If you own a Tesla electric car, you might be wondering if you need to carry out a motor oil change like you would in a normal car.
The simple answer is:
No, you do not need to change the oil in a Tesla. This is because it has an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine.
This means that you have a lot lower Tesla maintenance costs and do not need to visit a Tesla Service Center very often!
Why Don’t Teslas Need An Oil Change?
Tesla electric vehicles do not have engine oil as you have with a normal internal combustion engine vehicle.
Sure, there are places where it has oil, such as in the drive system where there is a transmission with gears to transfer the motor power to the wheels.
In fact, Tesla has tested these gears and their oil to one million miles and found little to no degradation of the gears or the oil.
As such, Tesla electric cars do not require the oil to be changed in the gears at all.
Brake Fluid is the Closest Thing
There is fluid in the brakes that do need checking every now and again on Tesla vehicles, but given the brakes are used significantly less in a Tesla (due to regenerative braking in electric motors) it is not a huge issue for most Tesla owners.
Tip: You should check the maintenance schedule for your Tesla to be sure of what needs checking and when.
Other Tesla Maintenance Costs
Of course, there are some maintenance costs for Tesla cars and these include:
- Tire Rotation (every 6250 miles)
- Cabin air filter change (every 2-3 years depending on the model)
- Brake fluid test (every 2 years)
- Cleaning and lubricating brake calipers every year in cold regions
- Air conditioning system service (4-6 years depending on model)
