Can Tesla Vehicles Wade Through Water?

[VonHeidi]

Tesla's capability to wade through water depends on the vehicle's wading depth. The maximum safe wading depth for a Tesla is approximately 138mm. Tesla's wading depth is determined by the height of the vehicle's chassis, which is the ground clearance listed in the model's parameter configuration table. Generally, the greater the ground clearance, the higher the chassis, and the higher the safety factor when passing through waterlogged roads. Therefore, in terms of safe wading depth, off-road vehicles and SUVs have obvious advantages. However, for most compact and small cars with low chassis, the position of the vehicle's air intake should be used as a benchmark when passing through waterlogged roads. If the air intake is below the water level while wading, water will be sucked into the engine's cylinders. Since water cannot be compressed like air, it can cause severe damage to the engine's mechanical components (such as connecting rods, pistons, crankshafts, etc.). Therefore, the wading depth should not exceed the height of the engine's air intake. Installing a snorkel can raise the air intake height, thereby increasing the maximum wading depth. If wading is unavoidable, the following safe and correct operations should be performed: Before wading, always turn off the auto start-stop function to prevent the engine from automatically restarting if the vehicle stalls in water, which could lead to severe engine damage due to water ingress. Assess the underwater road conditions based on the passage of preceding vehicles and choose an appropriate entry point. Follow the path taken by other vehicles, drive slowly, and avoid sudden acceleration or deceleration. On roads prone to water accumulation, observe warning water level markers, trees, or other vehicles' wheels and doors as reference points to estimate water depth before deciding whether to proceed. Understand your vehicle's safe wading depth. If the water depth exceeds half of the tire height or the engine's air intake level, avoid entering the water and choose an alternative route.