What is the wading capability of the Model 3?
1 Answers
Tesla Model 3 has a maximum wading depth of approximately 138mm. The wading depth of the Tesla Model 3 is determined by the height of the vehicle's chassis, which is the ground clearance listed in the vehicle'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 of the Tesla Model 3 is below the water level during 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 must not exceed the height of the engine's air intake. The height of the engine's air intake, and thus the maximum wading depth, can also be increased by installing a snorkel. If wading is unavoidable, the following safe and correct operations should be performed: Before the vehicle enters the water, always turn off the auto start-stop function to prevent the engine from automatically restarting after stalling in water, which could cause severe damage due to water ingestion; 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 and drive at a low speed, avoiding sudden acceleration or deceleration; On roads prone to water accumulation, observe warning water level markers, trees, and other reference points like the wheels and doors of other vehicles to estimate the water depth before deciding whether to proceed; Know your vehicle's safe wading depth. If the water depth exceeds half of the tire height or the engine's air intake, do not proceed and choose an alternative route instead.
