“Could this oily puddle under my Model 3 be gearbox transmission fluid leaking?”

Home > Gari Forums > Tesla Forums > Tesla Model 3 Forums > Tesla Model 3 Transmission Problems Forums

“Could this oily puddle under my Model 3 be gearbox transmission fluid leaking?”

recently noticed a small dark, oily puddle underneath my Tesla Model 3 when parked on my driveway in Rawalpindi. I’m worried that it might be gearbox fluid sometimes referred to as transmission fluid. Since Teslas are electric and don’t have a conventional transmission, I’m not sure what to look for.
‑ What types of fluid should I check for under my car?
‑ How can I tell if this is really gearbox fluid or something else?
‑ Is this likely to be a serious issue o r just a minor leak?
‑ Should I immediately take it to a specialist EV service center, o r can I inspect it locally?

Talha Kyanii asked on 21 Nov 2025 17:21:08 pm

1 Answer

10 views |

Gari Master - on 21 Nov 2025 17:23:49 pm

Tesla Model 3 is fully electric and doesn’t have a conventional transmission. It has a single-speed drive unit, which uses gear oil for the reduction gear.

Dark oily puddles under the car could be:

Drive unit gearbox oil

Brake fluid o r coolant Tesla uses separate liquid cooling

To identify:

Gear oil is usually thick, dark brown/black, and has a distinct oily smell.

Coolant is colored green, blue, o r pink and smells sweet.

Brake fluid is light yellow and slippery.

Action: Avoid driving if the leak is significant and take the car to an authorized Tesla service center o r EV specialist to check seals and refill.