![]() ![]() Do not drive the vehicle if you get this message after the brake fluid level has been topped off. This warning should only come up after brake pads wear considerably, which can happen after two to four years. If your Tesla keeps losing brake fluid, have the vehicle checked by an auto mechanic immediately. You should not have to add brake fluid regularly. As your brake pads start to wear out, the brake fluid is transferred from the brake reservoir to the brake calipers to compensate for the space created by the worn brake pads. Tesla Brake Fluid Low Warningīrake fluid level low warning on a tesla means that the brake fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir is low, and you need to add brake fluid immediately. Make sure to use brake fluid from a sealed container. You can use any brand of brake fluid as long as it is the type printed on top of the brake fluid reservoir DOT3, DOT4, DOT5.1. The recommended Tesla brake fluid is also printed on top of the brake fluid reservoir. If you are unsure, look it up in the owner’s manual. Most Tesla vehicles, such as Tesla Model 3, use DOT 3 Brake Fluid. If any brake fluid drips on the body panels, rinse it off with water. Do not overfill above the MAX line.ĭo not spill brake fluid on the vehicle. Add the recommended brake fluid to bring the just below the MAX mark.If the level is low, rotate the cap counterclockwise to remove it.Check the brake fluid level by looking at the side of the brake fluid reservoir.Use a clean cloth to wipe off any dirt or dust from the top of the brake fluid reservoir and cap.Remove the long black plastic cover near the bottom of the windshield by pulling it up.Go to the front of the vehicle and lift the hood.Press open on the touchscreen to open the hood (frunk).They work on all cars, not just electric cars.Īlso see this other CleanTechnica article about maintenance on a Tesla Model 3 with 50,000 miles, Zach wrote about his maintenance costs here, and my last article on Tesla maintenance is here.How to check Tesla brake fluid level and top off the brake fluid: Since the test strips go bad after 3 years and you have to buy 15 of them, please share them with your friends so they don’t go to waste. Tesla recommends this every 2 years, but it is so easy that you may want to do it every 12 months. If you prefer watching a YouTube video to reading written instructions, here is a good video: I have those around my house for use in the smoke detectors, so I didn’t need to buy one. The tester needs a 9V battery (not included). Here is a link to the Beley electronic tester I bought. Here is the link to the Phoenix Systems test strips (remember they expire after 3 years). Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any products locally to test the brake fluid, so I had to buy them online at Amazon. Since then, I have read that Tesla uses DOT3. At the time, I didn’t know what kind of fluid I had in my car, but it doesn’t change much anyway. It gives slightly different results if you hit the DOT3, DOT4 and DOT 5.1 buttons. 1% is good and 4% is bad, so 1.5% is pretty good. I also used an electronic tester to check the amount of water in my brake fluid. If they tested for water, they would turn purple. I tested this by dipping them in tap water. Just to be extra safe, I wanted to try another type of testing. I read the strips expire after 3 years, so it appears the strip might not have given accurate results. I also had some 4-year-old test strips and I tried this test and the strip came out white or zero parts per million. At 10 parts per million, my 4-year-old Model 3 doesn’t need new brake fluid yet. Now compare the test strip to the card that comes with the strips. Open the cover and open your test strip and dip the strip in the brake fluid. ![]() How I Tested My Brake Fluid On My 2018 Tesla Model 3Ĭarefully pop off the cover at the top of the frunk.Ĭlean the brake filler cover with a lint free cloth. You also might spend $100 and the time needed to replace your brake fluid unnecessarily. If you leave it many years, it might damage your master brake cylinder or other parts. If you check for this, you can then change your brake fluid before major damage is done. That isn’t true because brake fluid can absorb moisture, and this can cause corrosion. ![]() Some people think that means you don’t have to do any maintenance on your brakes. Most of us know that because electric vehicles use regenerative braking, they rarely use their friction brakes. The Importance of Testing Your Brake Fluid ![]()
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