5 ms·

How are the repairs for a Tesla Model 3 cheaper than for a Camry. $60 oil change x 20 = $1200. Everything else is the same or pricier for a Tesla.

lnsru 7y ago
I think you forgot fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs and couple of belts.
- ed_balls 7y ago
  Oil in a diff (AWD car), oil in gearbox, oil filter. Break pads and discs (EV use regen breaking so the wear difference is significant). In 5 years you may need to replace clutch etc. No sure if EV needs any coolant replacements.
  - lamchob 7y ago
    How would you drive in order to renew a clutch after 5 years? Usually a clutch lasts well beyond 10 years. Costs for break pads and and discs are also very low, unless you have ceramic break.
    - mrguyorama 7y ago
      Speaking as a brand new manual transmission driver: Learning
    - ed_balls 7y ago
      Driving a lot, say 80k a year. Driving on Uber or tracking.
- mrguyorama 7y ago
  A Camry at 5 years needs none of that. Plugs last until 120k, fuel filter might actually be lifetime, chain drive timing, which is recommended change at 100k but most people don't, because most people who own Toyotas don't do maintenance, air filter should be every 20kish, but won't hurt the average car too much to go 120k.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
jacquesm 7y ago
And 20 oil changes is ridiculously high for a modern engine. BMW service intervals in Europe using synthetic oil are about 35K km.
- jve 7y ago
  A mechanic which has put gas equipment for my car said that this is CRAZY. Oil could bear 35K km, but not the oil filter. He said that car should have oil change at ~10K km.
  - jacquesm 7y ago
    If I were your mechanic I'd say that too. Heck, there is a whole industry that is working hard to convince you to change your oil every 3000 miles or three months.
    - dzhiurgis 7y ago
      I think it really depends a lot on quality of oil and age of engine.
  - prepend 7y ago
    The manufacturer incurs a lot of liability by setting the oil maintenance window so high. So I don’t think they would do that without data to support this requirement. If the oil filter truly couldn’t last, then there would be many more failures. Which would be payable by the manufacture (either through warranty or class action law suit). Based on this simple analysis, I believe the manufacturer docs vs. a mechanic with no skin in the game who also makes money from frequent oil changes.
    - jtbayly 7y ago
      Unless they know it will last 150k miles and don't care beyond that. Or put more cynically, have set the window for artificial obsolescence of their vehicles early enough to goose sales, but late enough that their reputation and liability don't take a hit.
mywittyname 7y ago
Most Toyota engines have 10k oil change intervals and many dealers now offer free oil changes for life. Over the past five years, the only maintenance I've paid for on my Toyota has had four sets of wiper blades, a 12v battery, and tires. It didn't even need the tires, just the stock Goodyears are garbage and I didn't want to drive another snow season on them. All-in maintenance costs were in the neighborhood of $700 over five years.

lnsru 7y ago

I think you forgot fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs and couple of belts.

ed_balls 7y ago
Oil in a diff (AWD car), oil in gearbox, oil filter. Break pads and discs (EV use regen breaking so the wear difference is significant). In 5 years you may need to replace clutch etc. No sure if EV needs any coolant replacements.
- lamchob 7y ago
  How would you drive in order to renew a clutch after 5 years? Usually a clutch lasts well beyond 10 years. Costs for break pads and and discs are also very low, unless you have ceramic break.
  - mrguyorama 7y ago
    Speaking as a brand new manual transmission driver: Learning
  - ed_balls 7y ago
    Driving a lot, say 80k a year. Driving on Uber or tracking.
mrguyorama 7y ago
A Camry at 5 years needs none of that. Plugs last until 120k, fuel filter might actually be lifetime, chain drive timing, which is recommended change at 100k but most people don't, because most people who own Toyotas don't do maintenance, air filter should be every 20kish, but won't hurt the average car too much to go 120k.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

jacquesm 7y ago

And 20 oil changes is ridiculously high for a modern engine. BMW service intervals in Europe using synthetic oil are about 35K km.

jve 7y ago
A mechanic which has put gas equipment for my car said that this is CRAZY. Oil could bear 35K km, but not the oil filter. He said that car should have oil change at ~10K km.
- jacquesm 7y ago
  If I were your mechanic I'd say that too. Heck, there is a whole industry that is working hard to convince you to change your oil every 3000 miles or three months.
  - dzhiurgis 7y ago
    I think it really depends a lot on quality of oil and age of engine.
- prepend 7y ago
  The manufacturer incurs a lot of liability by setting the oil maintenance window so high. So I don’t think they would do that without data to support this requirement. If the oil filter truly couldn’t last, then there would be many more failures. Which would be payable by the manufacture (either through warranty or class action law suit). Based on this simple analysis, I believe the manufacturer docs vs. a mechanic with no skin in the game who also makes money from frequent oil changes.
  - jtbayly 7y ago
    Unless they know it will last 150k miles and don't care beyond that. Or put more cynically, have set the window for artificial obsolescence of their vehicles early enough to goose sales, but late enough that their reputation and liability don't take a hit.

mywittyname 7y ago

Most Toyota engines have 10k oil change intervals and many dealers now offer free oil changes for life. Over the past five years, the only maintenance I've paid for on my Toyota has had four sets of wiper blades, a 12v battery, and tires. It didn't even need the tires, just the stock Goodyears are garbage and I didn't want to drive another snow season on them. All-in maintenance costs were in the neighborhood of $700 over five years.