There aren’t many routine maintenance jobs simpler and less exciting than an oil change. It’s been the same routine for generations, with no need for innovation or improvement: drain the oil, change the filter, refill it and move on. So when a mechanic with about two decades of experience discovered a version that includes extra oil, two filters and two complete changes, he had questions. Mechanic Tyler Wesley (@tylerjohnwesley)’s viral TikTok reveals the details behind the Japanese style of oil changes that’s gaining popularity online. “The reason they still do it is because the cars they’ve done it on have gotten up to 600,000 miles,” Wesley said in the clip that has been viewed more than 625,000 times. “And we’re not talking about top-of-the-line engines, we’re talking about bad four-cylinder engines.” Improving the Standard Oil Change For anyone who is skeptical about changing what seems like an elegant process that doesn’t need much improvement, Wesley understands that point of view. I hadn’t heard of the technique until social media featured it in their feed. “If you’ve never heard of a Japanese oil change, you’re not alone,” he said. “I hadn’t heard of it either and I’ve been working on cars for about 20 years.” The process you describe begins before the old oil leaves the engine. With the vehicle already warm, another liter of new oil is introduced into the crankcase. The car is then driven long enough for the new oil to circulate and, at least in theory, help loosen some of the buildup and contaminants suspended in the old oil. That is the starting point of a complicated multi-step process. Wesley explains that the hot oil is drained, a new filter is put in, and the engine receives a full charge of new oil. After another 15 to 20 minute trip, all that new oil comes out again. A second new filter is then placed, followed by another new fill. “This seems a little ridiculous to me,” Wesley admits. As excessive as the routine may seem, some parts of it are based on some fairly conventional ideas about motor oil. Changing the oil while it’s hot, for example, is not an exotic Japanese practice. Mechanics recommend briefly warming up the engine before changing the oil because hotter oil flows more freely than cold oil, allowing it to drain more easily. However, experts warn against doing the work immediately after a long trip, when the oil may be hot enough to burn anyone who pulls the drain plug. There is also some basis for the idea that new oil can help clean an engine. Motor oils contain detergents and dispersants designed to prevent deposits from building up and keep contaminants suspended in the oil until it is drained. Where things get murkier is in the practice of sacrificing an entire batch of new oil after just 15 or 20 minutes of engine use. Valvoline’s guide to dealing with sludge takes a considerably slower approach: drain the old oil, install a new filter and suitable cleaning oil, and then drive normally until the next recommended change interval. Shop veterans warn that aggressively loosening heavy sludge in one go can create problems if large deposits clog the oil pickup screen. Origins of the Japanese Oil Change There is another aspect to the technique that Wesley discovered that depends on a kind of penchant for online myth-making. It’s easy to understand how these kinds of sensations take off, as online readers imagine some kind of car Mr. Miyagi practices a variety of secret car care tactics passed down from generation to generation that can help a beat-up Toyota run a million miles or more. The simple truth is that it is difficult to find evidence that the process described is actually a standard Japanese maintenance practice. The maintenance guide for Toyotas and other Asian automakers lacks anything resembling technique: Owners are instructed to keep the oil within the proper range and replace the oil filter periodically. Toyota specifically warns against filling the dipstick above the upper mark, as excess oil can negatively affect the engine. That makes the initial step of the viral procedure worth considering. If an engine is already filled correctly, pouring another full quart into it before driving could temporarily raise its oil level beyond the manufacturer’s recommended capacity. That’s not to say that a Japanese mechanic somewhere hasn’t used the double shift technique. But it leaves a considerable gap between an oil change ritual that’s gaining traction online and one endorsed as standard practice by Japanese automakers. Meanwhile, commentators were less concerned about international maintenance philosophy than they were about cars performing their own perpetual oil changes. “I do an American oil change,” one joked. “I don’t change it. It leaks and I fill it.” Wesley takes a more scientific approach. “Should we try a Japanese oil change and see what the oil looks like?” asked. “It would be expensive, but good, for science, right?” Motor1 reached out to Wesley via direct message and commented on the clip. We will update this if he responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3-minute survey. – The Motor1.com team
