Mechanic reveals what shops aren’t checking during oil changes, and it’s causing ‘critical engine failure’

Most people think getting an oil change means their car is good to go. But a mechanic from Indiana is warning that this belief could be silently destroying engines, especially in certain Kia and Hyundai models.

Patrick Walsh, a mechanic from Evansville, Indiana, shared a TikTok video that has been viewed over 6,200 times. “These quick lube guys, they don’t catch it. You know, a lot of times they don’t check your oil level before they drain it. You pull in for an oil change and they … drop your oil filter, put a new oil filter on it, fill it up,” he said. “These engines don’t leak oil, most of them. Most of the ones that I see aren’t leaking any oil. They’re burning it.”

According to Motor1, the real problem is that many engines don’t leak oil in the traditional way. There’s no puddle in the driveway or smoke from the exhaust. Instead, these engines are burning oil quietly as they age. By the time the oil change happens, the engine might already be running dangerously low on oil, but nobody notices because the shop fills it back up without checking first.

This problem hits certain engines harder than others

Gasoline direct injection engines, which are common in many Hyundai and Kia models from the past decade, are especially prone to this issue. These engines spray fuel directly into the combustion chamber instead of over the intake valves. This design improves fuel efficiency but also causes carbon buildup inside the engine over time.

That carbon buildup can damage piston rings and oil control systems, allowing oil to burn off during normal driving. Walsh says the problem often appears suddenly. At first, everything seems fine. Then oil consumption gets worse and worse until the engine fails completely.

The danger is that an engine might burn a quart of oil every 1,000 miles, but the owner never realizes it. The quick lube shop refills the oil to the correct level, so the car leaves with a full crankcase. The driver assumes everything is fine, not knowing the oil had already dropped to dangerous levels before the service. This isn’t the first time mechanics have discovered shocking oversights during routine maintenance.

Walsh says the first warning sign is usually a sound, not a dashboard light. A ticking noise when starting the car, chain rattle, or rough idle can mean the engine is starving for oil. These symptoms might go away once the car warms up, but the damage is already happening. Low oil levels cause timing chain parts and valvetrain components to lose pressure during cold starts. Over time, this repeated oil starvation destroys the engine.

In his video, Walsh mentions a customer’s car with just over 130,000 miles that arrived nearly dry after only 1,000 miles of driving. He refused to start the engine without adding several quarts of oil first because he didn’t want to damage it further. 

Oil consumption problems in certain Hyundai and Kia engines have led to technical bulletins, warranty extensions, and legal settlements over the past decade. Coverage depends on the model year, engine type, mileage, and maintenance history. Not every vehicle qualifies for repairs or a replacement engine.

Owners can check if their vehicle has any recalls by looking up their VIN on official recall websites. Keeping detailed records of oil changes and maintenance is important, especially if oil consumption becomes noticeable. Walsh’s experience highlights how important it is for mechanics to properly document service issues, much like when technicians catch management mistakes with their records.