Do Tesla batteries require maintenance?

Tesla Owners: 7 Mistakes You Should Never Make With Your Tesla and Maintenance Advice

Tesla electric vehicles have become a popular choice for many car buyers, thanks to their impressive performance and cutting-edge technology. However, as with any vehicle, there are certain things you should never do with a Tesla to ensure its longevity and performance.

Here are 7 mistakes you should avoid making with your Tesla:

1. Don’t neglect regular maintenance: Just like any car, your Tesla needs regular maintenance to keep it running smoothly. Make sure to follow the recommended schedule for «oil changes» (lol), tire rotations, and other important services.

2. Don’t ignore warning lights or messages: If your Tesla displays a warning light or message, take it seriously and address the issue as soon as possible. Ignoring these alerts could lead to serious problems down the road.

3. Don’t use the wrong type of charger: Not all charging stations are created equal. Make sure to use a Tesla-approved charger to ensure your car is charged properly and safely.

4. Don’t drive aggressively: Tesla vehicles are designed for high-performance, but that doesn’t mean you should drive aggressively. Doing so can put unnecessary stress on the car’s components, decrease the battery life, and even put you and your passengers at risk.

5. Don’t forget to keep the car cool or warm: Electric vehicles are sensitive to extreme temperatures, so it’s important to keep the car cool in the summer or warm in the winter. Using the built-in climate control system can help maintain a comfortable temperature inside the car.

6. Don’t forget to check your Tesla’s tire pressure: Proper tire pressure is important for safety, performance, and battery efficiency. Make sure to check and adjust your tire pressure regularly.

7. Don’t forget to update your car’s software: Tesla cars are constantly improving, and new software updates are released regularly. By keeping your car updated, you can ensure that it’s running at its best and taking advantage of the latest features.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your Tesla is running at its best and that you’re getting the most out of your investment. Remember that the more you take care of your Tesla, the longer it will last and the more enjoyable your experience will be.

Maintaining Your Tesla Model 3 and Model Y

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When it comes to maintaining your Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, there are a few things you should keep in mind to ensure your vehicle stays in top condition. Here are some tips to help you keep your Tesla running smoothly:

Check your tire pressure regularly: Proper tire pressure is essential for safety, performance, and battery efficiency. Tesla recommends checking and adjusting your tire pressure at least once a month.

Rotate your tires: Regular tire rotation can help prolong the life of your tires and ensure even wear. Tesla recommends rotating your tires every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Keep your car clean: Regularly cleaning your Tesla can help maintain its appearance and protect the paint from damage. Use a mild car wash soap and a microfiber cloth to gently clean the exterior.

Service your brakes: Your brakes are one of the most important safety features on your car, so it’s important to keep them in good working condition. Tesla recommends having your brakes checked and serviced every 12 months or 12,500 miles, whichever comes first.

Check your battery: Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have a built-in battery management system that monitors the health of your battery. You can check the battery status in the car’s settings or on the Tesla app.

Check your software updates: Tesla releases software updates regularly, which can improve the performance and features of your car. Make sure to keep your car updated to take advantage of the latest improvements.

Check your charging ports: The charging ports are the lifeline of your Tesla and should be kept clean to avoid any issues. Use a soft cloth or a small brush to remove any debris or dust from the charging ports.

Remember to always consult your owner’s manual and follow Tesla’s recommended maintenance schedule to keep your car running at its best.

Please, share your own tips on what to do and what not to do with your Tesla if you are a Tesla owner, sharing from your experience in the comments section below.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and the Editor in Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebok, Linkedin and Youtube.

Electric Car Maintenance: Everything You Need to Know

Electric vehicles generally require less maintenance than their internal-combustion counterparts, but they are still complex machines that require service and maintenance.

By Jack Fitzgerald Published: Oct 16, 2022

picture alliance | Getty Images

Electric motors have far fewer moving parts than internal combustion engines. This means electric cars often require far less maintenance (and can be cheaper to operate) than their gas-burning counterparts. Still, EVs require regular maintenance.

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This includes familiar tasks such as rotating the tires, replacing various fluids, and changing out cabin air filters. There are also a number of EV-specific services that drivers of these battery-electric vehicles need to keep on top of.

