay in 4 low all day. In all my life I can only remember 1 transfer case piling up and I think it had to do with my brother's abuse more than anything.

[Xiph0id]

yozers dude 100km /hr in 4x4?/ i keep it under 60 kms/hr

So depending on road conditions you'll do under 60 or the speed limit?

I usually take my foot of the accelerator then shift

I always do this.

My Tacoma manuel states not to shift into 4wd going 100km

Does it state a maximum?

The gears aren't meant to be turning that fast you could pile up your front diff as well. Oil heats up quicker.
Keep it below 70.
I would never run my 4wd at anything over.
Too much heat. Boom!!!

Why wouldn't front gear be able to handle 100 but rears can?
That being said, using 4WD in at -25 will heat up and go boom but 2WD at +30 is fine?


Other posters have posted some great facts, thank you.

[jamieg]

AWD is fine for highway speeds but 4x4 should be limited, i cant believe the manual doesn't say not to exceed 80 km/hr while in 4x4 unless you have an AWD option on your selector. It used to be posted on the sun visor in front of the driver not to exceed 80 kph. I worked at a ford dealership for a number of years, and exploded t cases came onto my hoist on a weekly basis, due to highway speeds while locked in.

If the t case doesn't have clutches in it, i wouldn't use it at highway speeds. If the manual doesn't state anything against not doing it, im not sure what to do. I have seen the outcome of a tcase breaking in half and beating the bottom of the truck all to heck many many times, so that keeps me under 80 hehehe

[Dacotensis]

Keep trying it and let us know the result.
I think it's common knowledge not to do hiway speeds in 4wd.

Apparently not though.
There's always a test subject, this time it's you.
Not to be a dick here. Just saying. Something's get learned the hard way and some through others mistakes.

I wonder if those diff seals can handle the heated oil?
I wonder if the torque added from the outer axles and tires would cause a problem with the front diff. I wonder

The best advice was given by Sean H.

[leeaspell]

Half the km on my truck are in 4x4 at highway speed, probably 50,000km. The front end is always turning on a 4x4 truck is always turning, what's the difference in if it's in 4x4 or not.

[1bluZebec]

I have brand new f150 ecoboost and have had it way past 110km/h in 4wd same with my 2009 fx4 ranger no problems ever or grinding. Lots of people stay in 4wd all winter...... Me, I use it when needed only e.g. pulling out dodges and Chevys or destroying them from a stoplight with rear diff locked. Truck loves it I think

[Xiph0id]

Originally Posted by Dacotensis

Keep trying it and let us know the result.
I think it's common knowledge not to do hiway speeds in 4wd.

So you think Ford relies on common knowledge to not have to do warranty repairs?

Here is the owners manual

http://www.fordservicecontent.com/Fo.../13f23om1e.pdf

[sako1]

Originally Posted by leeaspell

Half the km on my truck are in 4x4 at highway speed, probably 50,000km. The front end is always turning on a 4x4 truck is always turning, what's the difference in if it's in 4x4 or not.

EXACTLY!!!!! Absolutly no problems going highway speeds.As stated earlier why would your front diff be any different then your rear???Funniest thing I have heard in awhile.Over half of your t case is turning in 2wd,why would 4wd make a difference???lol.

[rembo]

I'd never shift into 4WD at that speed regardless of what the owner's manual says....shifting out of 4WD is another thing.

4WD does nothing for you at 90-100K anyway.

I don't even shift my 1992 GMC shop truck into 4WD at anything over a crawl.....

lucky warranty is going to step up.

[omega50]

Note: Do not use 4X4 mode on dry, hard surfaced roads. Doing so will produce excessive noise, increase tire wear and may damage drive components. 4X4 mode is only intended for consistently slippery or loose surfaces.

From the manual-Seems clear enough-Sounds like the road was not consistently slippery enough for the drivetrain

[Bearbreath]

Originally Posted by Xiph0id

So depending on road conditions you'll do under 60 or the speed limit?



I always do this.



Does it state a maximum?



