Mechanic with 20 years of experience discovers a Japanese oil change method and Americans are doing it wrong

This mechanic with 20 years of experience has taken to TikTok after discovering a Japanese oil change method, which may some questioning whether Americans are doing it wrong.

Tyler Wesley shared his revelation with the world and people responded with their own methods.

The newfound method he discovered involves extra oil, two filters, and two complete changes.

Will this Japanese oil change method impress everyone else as much as it’s impressed him?

Mechanics are always sharing their tricks and tips online

Back in the pre-internet days, you’d have to go to your local repair shop to hear some of the mechanics dispense their pearls of wisdom.

But with social media, these nuggets are available at the swipe of your finger.

More and more mechanics are sharing advice online, whether that’s to do with windscreen wipers or automatic cars.

There’s even advice on how to avoid a ‘common garage scam’.

This time around, it wasn’t so much advice being offered out, but a revelation.

The Japanese oil change method

Wesley revealed the Japanese oil change method to his TikTok account.

“The reason they still do it is because the cars that they’ve done this on have reached up to 600,000 miles,” he said.

“And we’re not talking some top-of-the-line engines here, we’re talking about crappy four-cylinder engines.”

Now, the words ‘Japanese oil change method’ will likely mean nothing to you.

And you’re not alone in that regard – Wesley has 20 years of experience and he just heard about it recently.

So how does it work exactly?

While the engine is hot, add an additional quart of fresh oil into the crankcase on top of the existing oil.

The car would then be driven briefly to circulate this mixed oil, giving the detergents in the new oil a chance to loosen up sludge and deposits that have built up in the engine.

Then the hot oil is drained, with the oil filter being replaced by a new one, and the engine being refilled with a full load of fresh oil.

You would take the car out for a 15 to 20 minute drive with the fresh batch.

After that drive, you would drain all of the oil out, install a second oil filter, and fill the engine with a final batch of fresh oil.

It does sound like it’s got too many bells and whistles at first, right?

But some swear by it, crediting clearing the engine of debris as the key to helping engines reach 500,000 miles.

However, despite the name, this isn’t standard practice throughout all of Japan.

For example, major manufacturers like Toyota don’t make any mention of double-draining and warn against overfilling an engine.

So even in Japan, this method appears to be something of a niche.

@tylerjohnwesley

Japanese oil change #DadHacks #DadTips #LifeHacks #EverydayFixes #DIYDad

♬ original sound – Tyler Wesley

What did people online think of this Japanese oil change method?

But what did commenters make of Wesley’s discovery?

Some were offering up their own methods.

“You can also just do 1,500 mile oil changes like I do,” one viewer wrote.

“Every time I have bought a used car, we change the oil first thing and then put 500-1k miles and flush it hot, it’s amazing when you cut the filters open what gunk you find,” another said.

Whether you decide to take the Japanese oil change method on as your own or not, it’s always best to do your research beforehand.