This is what the 'oil filter' on a Tesla Model Y actually does, after confusing a lot of people
Published on Jun 03, 2025 at 1:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 03, 2025 at 6:57 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Fenton
This is what an oil filter on a Tesla Model Y actually does, and it has confused a lot of EV owners.
The Model Y is, of course, a 100 per cent electric vehicle, and the revelation that they have an oil filter has led to some confused EV drivers.
However, it isn’t engine oil that the car needs; instead, the fluid is for the transmission, which makes much more sense than engine oil!
Despite the Model Y obviously not having an engine, it still led to many people taking to the internet to try and find a dipstick location.
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A specific component of the Tesla Model Y requires fluid to function properly.
It can be found in a little canister for the transmission filter of the EV.
What this does is keep the oil in the electric drive units clean and free from any wear particles.
So the Model Y isn’t burning oil, but it is filtering some of it to ensure that everything functions as it should.
That certainly would confuse some, as the Model Y feels very futuristic apart from that!
The transmission filter/drive unit oil filter maintains the purity of the fluid inside the electric drive unit’s transmission.
Tesla doesn’t reuse the components from older gasoline-powered cars either.
The part itself is 1618882-50-B, and it is a bespoke item for Tesla’s electric vehicles.
All-wheel drive Model Ys have two filters, one for the front drive unit and one for the rear.
What the filter does is serve the reduction transmission, with the gears bathed in the special lubricant.
Keeping the oil as clean as possible is important, as without the filter, unwelcome particles could recirculate in the transmission.
That would cause more wear and shorten the life of the drive unit.
Owners will have to swap the filters at some point, although that requires special tools to do so.
Many will find it easy to take it to a Tesla dealership to see if they can repair or replace them.
It’s clear, though, that without the filter, your Tesla Model Y may not function as intended.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
