A man who says he has spent about 20 years working on cars just admitted that a maintenance trick caught him completely off guard. In a short video, @tylerjohnwesley explains that he was scrolling social media the night before when he ran into something called a Japanese oil change, and he had never heard of it.

“If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone,” he says in the clip. Since he has been around engines for two decades, that is a fairly honest admission, and it is part of what makes the video so relatable. Plenty of drivers, and plenty of people who turn wrenches, have a tip or two they only learn about by accident.

What He Says He Read Online

To be clear, he has not tried this himself. He is repeating what he saw online, and he describes it with the word “apparently.” According to what he read, the process goes like this.

First, with the engine still warm, a quart of fresh oil is poured into the engine and the car is taken for a drive. The idea, as he explains it, is that the fresh oil helps break up the gunk that the old oil has been holding onto.

Next, the vehicle is brought right back in and the oil is drained while the engine is at operating temperature. He points out that this is very hot, so anyone doing it needs to be careful. The reasoning is that hot oil is thinner and drains faster and more thoroughly.

Then a new filter and a new batch of oil go in, and the car is driven for 15 to 20 minutes. After that, the oil and filter are swapped out one more time for a brand new filter and fresh oil. In other words, the car gets two full oil changes back to back, plus that extra quart at the start.

Why He Is Skeptical, and Why It Keeps Going Around

His first reaction is that it all sounds ridiculous, especially because some oil changes can already cost hundreds of dollars. Doing it twice sounds like a recipe for a big bill.

But he says the reason the method keeps circulating is the mileage claim. According to what he read, cars that got this treatment have reached as many as 600,000 miles, and they were not top of the line engines. He describes them as ordinary four cylinder engines. That number is a claim he is passing along from what he saw online, and it has not been verified. There is no way to tell from the video how those cars were driven or maintained in other ways.

He ends the video with a question for his followers: should he try a Japanese oil change and see what the oil looks like? He admits it would be expensive, but says he would do it “for science.”

What the Commenters Had to Say

The comments section had some fun reactions. One viewer said their car takes 10 and a half quarts of oil, so a double oil change is not happening in their driveway. That is a fair point, since the cost of the method climbs quickly with larger engines. Another commenter joked that Japanese four cylinder engines do not even need their oil changed, which was clearly tongue in cheek. A third joked that in America, sometimes a shop hands your car back with no oil in it at all.

What Drivers Should Know Before Trying Anything Like This

Nothing in the video is a recommendation, and nothing here should be taken as one. If you are curious, here is some general, cautious context that many mechanics would likely agree with.

• Start with the owner’s manual. It lists the oil type, the amount, and the change interval the manufacturer recommends. Following those details is usually the simplest way to protect your engine and your warranty.
• Ask a mechanic you trust. Whether an extra flush style oil change does anything meaningful is a topic people often debate. Some say regular changes on schedule are plenty, while others like the extra cleaning step. A professional who knows your specific engine can give a better answer than a short video.
• Be careful with hot oil. He warns about this himself. Oil drained at operating temperature can cause serious burns, and so can the exhaust and engine parts around it. Letting the engine cool a bit, using gloves, and having a proper catch pan are common safety habits.
• Do the math first. Two filters and two full fills of oil can add up, especially on a larger engine. Compare that cost against what a normal change schedule would cost over the same period.
• Keep the basics in order. Mileage claims like 600,000 miles usually depend on many factors, such as driving habits, coolant and transmission care, and how often the car is serviced. Oil is only one piece of the puzzle.
• Dispose of used oil properly. Many auto parts stores and recycling centers accept used oil and filters, often for free. Check your local rules before you start.

One more thing worth remembering is that online car tips can sound convincing, especially when they come with a big number attached. A good habit is to treat a viral tip as a conversation starter, not a to do list. Checking with your manual and a qualified mechanic costs little and can save you from an expensive mistake.

As for the man in the video, he did not say whether he will go through with his experiment. If he does, followers will probably be eager to see how the oil looks after each step. Until then, the Japanese oil change remains a curious bit of internet car lore, with plenty of questions and no proof in this clip.