Why wouldn't front gear be able to handle 100 but rears can?
That being said, using 4WD in at -25 will heat up and go boom but 2WD at +30 is fine?


Other posters have posted some great facts, thank you.

Toyota doesn't have a speed rating for 4wd (2011 Tacoma). You just can't shift into four going highway speeds. I also take my foot of the gas when shifting in, seems smoother.

[dale7637]

Originally Posted by Xiph0id

So in July of 2013 I bought my F250.
Love the truck, works great with the camper.

Fast forward to Sunday....

Driving home to Leduc on hwy 2 south.
Road is very icy, so I decided to put truck in 4WD high.
I have Auto/manual locking hubs with ESOF 4X4.

I put it in 4WD doing about 90-100 as I have many many times before.
The sound is like a high speed grinding. I put back into 2WD and try again, same result. The grinding only happens for a few seconds then goes away.

So I decided to leave it in 4WD, grinding has stopped.....

Then I slow down and start to merge into the 2A south lane, then....

BAMM, Long clunk.

Fast forward to this week, doesnt make the high speed grinding when shifting only sometimes a couple of small clunks. But not always makes clunking under load/acceleration whether the hubs are locked or on auto.

Makes no noise whats so ever in 2WD.

Decided to bring the trunk in for warranty.
Drop it off this morning.
Guys calls me at noon tells me good/bad news.

Good news - Tells me it's covered under warranty even though.....
Bad news - Transfer case is pilled up and teeth are everywhere
Will take a week to get parts and fix.

I asked him how this happened.
He tells me it is because I shifted into 4WD while doing highway speeds.
I inform him that the owners does not state anything about speed when shifting into 4WD.
He tells me that "I shouldn't really shift into 4WD about 50"

WTF? Shouldn't????

All of a sudden I'm supposed to know his Ford procedures?

What got me is that he told me it was covered under warranty even though I shifted into 4WD doing highway speeds. Wierd.....


So my questions.
Would prefer facts and not rules of thumb, recommendations or lucky rabbits feet.

1. Does any of your 4WD trucks have a speed to shift on fly into 4WD limit?
2. Do you shift on the fly into 4WD on the highway?

To me it is common knowledge that spinning components don't mesh well with stationary components when you hit the shift button at highway speeds. There are a lot of oieces that have to come up to speed very quickly in order for 4x4 to engage.

And no, on this particular truck, the front end is not always turning, unless something drastic changed with ford in the last 2 model years. Your auto hubs are engaged by vacuum, which causes the front hubs to engage. You basically shock loaded your entire front drivetrain by hitting that button at highway speeds.

I say all of the above because I did the exact same thing as you , with the same results.

Slow it down to make the shift.

[pseelk]

I can see not making the shift to 4x4 over 50km,but dont understand not bieng able to drive faster than 50kph in 4wd.

[4x4life]

In my 2004 F350 diesel, I frequently shift 2wd to 4 hi and back to 2wd. Weather I'm doing highway speeds or not. The only thing I do, when I shift it into 4hi, I let off the accelerator until the light comes on and then I go again. When shifting into 2wd, I take my foot off the pedal, then shift to 2wd, then bump the throttle a couple times. Even if the light on the dash goes out, it doesn't mean everything is disengaged. That's why I bump the throttle. I've never had a problem with my diffs or t-case piling up or leaking at all. But I am also very religous to my fluid change intervals... Shifting into 4low, I ALWAYS stop, put the truck in neutral, wait for it to shift, and then put it in gear. Same thing coming out of 4low. NEVER EXCEED 30KM/hr IN 4 LOW!! BTW I got rid of the vaccuum hubs and replaced with a set of warn premiums. Never looked back. In the winter, they are always in the locked position. Did the dealer tell you weather the t-case was low on fluid at all?

[ESOXangler]

**** happens and your covered bud! So it's all good! The whole common knowledge thing is a waste of air! I'm sure buddy's done a few things that lack common knowledge too. The term common knowledge is for the stare down the nose types haha.