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Which oil type?

1.6K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  garsh  
Generally Tesla does not recommend changing the drive unit fluid (because if it's clean you'll likely contaminate it or introduce air into the system by messing with it), but if you know it's had a hard life and you're capable, you can.

Service Manual for Rear Drive Unit Drain and Refill: Model 3 Service Manual | Tesla

Service Manual for Front Drive Unit Drain and Refill: Model 3 Service Manual | Tesla

Service Manual Fluids and Capacities: Model 3 Service Manual | Tesla
 
My Question is,, So why the oil filters on the motors? Are they lifetime Oil filters? Im sure they have to be changed sometime.. ????
The question you should be asking is: How would the oil in the motors become contaminated?

There is no combustion, almost no heat, and nothing adding water, or air, or any other chemical to the electric motor assembly. The electric motor bearings and gearboxes can shed tiny amounts of metal, but over the course of decades. So what is there to clog the filter in 60k miles, or even 100k miles?