An oil change is supposed to be quick and easy maintenance job. Drop off the car, pay a few bucks, and drive away worry-free. But for one driver, a routine oil change turned into a $20,000 disaster. His mistake? Trusting the professionals had done the job right.

The oil change that destroyed an engine

A Reddit user shared his story: “My friend and I both got bad oil changes from the same place. Oil spilled everywhere. I was lucky to catch it and get fixed. He didn’t notice it or just thought it was water and the car stopped working ($20,000) repair.”

That’s right—a simple oil change mistake led to total engine failure. His friend didn’t spot the leak, kept driving, and paid the price.

A leak this bad was hard to miss

Oil leaks don’t happen quietly. A spill this severe meant at least a gallon of oil pooling under the car. Thick, black, and slick, it should have been obvious. Even parked outside on a rainy day, that much oil would turn into a rainbow-colored slick floating atop the water.

But quick lube shops work fast. They rush jobs. They skip final checks. The driver assumed the work was fine and left the shop without looking. By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late. “Wasn’t able to notice the oil leaks. Thought it was water and ignored it,” his friend later wrote.

The $20,000 consequence of a simple mistake

Oil is the lifeblood of an engine. Lose too much, and metal grinds against metal, generating extreme heat. Bearings seize. Pistons crack. The engine locks up. “He ended up suing the oil change place,” the Reddit user explained. That’s how bad the damage was.

A mechanic in the comments confirmed how common this is. “I work at a car dealership as a tech. When Jiffy Lube leaves the oil filter or drain plug loose and the engine locks up, it comes to us. Jiffy Lube ends up paying for an engine.”

Tips to protect your car

If you use a quick lube shop, take 30 seconds to check their work:

• Pop the hood. Look for oil splatter or an unsecured cap.
• Check the dipstick. The oil should be clean and at the correct level.
• Look under the car. If you see a puddle forming, don’t drive away.

It’s easy to assume a professional shop won’t make basic mistakes. But this story proves otherwise. A few seconds of caution could save you an engine—and a $20,000 repair bill. You can see the original Reddit post embedded below:

Is screwing up oil change common?
byu/Chasingfreedom1224 inAskMechanics