Steam when supercharging

[SGPips]

Had steam coming off the front of the car when supercharging at Scotch Corner the other day, very cool, I think it adds to the drama . Pleased I knew they could do it though, might have freaked otherwise.

Also, the LFP battery is great for splash and dash, we went 18 to 45% and got a flat 130kw for the whole charge.

 

[DaveNN]

Had steam coming off the front of the car when supercharging at Scotch Corner the other day, very cool, I think it adds to the drama . Pleased I knew they could do it though, might have freaked otherwise.

Also, the LFP battery is great for splash and dash, we went 18 to 45% and got a flat 130kw for the whole charge.

I had the steam/vapour issue a few times.
Never sussed it.

 

[Mistake Not]

Perfectly normal. Not sure details. It it’s to do with battery heating / cooling.

I had similar concern when charging at a rapid Ionity charger for the first time - had to Google it

 

[M1tch]

I excreted a little first time it happened but used to it now. Literally thought the car was on fire - but had a good charge speed so did absolutely nothing about it

 

[Adopado]

I had the steam/vapour issue a few times.
Never sussed it.

I presume it is heat pump thing… I’ve never seen it on my own non heat pump car.

 

[FastLaneJB]

I excreted a little first time it happened but used to it now. Literally thought the car was on fire - but had a good charge speed so did absolutely nothing about it

That’s right. You don’t give up your spot on a charger or a good charge speed for a small car fire.

 

[Buzzliteyear]

Luckily I had heard about it before I got the car. It’s been on cold days and no preheating before visiting the supercharge. Still a surprise the first time you see it.

 

[nufan]

Only ever seen it at Scotch Corner - suspect hotel has secret laundry under superchargers….that or Yorkshire climate….

 

[Roy B]

that or Yorkshire climate….

Probably does require a reasonably high humidity to cause the water vapour to precipitate out of the air as it's cooled by the heat pump sucking heat from the environment....

 

[Mr Miserable]

It is certainly a heat pump phenomenon - I never saw this on my old pre-heat pump M3 but witnessed it several times on other cars whilst supercharging. It seems to come from front right wheel arch of M3 and front left wheel arch of MY - if my memory serves me well.
I might be wrong and it could just be a wind direction thing.

 

[init6]

Note
The thermal system may produce steam under certain conditions if your vehicle is equipped with a heat pump (to determine if your vehicle has a heat pump, touch Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information). For example, odorless steam can come from the front of your vehicle while charging at a Supercharger in cold temperature. This is normal and not a cause for concern.

 

[Overworked]

There is also a “soft recall” for some vehicles to put insulation on heat pump pipes. I have had it done and seldom get the steam now

 

[Cardo]

It’s water vapour, not steam. Perfectly normal, within spec!

 

[WannabeOwner]

It’s water vapour, not steam. Perfectly normal, within spec!

... escaping through the [also "within spec"] panel gaps?

 

[Cardo]

... escaping through the [also "within spec"] panel gaps?

I thought that’s what they were there for.

 

[FastLaneJB]

Luckily I’d also read about this as my wife’s car did it the first day we got it and went to plug it into a Supercharger. Would be a weird site and cause for alarm if you are unaware.

 

[init6]

That's why they put it in the manual

 

[FastLaneJB]

That's why they put it in the manual

I’m a man, we don’t read manuals

 

[Roy B]

I suspect that the only reason Tesla still provide an (online) manual at all is that it is a regulatory requirement. I'm sure they'd get rid of it if they could. After all, it's basically a phone on wheels, and modern phones haven't come with proper manuals for years.

Besides, all input is error. So there should be no real need for you to understand how to provide any input to the controls

 

[init6]

You're unlikely to kill someone if you use a phone incorrectly...