Tesla Model 3 · 2017–2025
Tesla Model 3 Fluid Types and Capacities
The specification is not the same across every year we cover, the table below shows exactly where it changes.
Last verified
Has the Tesla Model 3 fluids specification changed by year?
| Model years | Transmission | Coolant | Brake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | Drive-unit reduction gearbox oil, lifetime fill, no scheduled service | Tesla-approved low-conductivity ethylene-glycol coolant; sealed system, no owner service, no scheduled replacement | DOT 3 brake fluid. Health check every 4 years, replace only if contaminated. |
| 2017–2023 | Drive-unit reduction gearbox oil (Pentosin ATF 9 or Tesla-spec equivalent), lifetime fill, no scheduled change. High-mileage drive-unit fluid changes are an enthusiast option, not a Tesla requirement. | Tesla-approved low-conductivity 50/50 ethylene-glycol coolant (G-48 type) for the battery/drive-unit loop. Sealed system, no owner service and no scheduled replacement; the reservoir is not meant to be topped off by owners. | DOT 3 brake fluid. Tesla schedule: health check every 4 years, replace only if contaminated. |
Each row links to the full specification for that generation, including trim-by-trim breakdowns and the part numbers. Where engines within a generation differ, that page separates them.
Full specifications by generation
The fluids on a Tesla Model 3 is set by its generation, not its model year, so each generation has one page carrying the complete figures, part numbers and fitment notes for every year it covers.
Tesla Model 3 fluids: common questions
What transmission fluid does a Tesla Model 3 take?
- Drive-unit reduction gearbox oil, lifetime fill, no scheduled service. Transmission fluid specifications are not interchangeable. Friction modifiers differ between them, and the wrong fluid causes shudder long before it causes failure.
What coolant does a Tesla Model 3 use?
- Tesla-approved low-conductivity ethylene-glycol coolant; sealed system, no owner service, no scheduled replacement.
What brake fluid does a Tesla Model 3 take?
- DOT 3 brake fluid. Health check every 4 years, replace only if contaminated..
Sources
- Tesla Support, Vehicle Maintenance (Model 3 intervals: cabin filter 2 yr, brake fluid 4 yr, rotation 6,250 mi, no desiccant for heat-pump cars)
- Wheel-Size.com, 2024 Tesla Model 3 OE fitments and 42 psi pressures
- Mavis, 2025 Model 3 Performance staggered OE sizes (235/35R20 front, 275/30R20 rear)
- NHTSA Part 573 report, recall 25V-002 (vehicle computer / rearview camera)
- NHTSA Part 573 report, recall 24V-376 (seat belt reminder)
- NHTSA Part 573 report, recall 24V-935 (TPMS warning light)
- Tesla Shop. Model 3 wiper blade (fits all Model 3 years)
- Tesla DIY Guide, Replacing Cabin Filters (procedure shared with pre-Highland cars)
- Wikipedia, Tesla Model 3 (Highland launch timing, curb weights, EPA ranges)
Find your exact Model 3
Jump to a model year for the engines it offered, what changed, and the problems documented against it: