Drain and refill the gear oil in all three drive units (one front, two rear) on a 2024 Model S Plaid Tri-Motor. This is a wear-prevention service Tesla now recommends despite the original 'lifetime fluid' marketing — particularly important on Plaid due to track-mode use and high motor speeds.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Drive unit drain plug crush washer / sealing washer × 6 — OEM Tesla drive unit drain plug washer
• Aero underbody shield fastener clips (as needed) × 10 — OEM Tesla underbody fastener

Fluids

• Tesla-spec drive unit gear oil (manufacturer-specified — refer to Service Manual for current spec; do NOT substitute generic 75W-90 without verifying compatibility with Tesla drive units) — 6 qt

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob/phone key away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Open the frunk and disconnect the 12V (or 16V Li-ion, if equipped on this Plaid — check under the rear seat as well) low-voltage battery negative terminal. Plaid VINs vary; verify which 12V/16V system is fitted before disconnecting.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Drive the vehicle for 10–15 minutes immediately before service to warm gear oil for better drainage, then allow 10 minutes for the fluid to settle out of the gears before draining.
7. Raise the vehicle on a lift using Tesla-approved lift points (the puck locations in the rocker pinch welds — use Tesla lift pucks or equivalent jack pads to avoid crushing the rocker).

Procedure

1. 1

   Identify the three drive units
   Under the vehicle, locate: (1) the front drive unit between the front subframe rails, and (2) the two rear drive units mounted side-by-side in the rear subframe — each rear unit drives one rear wheel independently. Each of the three units has its own gear oil sump, drain plug, and fill/level plug. There is no central differential.
2. 2

   Remove front and rear underbody aero shields
   Remove the front aero shield and the rear underbody aero panels using a Torx socket (typically T25/T30) and plastic clip removal tools. Note the location of every fastener — the rear shields on Plaid have additional fasteners around the diffuser. Set hardware aside in labeled bins. Replace any plastic clips that break on removal.
   ⚠Do not pry on aluminum floor pan edges — they deform easily.
3. 3

   Locate drain and fill plugs on each drive unit
   On each of the three drive units, identify the drain plug (lowest point of the gearbox housing) and the fill/level plug (on the side of the housing, partway up). Plug sizes and exact location are documented in the current Tesla Service Manual — verify before removing any plug. Wipe each plug area clean before opening so debris does not enter the gearbox.
   ⚠Do NOT open any plug on the motor side of the unit or any cover with orange cabling nearby. Gearbox plugs only.
4. 4

   Crack fill plugs first
   Before draining ANY unit, loosen (do not remove) the fill/level plug on each of the three drive units. This confirms you can refill the unit before you commit to draining it. If a fill plug is seized, stop and resolve that before draining — otherwise you will be left with an empty drive unit you cannot refill.
5. 5

   Drain the front drive unit
   Position the drain pan under the front drive unit. Remove the drain plug and allow gear oil to fully drain (10+ minutes). Inspect the magnetic tip of the plug if equipped — light gray paste is normal break-in wear; metallic chunks or chips indicate internal damage and the unit should be inspected by a Tesla-certified technician before refilling. Clean the plug, install a new sealing washer, and reinstall the drain plug. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
6. 6

   Drain the left rear drive unit
   Reposition the drain pan under the left rear drive unit. Remove the drain plug and allow to fully drain. Inspect plug debris as in the previous step. Install a new sealing washer and reinstall the drain plug. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
7. 7

   Drain the right rear drive unit
   Reposition the drain pan under the right rear drive unit. Remove the drain plug and allow to fully drain. Inspect plug debris. Install a new sealing washer and reinstall the drain plug. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
   ℹ️Compare drained fluid color/condition between the three units. Significantly different appearance between left and right rear units can indicate one motor is running hotter or has more wear — worth noting for future diagnostics.
8. 8

   Refill the front drive unit
   Using a fluid transfer pump, fill the front drive unit through the fill/level port with the manufacturer-specified gear oil until fluid begins to weep out of the fill port (level-fill design). Allow excess to drip until flow stops, then install the fill plug with a new sealing washer. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
   ⚠Do NOT fill by volume from a spec sheet alone — the fill port is the level reference. Overfilling can pressurize the breather and force oil past seals into the motor stator.
9. 9

   Refill the left rear drive unit
   Pump fresh gear oil into the left rear drive unit fill/level port until fluid weeps out. Allow to settle, install the fill plug with a new sealing washer, and torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
10. 10

    Refill the right rear drive unit
    Pump fresh gear oil into the right rear drive unit fill/level port until fluid weeps out. Allow to settle, install the fill plug with a new sealing washer, and torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
11. 11

    Clean and inspect
    Wipe each drive unit housing clean of any spilled oil. Inspect around each plug for weeping over the next several minutes. Check the area around each unit for any signs of pre-existing leaks (axle seals, motor-to-gearbox interface) that became visible with the old oil cleaned off — these are common service findings on high-mileage Plaids.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the rear underbody aero panels with original Torx hardware and replacement clips as needed. Torque fasteners to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
2. Reinstall the front aero shield with original hardware and replacement clips as needed.
3. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
4. Reconnect the 12V/16V low-voltage battery negative terminal in the frunk (and rear seat location if applicable). Close the frunk.
5. Allow the vehicle 2–3 minutes to fully wake and complete its boot/self-check cycle before driving.

Verification

• Power on the vehicle and verify NO drive unit, traction, or stability control alerts appear on the touchscreen. Plaid will throw drive-inhibit faults if a drive unit reports abnormal conditions.
• Test drive at low speed (under 25 mph) for 5 minutes, listening for any whine, grinding, or vibration from any of the three drive units. Stop and recheck plugs for leaks.
• Test drive at highway speed for 10–15 minutes, then return and inspect all six plugs (3 drain + 3 fill) and surrounding housing for any seepage. Re-check after the unit has cooled.
• Log this service in your maintenance record with the odometer reading. Tesla now recommends drive-unit gear oil service at ~12,500 mi initial and every 25,000–50,000 mi after — schedule the next interval accordingly, with the shorter end of that range if the vehicle sees track use.
• If any drained plug showed metallic chips, schedule a Tesla Service Center inspection — internal gearbox wear on a Plaid drive unit is not a DIY repair.

More procedures for this vehicle