A woman in Washington state recently poured 10 quarts of oil into her SUV after misreading a dashboard gauge. The vehicle is reportedly “still running fine,” but it has started smoking. This is a serious problem for anyone who cares about their engine’s health, because that’s way too much oil in the system.
The incident went viral after creator Candace Jones shared a Facebook reel saying she was confused about why her oil gauge wouldn’t move. She said the needle was stuck halfway, and she tried to fix it by adding oil until the gauge read “full.”
Jones zoomed in on the gauge and asked viewers for help. “Could somebody please tell me why I can’t get this oil gauge full?” she asked. She revealed how much she added, stating, “I have put two of these [five-quart oil containers] in there, and for some reason, I can’t get it full.” That means she dumped ten quarts into a system that likely holds only four or five quarts total.
Most modern cars don’t have oil level gauges anymore
Most modern passenger vehicles don’t have an oil level gauge at all. If you’re checking your oil level, you need to use the dipstick or rely on electronic sensors that only warn you when the level gets dangerously low.
The gauge Jones was looking at was almost certainly an oil pressure gauge. The center position, where the needle was sitting, is exactly where it’s supposed to be during normal operation. The gauge measures how hard the oil pump is working to move the fluid, not how much fluid is in the pan.
Adding extra oil won’t change the pressure if the system is working correctly. It’s a classic case of misunderstanding basic car maintenance, and it’s why clips like this become so popular. Many drivers struggle with basic vehicle maintenance tasks like oil changes.
Whether Jones was genuinely confused or just performing for the camera remains unclear, and that uncertainty is what helped the video reach over 1.6 million views. She played along in the comments, replying to jokes about premium fuel and other car-related gags.
Her performance kept viewers guessing and created a wild comment section. Some people offered sincere, correct explanations about pressure versus level, while others gave completely wrong advice. A few panicked, insisting she must have poured the oil straight into the gas tank, which would be terrible for the fuel injectors and emissions equipment. Car owners often face frustrating experiences at repair shops when dealing with maintenance issues.
Published: Jan 19, 2026 12:54 pm