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A mechanic in the U.S. discovered that a customer had driven nearly 19,000 miles without doing an oil change!!! The revelation, a video uploaded to TikTok, sparked a debate about mechanical negligence, the consequences for the engine, and the importance of following basic maintenance recommendations… And although it may seem unbelievable, this is not an isolated case.
Many people don’t know how to take care of their cars!!!!
The video belongs to the mechanic Rotor Lathe and, of course, it has gone viral. A maintenance sticker showed the last oil change at 16,000 miles, while the car’s odometer was already close to 35,000… According to recommendations from organizations like the AAA, the oil should be changed every 5,000 miles at most!! So this driver had ignored the instructions for at least three full cycles… Is that normal? Let us tell you right away: no. But… What happens to an engine when oil changes are skipped?
The video that sparked the debate
Rotor Lathe (
@rotor.lathe
), a mechanic who often shares his stories on TikTok, showed the case of a new customer this time. Everything seemed normal but, when checking the car (a Ford, to be more specific) for an oil change, he noticed the sticker on the windshield: it marked the last service on December 19, 2023 at 16,000 miles… Now, the odometer showed 35,013 miles!!! Is this a ticking time bomb or an innocent mistake?
Some users suggested the customer might have changed the oil himself and forgotten to update the sticker… Others weren’t so forgiving: “If this car could talk, it would be screaming in pain”, one comment said. And they’re right. Besides being dangerous, it can destroy your car, so…
The comments left no one indifferent. One of our favourites was: “I love the part where you show us the crude oil”!
What are the effects of delaying the oil change that much?
The user manual exists for a reason… And both Ford and other manufacturers usually remind people to follow the maintenance intervals listed in the manual. The usual recommendation is to change it every 5,000–7,500 miles, depending on the type of oil and how the vehicle is used.
What they will never ever recommend is skipping changes. Why? Because you could break the engine due to excessive friction… and should we tell you how much it costs to replace a damaged engine with a new one? Better start saying goodbye to your beach vacation.
On Reddit, a forum where many people share their mechanical mistakes, several users admitted to driving up to 25,000 miles without changing the oil. One of them said the engine of his modified Honda Civic Si was destroyed after going 20,000 miles without service. So, the Ford story isn’t an exception, but part of a worrying trend among many drivers.
When is it too late?
Many people think that with modern cars, you don’t need to pay so much attention, and vehicles with maintenance monitoring systems can give a false sense that the oil change can wait… BUT NO! Even with long-lasting synthetic oils, extreme intervals can be disastrous if the car is used under severe conditions (short trips, heavy traffic, extreme climates).
So don’t hesitate, this isn’t just about changing the oil on time, but about not relying only on stickers. It’s about creating good habits so your vehicle can last longer. And it doesn’t matter if the car is new or not, you have to take care of it!!
TikTok as an educational channel
Many people criticize TikTok as a “swamp”, but the truth is you can learn a lot on that platform. For example, Rotor Lathe’s video has gathered thousands of views and has served as a warning for the most forgetful drivers.
If you don’t want to end up as the star of your mechanic’s next viral video, make sure you take your car to the shop on time. And yes, put the sticker on.
