A mechanic drained an oil pan and couldn’t believe what he discovered.
In a video that generated over 209,000 views as of this writing, content creator @ubareddition is in disbelief to find the amount of sparkles that was released during an oil change.
“That’s Very Sparkly”
In the Facebook Reel, the mechanic notices something sparkly from the oil pan and was impressed that the vehicle made it into the auto shop.
“On this episode of ‘It Drove Here.’ I already see the sparkliness,” the mechanic begins.
The mechanic shows the oil already dripping from the pan. The oil has flakes of gold sparkles mixed with the brownish oil.
“Alright here we go,” the mechanic says, unscrewing the drain plug. “Oh yeah. That’s very sparkly. Oh man. That would actually be a really cool paint color,” he remarks as oil pours out.
The mechanic put his hand in the oil to demonstrate how much it sparkles.
“Look at my hand. Look how shiny and sparkly,” he shares.
Investigating further, he sticks his finger inside the oil pan. His finger comes out covered in gold sparkles.
“Oh yeah. Yep,” he concludes.
What Makes Oil Sparkle?
While sparkles may be pretty, it’s a major red flag. As many commenters pointed out, seeing sparkles in your oil means the engine is on the last leg and a major rebuild is incoming.
“Glitter in engine oil usually indicates metal shavings or particles floating in the lubricant, which typically results from internal engine damage or wear,” per Engine Oil Journal.
The sparkles come from the pistons, bearings, or cam shifts.
According to Engine Oil Journal, there are four reasons this will happen:
- Metal Wear Particles: Over time normal wear and tear will occur in the engine with the pistons, cam shafts, and bearings. These microscopic bits will rub off these car parts and mix with the oil causing the sparkle appearance.
- Contaminated Oil or Additives: While rare, some aftermarket oils will contain metallic components that could be the reason for sparkles.
- Fuel or Coolant Contamination: Coolant leaking into the engine can cause a shimmering appearance due to a head gasket being blown.
- Contaminants from Manufacturing or Repairs: During maintenance, sparkles can find its way into oil. This can happen from assembly debris, gasket materials, or using aftermarket parts.
How Do You Prevent Your Oil From Getting Sparkly?
Maintaining your vehicle is essential to keeping your engine working properly. While wear and tear is inevitable, there are things that can be done to lengthen ran engine’s lifetime.
First, get oil changes regularly, or every 5,000–7,500 miles for most engines, AAA reports. Use quality oil that’s appropriate for your vehicle. And monitor oil levels, as running with low oil increases wear and tear.
Pay attention to any warning signs from your vehicle, such as unusual noises, overheating, or warning lights, and get these addressed immediately.
Sparkly Oil Hurts Your Wallet
Many people who commented on the post brought jokes.
“I’d be tempted to pan for gold in that,” one wrote.
“It identified as a transmission, not a motor,” another joked.
“Who set the glitter bomb off inside the crank case?” one added.
Other viewers added observations about the color of the oil.
“Looks like copper anti-seize,” one commented.
“I thought someone put metallic paint in it for oil,” another replied.
“You see sparkles… your wallet starts crying,” a third added.
Several replied to one person’s question about why the oil was sparkling.
“The shiny flakes are metal shavings from worn parts in the engine. Not good, especially since the oil filter probably trapped a ton more,” one replied.
“It’s probably from worn engine bearings, but sometimes it’s other parts that have been worn to a level that gets spendy. It is the car equivalent of stage four lung cancer,” another added.
“Sparkly oil is bad. You are getting pieces of your engine cycling and grinding through your engine. It’s basically a death sentence and you better be ready for a new car or a new engine,” a third replied.
Motor1 has contacted @ubareddition via Facebook and TikTok direct message. This story will be updated if he replies.
