Motor Oil And Electric Cars

One of the biggest things to get used to with fully electric vehicles is the drastic change in what a tune-up and a maintenance schedule look like. Because an electric car doesn’t have a normal combustion engine like regular vehicles, it doesn’t require motor oil for all those moving parts. While they still need regular electric motor maintenance to maintain efficiency at maximum levels, those traditional oil changes that always creep up on us are null and void with an electric vehicle. Great, right!? Let’s get into the work that needs to happen on an electric vehicle. Then, you’ll have a well-rounded picture of what’s required for a vehicle such as that.

Oil? Fluids? Lubricants?

Nope, nope, and nope. At least, not the regular kind you are used to dealing with, anyway. Electric cars still have requirements and needs that have to be met. They also come with their own fluids, oils, and lubricants essential to any electric car that wants to function properly. Don’t worry, however. These cars require much less maintenance than a traditional vehicle but don’t neglect it. You’ll never need a traditional oil change, but you’ll still need to have things checked, like the lubricant used in an electric vehicle’s transmission gear reducer.

Zero Maintenance?

Never. No car on the planet is completely maintenance-free. However, an electric vehicle is the closest you’ll come to that. They have motors that need to be taken care of, but not as traditional engines require. You still need to keep an eye on the electric motor and the gearbox because if systems like that malfunction regularly, the battery drain can leave you stranded. Don’t panic, though, because the good thing about a set-up like this is that any maintenance you need on the vehicle won’t have to be done often. That means less upfront operational costs for you to handle. While there is no set timestamp for when check-ups of this nature need to be done, it is highly recommended that you get a check-up on your vehicle at least once a year. Two, if you can swing the cost, especially if you drive more than 20,000 miles in any given year.

What Maintenance Tasks Do Electric Vehicles Need?

Mapping out a maintenance schedule can become exhausting, especially with the research necessary to put all the pieces together. You could, of course, ask your trusty ASE-certified mechanic for their advice. Or, you could keep reading and save our EV-check-up outline for your own personal reference. Your choice.

Here is a rough guideline for when most things in an electric vehicle should be checked on:

• Every 7,500 miles, rotate tires and inspect all systems.
• Every 15k miles, change out those wiper blades.
• Every 36k miles, take care of that cabin air filter, so you don’t get sick.
• Every 75k miles, have someone replace the hood gas struts.
• Every 5 years, top off all fluids and replace that nasty brake fluid.
• Every 7 years, remove that air conditioning desiccant and replace it.

That’s it! What about the spark plugs, you ask? Not necessary since EVs don’t use traditional combustion engines. What about exchanging those drive belts? Can’t do that if they aren’t present. But what if the carburetor floods? How is that possible if the vehicle doesn’t have one? Exhaust system issues? Radiator problems? Blown head gaskets? No, nope, and uh-uh. While an EV isn’t a zero-maintenance car, it’s about as close as you can get to one. Still, you’ll need to ensure you have a reputable auto repair shop on speed dial for when those pesky maintenance issues above do come around, and that’s where we come in. At Jeff’s Auto Repair, we are in the know when it comes to electric vehicles. Our ASE-certified technicians stay updated on the latest requirements from car manufacturers, which means that your vehicle will get the best service possible right here in our shop. So, stop by and see us at 21701 Hwy 99, Lynnwood, WA 98036 or call us at (425) 771-4588 to schedule an appointment with our EV experts today.