Lube points on EVs

[Titanium]

Hi all – I looked at Tesla's recommended maintenance for the Model 3, and all it talks about is the cabin air filter, tire rotation/balance, "testing" the brake fluid every two years (not sure if that's a formal thing with a machine, or a Mark 1 Eyeball test), and one other thing I can't remember. There was no mention of lubrication. (There's no talk of normal brake pad and rotor service because the regenerative braking dramatically reduces pad wear – they should last several years.)

I'm guessing it has some kind of sealed lube deal like a lot of modern cars? There's nothing to grease? How long are those sealed deals expected to hold up? What happens when it's time to change the grease – is it a very technical thing that only a shop would have the tools to do? (I assume the grease life is 100,000 miles or so, like the sealed ATF on new cars, and the coolant.)

I also assumed that the key difference between normal cars and EVs was the motor and fuel, but that the undercarriage would be essentially the same. Now that I think about it, I'm not so sure. For one thing, is there a drive shaft of the sort we usually see? In EVs that have one motor, I don't think it's ever located anywhere but at the wheels it powers. In EVs with two or more motors, I think it's the same – the motors are lined up with the wheels they're moving. (Some EVs have, or will have, more than two motors – in those cases, I think two motors on one axle each drive one wheel.)

What are the lube implications for EVs? Are there typical lube points that don't exist on EVs because of their mechanical differences from regular cars? For example, they don't usually have transmissions, at least not multispeed ones – there's just one gear.

Thanks.

 

[MolaKule]

From what I have seen thus far is that on certain EV's there is a reduction drive gearbox at each wheel, the lubricant is chemically very similar to an LV ATF, and the unit is supposedly sealed for life. Each reduction drive gearbox holds about 3/4 L to 1.25 L of lubricant depending on model and HP (kW).

The electric motors have sealed-for-life bearings as well with the grease consisting of a special grease using expensive base oils.

On our 2015 and 2012 Nissans, there are no zert nipples to grease anything as linkages and ball joints are all sealed.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

What are the lube implications for EVs?

Just the reduction gearbox in my case, which is a 2-stage, splash lubricated with helical gears. It uses a 70 weight GL-4 gear oil and has no change interval. There's really nothing to do and so I bought a used ICE SUV to keep me from going cold turkey.

 

[bmod305]

I own a Chevy Bolt EV. Chassis is lube for life. Tires need to be rotated every 7500 miles. Cabin air filter every year. Brake fluid flushed every five years. AC desiccant replaced every seven years. Transaxle and coolant circuits fluids every 150 thousand miles. Normal lube hinges check wipers and stuff every year but that’s it. Battery and power unit is warranted for 8 years.

it’s a great car for commuting. I put 3500 miles on it so far and cost of the electricity has been slightly under $75 total. Car is a little rocket. Seats could be better typical GM. I am 6 foot two and have plenty of room inside it’s amazing how big the car is when you sit in it.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Tesla recommends cleaning and lubricating all brake calipers every 12 months or 12,500 mi for cars in cold weather regions.

Tesla car maintenance

 

[A_User55555]

Teslas don't have an "open" undercarriage. It's mostly one thick metal plate that guards the battery. So there isn't much to rust.

Maybe aftermarket tie-rods and ball joints will come with grease fittings.

 

[oil pan 4]

If the EV has a gear box, which they all do and no filter on that gear box which most of them don't have filter then it needs to be changed every 50,000 miles or so.

 

[weasley]

If the EV has a gear box, which they all do and no filter on that gear box which most of them don't have filter then it needs to be changed every 50,000 miles or so.

Because?

Reduction gearboxes are pretty simple things - no shifting, no mechatronics, no hydraulics, no clutches, just straight-through gears and bearings. Axles and differentials are similar and can run some very long drain intervals. Emerging EV transmission designs incorporate shifting and also combined motor/transmission units which adds some complexity and additional fluid requirements.

 

[JeffKeryk]

If the EV has a gear box, which they all do and no filter on that gear box which most of them don't have filter then it needs to be changed every 50,000 miles or so.

Well, not so sure....
Teslas have a single-speed “transmission” of sorts that doesn't have gears to turn, as opposed to a traditional motor vehicle has multiple gears and speeds, which are connected by an engine crankshaft.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

It does have gears. A two-stage gear reducer, as do the vast majority of today's EVs.

The reason the Model 3 uses an oil filter on the gearbox is because the gear oil is used also for cooling the motor. It needs a pump for that circulation and therefore needs a filter to keep wear particles out of the pump. The oil is cooled via a heat exchanger to a coolant circuit.

In some designs a pumped lube circuit is used rather than splash because of the RPMs and power involved, or to reduce losses, e.g. Plaid.
Many EVs use coolant to directly cool the motor field windings. No doubt there are pro and cons to each method.

 

[oil pan 4]

Because?

Reduction gearboxes are pretty simple things - no shifting, no mechatronics, no hydraulics, no clutches, just straight-through gears and bearings. Axles and differentials are similar and can run some very long drain intervals. Emerging EV transmission designs incorporate shifting and also combined motor/transmission units which adds some complexity and additional fluid requirements.

Because I had 68,000 mile leaf oil tested by black stone labs and they said it was used up.
Plus it's a quart and a half and no filter. 1 gallon of oil is a life time of changes.

 

[Dave9]

You can find out more about the Tesla designs from various youtube videos/channels, for example:

 

[philipp10]

Lube the door hinges every 12 months or 12,000 miles.....