My 1988 chevy 1/2 ton 4X4 305 is my first 4wd vehicle and I'm a little fuzzy about when to use 4wd and how to shift.
I read the thread about "4 wheel drive info needed" but I don't know how much of that applies to my truck since I don't have "shift button".
I can usually get it into and out of 4h or 4l, but my main question is when to use 4wd. I bought it from a high shool kid who said that you should never use 4wd on dry pavement (maybe not even wet pavement). I can see why because when I try to turn very sharply on dry pavement I get this "hopping" effect, like the differential in front isn't working (if there is one there). Is this rule correct?
I'm in the Seattle area where we have some snow now. The residential streets are snowy and icey, but the bigger the street, the more likely it is to be clear. Some streets are bare in places and icey in places, making it impossible to only use 4wd on the icey patches. When should I shift? Does it damage the 4wd to shift in and out too much or to shift on the fly? How much should I slow down to shift into 4wd, or should I slow down at all? Is there a web site?
Thanks for your input!!!
Dan