Battery Maintenance

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory of the United States predicts today’s EV batteries will have service lives between 12 and 15 years if used in moderate climates. This falls to between 8 and 12 years if regular use occurs in extreme environments.

Regardless, EV batteries require next-to-no maintenance throughout their service life. That said, there are a number of things drivers can do to extend the service life of their EV’s battery pack.

Steer Clear of Extreme Temperatures

Extreme temperatures (both hot and cold) are Kryptonite to batteries. Automakers factor this into the development of their EVs, fitting them with the necessary auxiliary cooling and heating systems to help keep the temperature of the battery in acceptable levels.

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Don’t Plan to Use Fast Chargers All the Time

Despite their convenience in rapid recharging, fast chargers degrade battery packs at a quicker rate than slower 120- or 240-volt charging. However, just how much fast charging impacts battery life isn’t known precisely in these relatively early days of modern EVs. Of course, in a road-trip scenario fast charging is necessary and there’s no reason to avoid it. But buying an EV with the plan to use fast charging exclusively isn’t a great idea, both from a battery life and a cost perspective. Fast charging costs three- to four-times more per kilowatt-hour of energy than you pay at home, a price that can bring the fueling cost of EVs on par with gas-powered vehicles. For example, we found it’s possible to pay $100 to fast charge a Hummer EV from empty to full.

Try Not to Fully Charge or Deplete the Battery

Batteries degrade more quickly when charged to full capacity or when depleted of all their energy. On the plus side, many manufacturers prevent full-capacity charging in order to assist in the battle against battery degradation. Most cars have settings to charge to a level less than 100 percent, and many automakers suggest charging to a level of 85- or 90-percent for daily use.

EV Maintenance vs. Gas Cars

Converting electricity into mechanical energy creates heat, and like gas cars, electric vehicles need to keep their powertrain components cool to ensure everything continues to work as it should. Some use air to do this, while others use some form of coolant or refrigerant to prevent components from overheating.

Check the Cooling System and Wiper Fluid

For EVs that use coolant or the like, it may be necessary to flush or recharge the system periodically. The Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning owner’s manuals recommend checking the integrity of cooling system hoses, as well as the cooling system level and strength, at six-month intervals. Meanwhile, the Porsche Taycan owner’s manual recommends checking coolant levels as part of the car’s routine service.

Regardless of what’s powering your car, you’re going to need to regularly refill your windshield washer fluid. Same goes for replacing the windshield wipers, as well.

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Keep an Eye on Brake Fluid and Pads

Similarly, both EVs and gas cars rely on brake fluid to modulate their binders. Flushing and replacing this fluid at regular intervals is a necessary service no matter your vehicle’s powertrain. Though replacement times vary between vehicles and manufacturers, Ford recommends replacing the brake fluid in the Mach-E and Lightning every three years.

Brake pads are also something EV drivers need to keep an eye on. The good news is that an EV ought to eat pads and rotors at a far slower rate than a gas car. Credit electric motors’ regenerative braking function, which allows the motor to slow the vehicle by recovering its kinetic energy (and subsequently feeding that energy back into the battery pack). Though EVs still rely on their mechanical brakes, they tend to use them more infrequently, which subsequently puts less wear on pads and rotors.

The fact that the brakes aren’t exercised as much on an EV is exactly why Tesla’s service schedule includes lubricating the brake calipers every 12 months or 12,500 miles in areas that use salt to melt snow and ice. That service cost us about $100 each time, roughly oil-change money on a gas-powered car, on our long-term Model 3.

Tire Wear

Maybe this one’s a bit obvious, but yes, you still need to replace the tires on your EV. In fact, you may even have to replace them more frequently. Partial blame goes to the extra weight of EVs (batteries are heavy).

The Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires on our long-term Tesla Model 3, for instance, have less tread depth than typical all-season tires. We suspect this is to help boost the range figure. But this decreases these all-season tires’ lifespan. The ones mounted to our Model 3 required replacing after 30,000 miles and set us back a whopping $1157.

Toyota

EV Maintenance vs. Hybrids and Plug-in Hybrids

Since hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars have gas engines on board, their maintenance routines are closer to those of a gas-powered car than an EVs. Nonetheless, these vehicles’ electric motors allow them to slow down via regenerative braking. This means that hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles’ brake rotors and pads tend to have longer service lives than those of gas cars.

Associate News Editor

Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.