Reader Question: High Mileage & Long-Term EV Maintenance

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We not too long ago obtained an e mail from a reader about sustaining EVs as they rack up mileage and because the years go by. For individuals who solely lease EVs and change to a brand new one each 2-3 years, this typically issues little or no, as you don’t normally get to the purpose the place an EV wants greater than possibly tires, wipers, and wiper fluid in that point. However, in case you’re trying to preserve an EV for 5-10 years or drive one into the bottom, you’ll most likely have questions like these:

“I own two Bolt EVs (2019, 2022), and the 2019 is approaching its 5 year coolant replacement maintenance. And the AC desiccant is supposed to be replaced every 7 years. One of the additional environmental benefits of EVs is less service and less damage due to fluid changes. The maintenance items mentioned above are in the Bolt owner’s manual in Chapter 11, Service and Maintenance.

I find it hard to believe that the coolant in my Bolt needs to be changed after five years. It is not subjected to the extremes seen in ICE vehicles (heat, contamination). It seems like GM applied the same thinking used for ICE vehicles to EVs. I understand there are additives in coolant that degrade. If that’s the case, wouldn’t the degradation be less in an EV? Can we add back any additives and continue using what is in the vehicle? I’ve never seen a good engineering reason for why I need to change my coolant at 5 years other than, “GM says so.”

One other upkeep merchandise I’ve by no means seen defined is the AC desiccant substitute at 7 years. I’ve owned a number of autos for 7 years or extra that by no means had the AC system serviced and it labored nice till I removed them. The final automobile was 12 years outdated and the AC was by no means serviced or touched and it was nonetheless working tremendous once I offered it this spring. There’s no approach I’m going to have a tech open my AC system at 7 years whether it is nonetheless working tremendous. That’s a recipe for catastrophe and complications to not point out potential environmental points. I perceive the Bolt makes use of R-1234yf, however as with the coolant, I can not discover any engineering motive for needing to interchange the desiccant at 7 years if the AC is working good. Aside from, “GM says so.”

I believed it may be informative and fascinating so that you can discover actual solutions to why these two gadgets are speculated to be serviced. If it doesn’t have to be achieved on the intervals said I see environmental benefits along with money and time financial savings.”

On this article, I need to discuss sustaining EVs over the long term, the place it can save you a couple of bucks, and the place you may’t.

Proactive vs Reactive Upkeep

Earlier than I get into specifics, I need to discuss two approaches to upkeep: proactive and reactive.

Automobile manuals typically advocate proactive upkeep. As an alternative of ready for issues to go fallacious or to lose perform, the guide says to do a factor each X miles or X months/years. This method is sweet since you change issues earlier than the common time to failure/degradation. Which means you by no means fall brief, and you retain the costlier issues from growing. Sounds good, proper?

However, there are some sorts of upkeep that don’t work this manner. For instance, you wouldn’t change your tires each X miles, as a result of too many issues have an effect on tire life. Some folks will solely get 10,000 miles out of a set of tires as a result of they’ve obtained a lead proper foot. Different folks will drive very conservatively, rotate tires religiously, and can by no means run over a nail. With the suitable tires, you would possibly go 50,000+ miles on a set. For issues like that, you alter/repair as wanted.

The bottom line is to know which upkeep gadgets you will get away with doing as wanted and which you actually shouldn’t. For instance, a gasoline automotive’s timing belt must be modified on schedule as a result of a failed timing belt can destroy the engine. No matter how good it appears, you’d go forward and deal with that.

Inspection & Testing Is The Key To Reactive Upkeep Objects

The reader e-mail above asks about altering coolant and altering the desiccant packet within the air-con system. Each of these things may be taken care of on an “as needed” reactive foundation, however it’s a must to keep watch over issues to keep away from critical issues.

Personally, I’d remember that a liquid cooling system doesn’t require something particular to perform its perform. In a pinch, you may put water in a radiator or EV coolant loop to make it to the subsequent city you probably have a leak. Within the film Crimson Daybreakthey piss within the radiator to get away from the communists. The primary motive you utilize a particular coolant is that you just don’t need the coolant to freeze when winter comes, which might suck as a result of water expands because it turns into ice, and that enlargement breaks issues.

So, for the coolant, that you must use a coolant testing package to verify the standard of your coolant earlier than the primary freeze comes. If the coolant doesn’t take a look at effectively, you’re up for a flush-fill. If it will probably deal with the approaching freeze, you’re good.

On the desiccant packet, you’ll most likely need to go forward and do this, however likelihood is that you just’re already up for some sort of air-con upkeep by the point you get to the 7-year mark. For those who get the AC serviced previous to that point or want a compressor, it’s most likely a good suggestion to have it modified at that time. However, in case you see rust or indicators of moisture within the system, undoubtedly get that packet modified.

Checking your automotive out 2-4 occasions per 12 months for different points that might come up is a typically good concept. For an EV, this implies inspecting the hoses, pans, suspension, brakes, and the underside of the battery pack for indicators of issues. Leaks, cracks, or the rest that appears bizarre will most likely want additional work, and this may occur extra because the automobile ages.

Even newer EVs must be inspected usually as a part of the upkeep, even in case you observe all proactive upkeep suggestions. Issues are typically much less prone to go fallacious, however you by no means actually know for positive!

Featured picture: two coolant tanks beneath the hood of a Bolt EUV, by Jennifer Sensiba.