Performance trims of the EV may see oil escape from the drive unit at the back of the car—the automaker’s working on a fix
- Tesla mid-September acknowledged that several Model 3 owners had reported leaky rear drive units
- As it turns out, on Performance trims, the drive unit may not be venting properly, causing oil leaks
- A fix is apparently already in the works, with a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) to be issued shortly
Tesla mid-September acknowledged the existence of owner-reported leaks in the rear drive units of some of its cars, as the components may malfunction and spill oil, according to outlets south of the border. Yes, Virginia — even though they don’t have a gasoline engine, most electric cars do still contain an oil lubricant in some systems.
Through the power of the internet, a regional service manager for Tesla is said to have reached out to that customer after more leaks, apparently admitting the company was aware of the issue. That same manager indicated the leaks are caused by a faulty breather valve, an explanation which makes scads more sense than the obfuscation about suspension parts provided by the service centre mentioned above.
Breathers are supposed to act as vents when a device – like the rear drive unit – reaches a certain pressure point. If they don’t function properly, it is indeed possible the drive would force fluid out through axle seals or some other location it isn’t supposed to go. After all, liquid tends to act like a politician: they take the path of least resistance. It is suggested by affected Model 3 owners who have been on top of the problem and in contact with Tesla that engineers are working on a fix, and a technical service bulletin (TSB) will be issued in due course.
There isn’t any indication said forthcoming TSB will also cover this model in the Canadian market, but, given these vehicles are all but identical on both sides of the border, there is no logical reason why it shouldn’t. Cynics will point out that logic doesn’t always enter the chat when talking about Tesla, so we’ll keep our ear to the ground.
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