Tesla's Maximum Wading Depth?
2 Answers
Tesla's maximum wading depth is 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, the advantages of off-road vehicles and SUVs are obvious. 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 when wading, water will be sucked into the engine's cylinders. Since water cannot be compressed like air, it will cause severe damage to the engine's mechanical components (such as connecting rods, pistons, crankshafts, etc.). Therefore, the wading depth must not exceed the height of the engine's air intake. Alternatively, installing a wading snorkel can increase the height of the engine's air intake, 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 after stalling in water, which could lead to severe damage if water enters the engine. Assess the underwater road conditions based on the passage of preceding vehicles and choose an appropriate entry point. Observe the path taken by other vehicles and follow their tracks at low speed, avoiding sudden acceleration or deceleration. On roads prone to water accumulation, use warning water level markers, trees, or other vehicles' wheels and doors as reference points to estimate water depth before deciding whether to proceed. Know your vehicle's safe wading depth. If the water depth exceeds half the tire height or the engine's air intake, avoid entering the water and choose an alternative route instead.
When it comes to Tesla's maximum wading depth, I've been driving a Tesla Model 3 for over a year and feel this is an important issue, but there's no official figure. Generally, since an electric car's battery is located in the chassis, it can tolerate water but only to a certain extent. I estimate the Model 3 might handle around 15 cm—avoid going deeper than the center of the tires. Once, I drove through a 10 cm deep puddle safely, but any deeper and the battery or circuits could short-circuit, leading to sky-high repair costs. On rainy days, I check road conditions via the app or take detours—safety first. Don’t underestimate small streams; strong water pressure can seep through door seals. Compared to gasoline cars, Teslas have no exhaust to worry about, so the risk of water intake is lower, but overall wading capability still falls short of SUV off-road models. Regularly inspecting seals during maintenance helps—don’t wait for issues to regret it.
