Mechanic exposes trick that should make you 'run away' when buying a used car
Published on Jun 22, 2025 at 2:37 PM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jun 19, 2025 at 3:38 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Claire Reid
A US mechanic has shared one thing to look out for when buying a used car and has urged folks to ‘run away’ if they find it.
Millions of folks the world over buy used cars, either to save a bit of cash, bag themselves a bargain, or to get their hands on a classic.
However, if you’re not particularly mechanically-minded it can be a bit of minefield.
But one mechanic has revealed a simple thing to check for to avoid landing yourself with a lemon.
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The mechanic shared one thing to look out for on a used car
When it comes to buying a second-hand car, we’ve all heard the horror stories.
There’s a story about a man who handed over a whopping $130,000 for a sight-unseen Plymouth Superbird, which turned out to be riddled with problems, and another man who ended up with serious buyer’s remorse after a 1984 Cadillac Eldorado.
However, mechanic and TikToker @jackofallbeards has shared a handy little tip to avoid buying a dud car.
In a clip posted on TikTok, the mechanic can be seen looking at a Jeep Cherokee that appeared to be in decent condition.
“This is a 2015 Jeep Cherokee, 159,000 miles. You’re gonna see a lot of vehicles like this on the market right now,” he explained.
“It’s not the vehicle in specific, but something that it has that—I want y’all to look out for oil on the dipstick. Near perfect, super clean. That itself is not a red flag.”
So far, so good, right?
But he then pointed out the one thing you ought to ‘run away’ from if you spot.
He slowly removed the oil cap and as he did so thick, sticky strands held on. Gross, but also a major red flag.
“You see how it strings? That means they put some super thick stuff in here,” he continued.
“If you ever see the oil get stringing off the oil cap like that, run away.”
He’s not the first mechanic to share some top tips
This TikToker isn’t the only mechanic fighting the good fight.
@jackofallbeards Cant stress this enough…. Do your research and befriend a knowledgeable and HONEST mechanic! #carbuyingtips #carsales #dealershiplife #junk #certifiedshitbox #iykyk ♬ original sound – Jackofallbeards
This New York-based veteran mechanic revealed the one thing you can do to your car to ‘reset’ it and fix it for free.
While this guy shared a list of common mistakes car owners make that he makes sure he avoids.
And over in this UK, this mechanic was quick to dispel a common myth you may have about car repairs.
Keep up the good work, guys!
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
