Last Updated on January 8, 2023 by Leepu Da Maxim
Yes, all Tesla vehicles have coolant. Coolant is a very important piece of equipment for a vehicle because it removes heat from the engine and helps the engine to maintain the optimum temperature. In tesla, a coolant removes the heat from the electric motor and other components.
Key Takeaways
- The coolant is a type of liquid that is made from a mixture of water and a chemical called ethylene glycol
- The main reason for using Ethylene glycol as a coolant is, it lowers the freezing point of the liquid and increases its boiling point
- The battery cells of tesla cars maintain the temperature at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 28 degrees Celsius
- The Coolant of Tesla car can keep the temperature from exceeding 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
The Battery Coolant Used For All Teslas
| Features | Description |
| HOAT | Hybrid Organic Acid Technology |
| Mixed Formula | Mix an OAT with a traditional inhibitor, like silicates |
| Lifespan | 180,000 miles or 10 years |
| Color | Turquoise |
| Zerex Coolant | Zerex G-48 |
| Used In Other Vehicles | BMW, Mini, Volvo, among others |
Does Tesla Use Coolant?
First, it is necessary to consider that Tesla vehicles include a pair of radiators in their final design. On the one hand, one of them is used for the air conditioning system. While air conditioning systems are not the same on all Tesla vehicles, a radiator is always included in this system.
On the other hand, a radiator is also usually included for the cooling of the battery engine. Of course, the design here is not the same compared of conventional gasoline internal combustion vehicles. In particular, here the functionality of the radiator in each of these vehicles is very different.
A battery electric vehicle has a higher level of efficiency of both the systems involved and the engine. So, this allows the heat generated by the operation of these vehicles to be much lower than the heat of conventional vehicles. Typically, the battery cells maintain the temperature at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or 28 degrees Celsius.
So, the refrigerant allows this temperature to be maintained and prevents it from getting too high. So, this means that the coolant can keep the temperature from exceeding 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This also explains why the radiators on battery electric vehicles are 100 degrees smaller than those on conventional internal combustion vehicles.
Also, another great advantage is that the various similar components of battery-electric vehicles offer a longer service life. Here specifically the coolant, hoses, radiators, and pumps can be included in the interior. In this way, a large number of failures and damages that commonly exist in conventional vehicles are also avoided.
This manufacturer recommends a 150,000-mile coolant change service. With a distance less than this number of miles, it is not necessary to incorporate a similar service. There’s also a big advantage because no pulleys, belts, or other similar items that can fail with wear are included.
Simply put, Tesla vehicles use coolant that serves to drain the batteries that power these vehicles. Besides, the life of this coolant greatly exceeds the life of similar components used in internal combustion vehicles.
Do Tesla Cars Have Brake Fluid?
Like other vehicles, Tesla cars require different fluids to operate. For one thing, windshield fluid is required on all Tesla vehicles. Also, the brake fluid needs to be added and replaced from time to time. In particular, this is often the case with both battery-electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles.
If you wait too long then the brake fluid could become contaminated. Once this happens the vehicle’s brakes simply start to work improperly. However, the life of brake fluid on Tesla vehicles is not the same compared to conventional vehicles.
The big difference between these two types of vehicles is the great advantage offered by Tesla’s regenerative braking. While driving, Tesla vehicles have two types of brakes. Here, the driver can avoid using the brake pedal to slow down. Instead, they can choose to simply release the accelerator pedal to slow down.
When this happens, the vehicle’s engine starts running exactly the opposite way. This activates regenerative braking that takes advantage of the vehicle’s kinetic energy. This allows for the recovery of some of the energy. This recovered energy is then directed back to the battery for use again.
Of course, regenerative braking works at full capacity when the batteries are not full. If the battery is fully charged then regenerative braking works to a very limited extent. Here, there is simply no energy recovery required as there is no storage capacity.
However, brakes are not necessary when regenerative braking is used. This is why the brakes are usually only reserved for certain emergencies. Of course, this greatly extends the life of the brake fluid. Even the manufacturer recommends replacing the brake fluid every two years.
