Mechanic Says a Japanese Oil Change Is Something We Should All Be Doing, but Is It Real?Guessing HeadlightsHenry KelsallWed, September 9, 2026 at 9:38 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleImage Credit: Dextar StudioA mechanic with nearly two decades' worth of experience has stated that we should all be doing what he has called a Japanese oil change. An oil change might not be that exciting, but it is an important part of looking after any vehicle.TikTok mechanic and user Tyler Wesley (@tylerjohnwesley) has posted a video that is starting to go viral as he tries to showcase what the Japanese oil change is all about. His video has been viewed over 625,000 times and has been gaining plenty of attention in recent days.Wesley explained why he does it, stating that vehicles in Japan are getting over 600,000 miles in terms of how long they last, and that these oil changes are partially responsible for this. It sounds quite implausible, but the oil change itself does sound like it comes with plenty of extra benefits.AdvertisementAdvertisementHe also addressed those who might be skeptical as to how an oil change can possibly be changed or enhanced further. After all, they are one of the simpler jobs that you can do on a car or vehicle. But he makes it clear in his video that he believes it is worth doing. However, the question some people had was: Is this oil change a real thing?What Is the Japanese Oil Change?Wesley did describe the process in his TikTok video. The vehicle is already hot, and another quart of fresh oil goes into the crankcase. The car is then driven long enough for that new oil to circulate. In theory, that loosens up some of the buildup and contaminants that are in the older oil. Following this, the hot oil is drained, a new filter goes on, and then the engine gets a full load of fresh oil.Then the vehicle is taken for another 15- to 20-minute drive. That new oil then comes right back out before a second new filter goes on. The vehicle is then filled up again with fresh oil. "Now this seems kind of ridiculous to me," Wesley admits in his video. However, there is precedent for some of this. Warmer oil flows more freely than cold oil, which allows it to drain more readily, so driving a car briefly before an oil change is quite normal.Fresh oil can also help clean an engine. Engine oil contains detergents and dispersants, which are designed to stop deposits from accumulating. They also keep contaminants suspended in the oil until it is drained. So there is some method to the apparent madness that is the Japanese oil change. Perhaps the only murky point is whether you should take out an entire fresh batch of oil after just up to 20 minutes of engine use.Where Did the Japanese Oil Change Come From?Image Credit: Tim Mossholder/UnsplashDigging deeper, however, it's not easy to pinpoint where the evidence for this oil change comes from. In fact, there was some confusion in the comments section as to where the mechanic had gotten this idea from. Given that he has around two decades' worth of experience, it was seriously unclear as to how true his claim was.AdvertisementAdvertisementThere are some things that Japanese drivers do, however, that help cars last longer. Many let the engine in their car warm up for 30-60 seconds before they set off, allowing the oil to flow through the engine properly before a car starts to work hard. That is something incredibly simple that any of us can do. Following that, drivers take it steady, accelerating up to speed gradually and slowing down a bit earlier. So even if the Japanese oil change isn't real, the Japanese way of starting a journey certainly is.If you want more stories like this, follow Guessing Headlights on Yahoo so you don't miss what's coming next.
+42 others
