Drain and refill the gear oil in both the front and rear drive units on a 2024 Model Y Performance AWD. Despite Tesla's original 'lifetime fill' claim, gear oil contamination from break-in wear and long-term operation makes this a real maintenance item.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Drive unit drain/fill plug crush washers (if equipped) × 4 — OEM-spec aluminum sealing washer for drive unit plugs

Fluids

• 75W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil (front drive unit) — 1.5 qt
• 75W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil (rear drive unit) — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage the parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the 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 rear trunk and lift the load floor; disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery negative terminal (2024 Model Y houses the low-voltage battery under the rear cargo area / behind rear seat trim — confirm location 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. Raise the vehicle on a 2-post lift using Tesla-approved lift pad locations (the four reinforced pucks inboard of the rocker pinch welds). If using jack stands, use rated puck adapters at the same points.
7. Allow the drive units to cool to ambient if the vehicle was just driven — hot gear oil will splash and reduces drain accuracy. Conversely, a brief 5-mile drive before lifting helps the old oil drain more completely; choose one approach and let temperatures stabilize.
8. Remove the front and rear underbody aeroshields/belly pans as required to access each drive unit. Note fastener locations (mix of plastic push clips and Torx fasteners) and bag them by location.

Procedure

1. 1

   Identify drive unit fill and drain ports
   On the rear drive unit (large unit between the rear suspension subframe), locate the fill plug on the side of the gearbox housing and the drain plug on the lower face of the housing. On the front drive unit (smaller unit on the front subframe), locate the corresponding fill and drain plugs on the gearbox section — NOT on the inverter/motor section. Both units share the same general layout: fill plug high on the side, drain plug low. Do not loosen any plug on the motor/inverter side of the housing.
   ⚠If a plug is adjacent to or behind an orange HV cable, you are looking at the wrong plug. Re-identify before loosening anything.
2. 2

   Loosen fill plugs FIRST on both units
   Before draining either unit, break loose (do not remove) the fill plug on the rear drive unit and then the front drive unit. This confirms you can refill before you commit to draining. If a fill plug is seized and rounds out, stop — you do not want an empty gearbox you cannot refill.
3. 3

   Drain the rear drive unit
   Position a drain pan beneath the rear drive unit drain plug. Remove the drain plug fully and allow the gear oil to drain for at least 10 minutes. Inspect the drained fluid for excessive metal (fine break-in glitter is normal at first service; chunks or magnetic paste are not). If the plug has a magnet, wipe it clean. Inspect the sealing washer; replace with a new aluminum crush washer if it shows deformation.
4. 4

   Reinstall the rear drive unit drain plug
   With a fresh sealing washer if applicable, install the rear drive unit drain plug and torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. Do not exceed factory spec; the housing is aluminum and the threads will yield before the plug does.
5. 5

   Refill the rear drive unit
   Remove the rear fill plug fully. Using a fluid transfer pump, pump 2.0 qt (1.89 L) of 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil into the fill port. The fill port doubles as the level check port — the correct level is when fluid just begins to weep back out of the fill hole with the vehicle level. If you reach 2.0 qt and no overflow occurs, stop and verify the vehicle is truly level on the lift before adding more.
   ⚠Overfilling causes seal blow-out and fluid migration toward the inverter side. Do not exceed the level indicated by the fill port.
6. 6

   Reinstall the rear fill plug
   Install the rear fill plug with a fresh sealing washer if applicable. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. Wipe the housing clean of any spilled oil so post-service leaks are easy to identify.
7. 7

   Drain the front drive unit
   Reposition the drain pan beneath the front drive unit drain plug. Remove the drain plug and allow the front gearbox to drain at least 10 minutes. The front unit on a 2024 Model Y Performance is the smaller induction motor unit and typically drains a slightly smaller volume than the rear PMSR. Inspect drained fluid and the magnet (if present) as before.
8. 8

   Reinstall the front drive unit drain plug
   Install the front drive unit drain plug with a fresh sealing washer if applicable. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
9. 9

   Refill the front drive unit
   Remove the front fill plug fully. Pump 1.5 qt (1.42 L) of 75W-90 GL-5 gear oil into the fill port. As with the rear, the correct level is when fluid begins to weep back out of the fill hole with the vehicle level.
10. 10

    Reinstall the front fill plug
    Install the front fill plug with a fresh sealing washer if applicable. Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual. Wipe the housing clean.
11. 11

    Inspect for immediate leaks
    With both units refilled, inspect each plug and the surrounding case mating surfaces for any weep. A small wet ring around the plug head is acceptable from spillage; an active drip is not — re-torque or re-inspect the sealing washer.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the front and rear underbody aeroshields/belly pans, returning all clips and Torx fasteners to their original locations. Ensure the front aero tray is fully seated — a hanging tray will tear off at highway speed.
2. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
3. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery negative terminal and reinstall the cargo area trim/load floor.
4. Allow the vehicle to wake and complete its self-check (touchscreen boot, suspension/brake checks). Clear any transient alerts.

Verification

• Drive the vehicle for 5–10 miles, including light throttle and a few moderate accelerations to circulate gear oil through both units. The rear drive unit on Performance AWD has an active oil pump — listen for any unusual whine or grinding from either unit.
• Re-lift the vehicle and inspect both drive unit drain and fill plugs for leaks after the test drive. A clean dry plug face is the pass condition.
• Confirm no warning messages on the touchscreen related to drivetrain, drive inverter, or stability control.
• Log the service in your records. Per current Tesla guidance, drive unit gear oil is no longer 'lifetime' — plan on the next inspection/change at 25,000–50,000 mi from this service, sooner if the vehicle sees track or sustained high-power use.

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