In short, the increased technology of Tesla greatly outperforms the technology incorporated in the brakes of conventional vehicles. Thus, the longer brake fluid life on Tesla cars provides excellent money savings. In this case, you can simply use the same brake fluid for much longer on a Tesla vehicle.
Do Tesla Cars Have Heaters?
As mentioned, Tesla vehicles do not have an internal combustion engine to drive the air conditioning compressor. In this case, air conditioning works very differently from how it works in conventional vehicles. Here, it requires an electric motor analogous to that found in a home-style refrigerator or home air conditioner.
In particular, this is the same situation in both battery-electric vehicles as well as in hybrid vehicles. This uses a liquid with a collector between the cells that contain some refrigerant. In this way, the battery packs in a Tesla vehicle can be cooled. This is necessary to prevent the temperature of these vehicles from being too high.
During a discharge or a charge, heat can be removed by pumping ethylene glycol. In particular, this is the same heat that can be generated by a smartphone in use or a simple laptop.
Beyond that, the difference here is that the refrigerant is a key part of being able to stabilize the temperature properly. So, this is the way to take care of the life of the battery pack in Tesla vehicles.
In turn, this same heat can have two different uses. On the one hand, the heat can simply be discharged by external radiation when it is not needed. On the other hand, this same heat can be reused to condition the temperature of the vehicle’s cabin. Tesla vehicles are highly efficient because they can reuse certain key components.
The same logic applied to the reuse of heat is what happens with regenerative braking that we have mentioned. Also, resistance heaters may be required that require a lot of battery power to operate. In particular, these resistance heaters are very useful in preventing the excessive cold outside from entering the vehicle’s cabin.
So, the battery supplies energy in the airstream to accommodate the cabin temperature at a comfortable level. Some users may feel that this is too inefficient a method of heating as it can be wasteful. In this case, it is an inappropriate design that requires too much energy from the battery. Of course, this considerably decreases the distance range of the vehicle.
Some Tesla vehicle owners offer alternative solutions so as not to waste too much energy when obtaining a comfortable temperature. Here, it is simply a matter of incorporating small diesel heaters. So, you get an excellent heat source without wasting energy from battery packs.
Of course, this is a very useful solution only for very cold days. Besides, it is a fairly affordable option that can be perfectly complemented by the vehicle’s cabin.
Does Teslas Need To Warm Up?
A good way to save energy in a Tesla vehicle is to heat the battery before starting a trip. You can have your vehicle ready to drive by configuring your car properly. This can be done by using the touch screen and selecting the “programmed output” function.
This will allow the vehicle to warm up the battery at the time chosen by the owner. Other ways to heat the battery are by defrosting it in the Tesla application or by activating the pre-conditioning. Otherwise, the energy needed to start the trip with cold batteries would be too much. That is why Tesla vehicle owners recommend heating the battery before driving.
How Much Does A Full Load Of Tesla Cost?
When dealing with a range of 250 miles a budget of approximately $22 is required. Beyond that, vehicles that require half a charge or 150 miles of range require a budget of $11. Of course, electricity costs are not the same in every country or geographic region.
Also, it is necessary to consider that different Tesla vehicles have different ranges. Even the waiting time needed to charge a Tesla vehicle is important. Sometimes, it takes 20 to 25 minutes to get 150 miles of range. In this case, a Tesla supercharger is required.
On the other hand, some vehicles that require a full load need 260 miles of range. Here, a full load may be unnecessary because superchargers are located between 125 to 150 miles. When a full load of 260 miles is required, it may take 70 to 75 minutes.
Sometimes a public charger can be used to get 20 to 25 miles of range for each hour of charging. However, these charging stations are not as common today.
References:
https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_eu/GUID-13D13407-8200-46DD-978F-3C5DC70BCC21.html
Hi, I’m Leepu Da Maxim, a dedicated car enthusiast with over 10 years of experience in this field, and I’m thrilled to share my passion and expertise with fellow car enthusiasts like you. My journey began in my hometown West Jordan, Utah, where my fascination with the mechanics and design of cars sparked at a young age. Over the years, this passion has evolved into a commitment to providing accurate, insightful, and engaging information about all things automotive through CarsAmazing.
