A Texas-based mechanic is letting his audience know one surprising piece of advice — don’t trust an overly smiley, cheerful mechanic.

TikTok content creator (@dxmnitbobby) recently posted a humorous video emphasizing that any good mechanic is probably not happy coming into work. That’s because, with so many individual car issues and ludicrous things that customers do to their vehicles, amazing mechanics are worn out and tired. The video he posted has since garnered 218,000 views, with hundreds of other mechanics agreeing with his claim. 

So, if you go to a mechanic who seems particularly happy, the TikToker might urge you to look elsewhere. But is this accurate?

Why Would a Mechanic Be Unhappy at Work?

Mechanics run into all sorts of issues when they’re in the garage. These problems can easily make their job go from a smiley, customer-service experience to a day fighting for survival. That’s one of the things many mechanics emphasized in the comments: while they may fix your vehicle for an amazing price, they won’t be particularly pleased doing it. 

Mechanics working at small businesses and town shops often get older, beaten-up cars that are barely hanging onto life. They work in non-temperature-controlled environments for long hours, which can make it a tough job that’s hard to enjoy every second of the day. 

Plus, a customer’s lack of experience with their own vehicle can be particularly frustrating, especially if they’ve irreparably damaged their vehicle due to ignorance.

“Yeah…” one mechanic wrote in a comment. “After I pulled out a pen and paper and gave the customer a lesson in math on how oil change stickers work I wasn’t allowed near the desk.”

“How many of you have ever told a customer their vehicle is a piece of [expletive]?” another commenter asked. “They take it so personally but to mechanics EVERYTHING is a piece of [expletive].”

Is It Really a ‘Red Flag’ if a Mechanic Is Cheerful?

It’s not necessarily a total red flag if a mechanic is happy while working on your car.

There are a variety of reasons as to why a mechanic might not be grumpy when working on a difficult project. For one, some mechanics still put on a friendly demeanor, even if they’re frustrated with their customers’ lack of knowledge. 

“I’m nice and friendly with my customers, but on the inside, I’ve stopped using the safety locks on the hoist a long time ago,” one mechanic said. 

Then, there’s the reality that many people coming into automotive shops and dealerships aren’t actually speaking to technicians or mechanics. Many mechanics avoid customers and tell customer service representatives any information the customer needs. That way, they can continue to work in peace without having to explain difficult concepts to their clientele. 

How Common Is Burnout for Mechanics?

Some viewers pointed out another reason why a mechanic may not have a glazed look in their eye — youth. When one commenter said that, “It’s not that bad If you hate your job do something else. I love turning wrenches,” others chimed in and told him “[you] must be young … It will happen.” 

Technicians on internet threads and blogs have discussed how easy it is to burn out of the automotive industry. Dealing with customers or having poor management can increase burnout among technicians. But, better working environments can make the job more sustainable in the long run. 

“If management is looking out for you, burnout is not as bad,” one commenter on a Reddit post said. “If you do not have to deal with customers and incompetent advisers, burnout is not as bad … The good news is that there are pastures everywhere and some may be greener. Government, schools, country clubs, equipment rental places all have hourly mechanic positions for everything from lawn mowers to excavators.”

Commenters on that discussion thread recommended looking for another garage to work in when the job became less sustainable or finding a general change in scenery to recover. 

We’ve reached out to dxmnitbobby for comment via TikTok direct message. We’ll let you know if he responds.