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Woman Brings Out-Of-Warranty Hyundai To Shop. Then The Mechanic Decides To Take Care Of Her

"They’re running on gas fumes and a dream."

Woman Brings car To Shop. Then The Mechanic Checks Her Dipstick And Decides To Take Care Of Her

Photo by: sparkscarcare & Václav Pechar

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Mar 16, at 6:00am ET

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A mechanic is restoring faith in his profession after showing how he and a coworker helped get a customer’s out-of-warranty Hyundai back on the road without breaking the bank. His experience is also raising questions about proper car maintenance.

In a recent TikTok posted by Sparks Car Care (@sparkscarcare), a mechanic says he’s noticed a pattern with certain vehicles that come into his shop. "They’re running on gas fumes and a dream," he says, referring to some Kias and Hyundais that customers have clearly failed to properly maintain.

He then walks to a Hyundai sitting in his bay. When he checks the oil, he says there’s barely anything showing on the dipstick. "No oil," the mechanic says. The team tops off the oil and begins looking for other issues they can address without driving up the cost.

"We’re going to try and help the customer out here as cheap as possible," the mechanic explains.

The video shows him installing a new oil pan and replacing a few components under the car, one of which required temporarily removing a tire. A younger mechanic in the shop helps with the work as they take off several bolts and reinstall the panel using pushpins.

While inspecting the engine, the mechanic also points out what he calls "crackage in the belt." He says it’s something to keep an eye on, though it doesn’t appear to require immediate replacement.

Once the work is finished, he adds an oil supplement and checks the oil level again. "This one’s a wrap. Oil is full," he says.

He suggests the driver return in a few months so the shop can monitor oil consumption and ensure the car stays in good shape. As of this writing, the video had more than 2.1 million views.

What Does It Mean If There’s No Oil On The Dipstick?

No oil showing on the dipstick typically indicates the engine is extremely low on oil. In many cases, the level has dropped one or more quarts below what the engine needs to run safely.

That can happen for a few different reasons. Sometimes the engine is leaking oil from worn seals or gaskets. In other cases, the engine may be burning oil internally, which is more common in older or higher-mileage vehicles.

Either way, it’s not something drivers should ignore. Running an engine with little or no oil can cause serious damage because oil keeps the engine lubricated. Without it, components begin rubbing directly against each other, which can quickly lead to expensive repairs or even total engine failure.

If the dipstick comes out dry, drivers usually need to add oil right away. Many mechanics recommend adding about a quart at a time and then checking the dipstick again until the level falls within the safe range.

It’s also a good idea to look for signs of a leak, such as oil spots under the vehicle or residue around the engine—both of which suggest there’s a leak somewhere in the system.

If there are no visible leaks, the engine may simply be burning oil. In that case, mechanics recommend checking the oil more frequently to keep the level from dropping too low between changes.

Viewers Question Car’s Condition

Commenters who watched the Sparks Car Care video mostly focused on one thing: How could a car end up with so little oil in the engine?

"Do they burn that much oil? And how do they not break without oil?" one viewer asked.

The mechanic responded in the comments.

"Yep, seeing it more and more these days with most manufacturers. Luck of the draw," he wrote.

Another person wondered why the issue was happening in the first place.

"Why is a newer car burning so much oil?" they asked.

Another viewer pointed to the warning systems built into many vehicles.

"Don’t the vehicles warn about oil pressure?" this person asked. "How do you let it get that bad?"

"Where did the oil go?" another commenter wondered.

Not everyone in the comments was focused on the car itself. Some viewers instead picked up on the back-and-forth between the two mechanics working on the vehicle.

"That’s the way a journeyman should teach an apprentice," one viewer wrote. "Not like I was, I just got thrown into a job I didn’t know how to do and had to figure it out."

Others took a more playful tone.

"Are you two married?" another commenter joked.

What do you think?

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"Can you guys kiss already?" a third person added.

Motor1 has reached out to Sparks Car Care via a direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this article if it responds.

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