Drain and refill the gear oil in both the front and rear drive units on a 2024 Model X Long Range Dual Motor. Tesla no longer treats this as a lifetime fluid — initial service is recommended around 12,500 miles, then every 25,000–50,000 miles depending on duty cycle (towing, track use, sustained high-speed driving accelerates wear).

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Drain plug crush washer / sealing washer (front DU) × 2 — OEM Tesla drive-unit plug washer — replace each service
• Drain plug crush washer / sealing washer (rear DU) × 2 — OEM Tesla drive-unit plug washer — replace each service

Fluids

• Tesla Gearbox Oil (OEM-spec drive unit fluid — do NOT substitute generic 75W-90) — 4 qt

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with key fob 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 low-voltage battery (negative terminal first). The 12V battery on Model X is located in the frunk, similar to Model S.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal. Both drive units have orange HV cables routed into them.
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. Before disconnecting 12V: from the touchscreen, go to Service > Jack Mode and enable it to lock out air suspension height changes.
7. Be aware Falcon Wing doors should remain closed during lift — opening them while the vehicle is elevated risks contact with shop equipment and may also confuse the door's closed-loop position learning if power is cycled mid-cycle.
8. Confirm you have the correct OEM Tesla gearbox oil on hand (approximately 4 quarts total to cover both units with margin). Do not begin draining without fluid in hand.
9. Allow the drive units to cool if the vehicle was just driven hard — warm is fine, hot is a burn hazard.

Procedure

1. 1

   Lift the vehicle
   With Jack Mode active, lift the vehicle on the four Tesla-designated jacking pads (reinforced pinch-weld points with puck locations marked). Raise to a height that gives clear access to both the front and rear drive unit underbody. Confirm the vehicle is stable before going underneath.
   ⚠Use Tesla jack pad pucks. Lifting on the battery pack edge or on unreinforced floor pan will damage the HV pack enclosure.
2. 2

   Remove underbody aero panels as needed
   Remove the underbody aero/skid panels covering the front and rear drive units. These are typically held by a combination of T25/T27 Torx fasteners and plastic push clips around the perimeter. Set fasteners aside organized by location — front and rear panel hardware is not always identical.
   Torque spec

   Cover Screws11 Nm (8 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Locate front drive unit fill and drain plugs
   On the front drive unit housing, identify the fill plug (higher on the gearbox side of the housing) and the drain plug (lowest point of the gearbox sump). Wipe both areas clean before loosening so debris does not enter the gearbox.
   ℹ️If you cannot positively identify which plug is fill vs drain on this specific unit, stop and verify against current Tesla service documentation before opening anything. Opening the wrong plug on a sealed unit can let metal shavings into a sensor port.
4. 4

   Crack the front fill plug FIRST
   Loosen (do not remove) the front drive unit fill plug before touching the drain plug. This confirms you can refill the unit. If the fill plug is seized and you have already drained, the vehicle is stuck. Once it breaks loose, snug it back down.
   ⚠Never drain a gearbox you have not first confirmed you can refill.
5. 5

   Drain the front drive unit
   Position a clean drain pan under the front drive unit drain plug. Remove the drain plug and let the fluid fully drain (10–15 minutes). Inspect the old fluid: a small amount of fine gray material on the magnetic plug (if equipped) is normal break-in wear; chunks, glitter, or a strong burnt smell indicate internal damage and the unit should be inspected before refilling.
   ℹ️Front DU capacity is approximately 1.5 quarts. Catch and measure what comes out — a significantly low drain volume suggests a prior leak.
6. 6

   Reinstall front drain plug with new sealing washer
   Install a new sealing washer on the front drain plug. Start the plug by hand to confirm clean threads, then torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual for the exact drive-unit plug torque (do not guess; aluminum housings strip easily).
7. 7

   Refill the front drive unit
   Remove the front fill plug. Using a fluid transfer pump, pump in approximately 1.5 quarts of Tesla gearbox oil until fluid just begins to weep from the fill port — this is the level indicator. Allow excess to drip out, then install the fill plug with a new sealing washer.
   ⚠Do NOT overfill. The fill port doubles as the level check — if oil is not at the lip, the level is low. If oil pours out continuously, you are at correct level; let it stop dripping before sealing.
8. 8

   Torque the front fill plug
   Torque the front fill plug to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. Wipe the housing clean of any spilled fluid so future leak inspections are meaningful.
9. 9

   Locate rear drive unit fill and drain plugs
   Move to the rear drive unit. The rear unit on Model X is the larger of the two. Identify the fill plug on the side of the housing and the drain plug at the lowest point of the sump. Clean both areas before loosening.
   ⚠️The rear drive unit has orange HV cables entering it. Do not lean on, pry against, or pull these cables while working.
10. 10

    Crack the rear fill plug FIRST
    Loosen the rear fill plug to confirm it will come free, then snug it back down. Same rationale as the front: never drain what you cannot refill.
11. 11

    Drain the rear drive unit
    Position the drain pan under the rear DU drain plug. Remove the plug and let drain fully (15–20 minutes — rear unit is larger). Inspect old fluid as in step 5. Rear DU capacity is approximately 2.0 quarts; verify drained volume is reasonably close.
12. 12

    Reinstall rear drain plug with new sealing washer
    Install a new sealing washer on the rear drain plug. Start by hand, then torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
13. 13

    Refill the rear drive unit
    Remove the rear fill plug. Pump in approximately 2.0 quarts of Tesla gearbox oil until fluid weeps from the fill port. Allow excess to drip, then reinstall the fill plug with a new sealing washer and torque to OEM specification.
14. 14

    Final leak check under vehicle
    With both units refilled and sealed, wipe down both housings completely. Inspect drain plugs, fill plugs, and the case-half seam on each unit for any sign of weeping. A film of fresh oil from spill residue is normal; an active drip is not.
15. 15

    Reinstall underbody aero panels
    Reinstall front and rear aero panels with the original fasteners in their original locations. Replace any push clips that broke on removal — missing aero panel fasteners cause panel droop and high-speed rattle/wind noise on Model X.
    Torque spec

    Cover Screws11 Nm (8 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Lower the vehicle off the lift with Jack Mode still active.
2. Reconnect the 12V battery (positive first, then negative). Close the frunk.
3. Power on the vehicle. Jack Mode will automatically disengage once the vehicle detects driving conditions, or you can disable it manually in the Service menu.
4. Allow the air suspension to re-level — it will normalize ride height within 30–60 seconds of power-up.
5. Check for any fault messages on the touchscreen (drive unit, suspension, or 12V-related).

Verification

• Take the vehicle on a short, low-load drive (5–10 minutes, mixed speeds, gentle acceleration). Listen for any new whine, growl, or clunk from either drive unit — the rear DU is closer to the cabin and will reveal noise more readily.
• Return to the lift, raise the vehicle again in Jack Mode, and re-inspect both drive unit drain and fill plugs for leaks after the fluid has been heat-cycled.
• Confirm no drive unit, motor, or temperature warnings on the touchscreen.
• Log the service mileage. Per current Tesla guidance, drive unit fluid is no longer 'lifetime' — plan the next service at 25,000–50,000 miles depending on use (sooner if the vehicle tows regularly, sees track time, or sustained high-speed highway use).

More procedures for this vehicle