Do the Oil and Filter Used in the Model Y Gearboxes Need to be Serviced?

[spsheridan]

At about 0:20 into the video below, Sandy Munro shows oil filters on the gearboxes of the front and back Electronic Drive Modules on a Model Y which are very similar (if not identical) to the Model 3 EDMs. Although it makes sense, it didn’t even occur to me that Teslas used oil for this purpose. I searched the Model Y and Model 3 Owners Manuals and there is no mention of a service interval for changing the oil or filter for the gearboxes. Can anyone please elaborate on whether these items need to be serviced?

 

[Puddles]

If it's like the Model 3, there is a sensor that alerts the mother ship if/when transmission service is needed. You will be notified.

You did get the intra-cranial implant necessary to receive these messages?

 

[spsheridan]

Thanks, @Puddles. I know this would depend on driving conditions, but any idea how often on average these types of services occur? I assume it's not normally as often as annually?

<patiently awaiting intra-cranial implant>

 

[MP3Mike]

There is nothing in the Service Intervals section of the manual about the drive unit fluid. I think the point of the filter was to make the oil/DU last the life of the vehicle.

But for the battery coolant the manual specifically says that under most circumstances the fluid should last the life of the vehicle.

 

[spsheridan]

There is nothing in the Service Intervals section of the manual about the drive unit fluid. I think the point of the filter was to make the oil/DU last the life of the vehicle.

Thanks. And wow, it's hard to imagine a fluid and filter that never need to be changed for the life of the vehicle.

 

[MP3Mike]

Thanks. And wow, it's hard to imagine a fluid and filter that never need to be changed for the life of the vehicle.

I think it comes from having a pump, filter, and temperature control. So unlike in an ICE vehicle the fluid never gets so hot as to start breaking down. (Like for hard tracking of most cars you have to have a differential cooler to prevent it from overheating.)

 

[Uncle Paul]

They used to recommend oil changes in the Model S, but after doing lots of them they noticed that they were just throwing away perfectly good oil.
No need to do changes unless computer notifies you of a need.

 

[mboni]

On my current Chevy Bolt EV, the gearbox fluid needs to be changed somewhere past 100,000 miles. I'd expect the Tesla motor to be at least as good as the Chevy design, if not better, so expect a change somewhere in the 100,000 to 200,000 mile range.

 

[hutsy]

If it's like the Model 3, there is a sensor that alerts the mother ship if/when transmission service is needed. You will be notified.

You did get the intra-cranial implant necessary to receive these messages?

I could only afford the rectal implant.

 

[Electric Steve]

I could only afford the rectal implant.

Notification is notification.

 

[iwannam3]

Early S had DU failures, usually noisy bearings. I suspect they added a filter on 3 & Y to keep any manufacturing junk and bits or wear from circulating and creating more bits. No transmission bands to wear and add debris like an automatic. Sealed unit so no moisture or O2 exchange.

 

[Puddles]

I could only afford the rectal implant.

I've always been told those cost extra

 

[Puddles]

...any idea how often on average these types of services occur?

As previously mentioned, in the absence of heat (somewhat relevant) and contaminants (very relevant) gear oils can last a long time. Think of the average manual transmission or differential. These are often 100k mile plus items, and that's usually without a filter. I changed the (manual) transmission oil in my last car at about 125K miles and apart from a small pellet of metal dust on the magnetic drain plug, the oil looked pristine. Not that its appearance is a great indicator, I have to admit.

 

[SSedan]

In the case of a traditional differential on an ICE you are changing the rotation direction, that involves a lot of stress not present when the motor and the wheels are turning the same direction.
In FWD it is shared fluid with the transmission which introduces clutch debris. These aren't factors in a Tesla.

 

[Electric Steve]

I've always been told those cost extra

The implant is free; it's the optional lube that they charge for.

 

[bin01123]

Does anyone know if the process and parts are the same on a 2019 Model X long range?

 

[TomB985]

Seems like a solution in search of a problem.

There are all kinds of fluids in modern cars that last for the life of the unit. Decades ago, we used to pack wheel bearings every 30,000 miles, but modern sealed bearings usually go to the scrapyard with the rest of the car. The majority of vehicles manufactured with standalone lubricated differentials don't have a change interval for the gear lube, and some of those are in heavy service applications that see hundreds of thousands of miles. Automatic transmissions are hard on fluid because of repeated heat cycles, clutch material, and torque converter shear. The fluid in your drive units has a much more relaxed life than most fluids you can think of in a conventional powertrain.

I'll worry about it if (1) the car tells me to, or (2) we start seeing lubrication-related drive system failures. Until there's evidence that a change is needed, I'm gonna drive the car and not worry about it.

 

[bin01123]

Do you know if there have been instances of people reporting the car told them to change it? Just checking because I like to swap out fluids just prior to a light coming on

 

[Nubo]

Depends on how good the filter is, I guess. Gearsets wear-in and polish the mating surfaces during the first several thousands miles of service -- such precision being impractical to achieve during manufacture. This results in a considerable amount of wear metals. In a gearbox without a filter I make a habit of an early change, regardless of manufacturers' claim of "lifetime" fluid. Their definition of "lifetime" and mine are likely driven by different objectives. I've never had experience with a filtered transmission though, only the conventional magnetic drain plugs. With those, the drained lube is noticeably silvery even at an early change at 10,000 miles so a magnet definitely does not catch it all.

 

[bin01123]

Good point. I do have cars with transmissions that have filters but never seen a filter on a gear box like motor.