If you're driving a green car for the first time, you probably have some questions. At Fields BMW Northfield, we've noticed that many questions we hear from new owners concern maintenance. Does maintenance on a new electric car differ from a gas-powered model? Do you still need a BMW oil change if you have an electric vehicle?
Whether you're a new owner or just curious about green car maintenance, we can help.
Oil Changes and Electric Cars
The oil in your vehicle is meant to lubricate the engine and keep all of its parts protected from friction and heat. Without fresh oil, an engine can easily overwork itself and end up getting damaged.
Your electric BMW vehicle lacks a standard combustion engine. As a result, it does not actually need any oil. Your vehicle runs solely on electricity and the power sources are a battery and electric motors, neither of which need oil. However, a lack of oil doesn't mean that your electric car's maintenance needs are any less important than those of a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Electric Car Maintenance
There are still many important parts of your electric car that require proper maintenance. There's the battery, charge port, onboard charger, and a variety of other components that keep your green car moving.
Additionally, your car requires many additional fluids that a conventional vehicle does. You may not need gasoline or oil, but an electric car still needs:
- Coolant
- Brake fluid
- Transmission fluid
Running low on any of these fluids can cause mechanical problems. In other words, just because your car doesn't need oil, you still can't afford to skip routine maintenance.
Whether you're driving a new electric car or a gasoline-powered vehicle, our BMW service center near Chicago should be your first stop for any maintenance that you need. Our factory-trained mechanics can answer any questions that you have about properly caring for a green luxury vehicle!