“That’s a liability.”
A flat-rate technician says he refused to perform an oil change after spotting a problem underneath a customer’s Ram truck.
TikTok user @jaisenz3 recently explained “why I REFUSED this oil change,” as he wrote in the text overlay of his post.
He says a Ram owner came in for routine service, but before draining the oil, he took a closer look at the oil pan. In the video, the pan appears heavily corroded and rotted around the drain-plug area.
“That’s a liability,” @jaisenz3 says. “If I crack that drain plug, and this breaks, we’re [expletive]. We’re going to have to pay for that.”
Because of that risk, he says he would not proceed with the oil change unless the customer also agreed to replace the oil pan. Rather than risk turning it into a much bigger repair, he says he chose to refuse the service.
“Would you sell an oil pan or just drain the oil?” he asks viewers.
As of this writing, his video had more than 535,700 views.
What’s The Risk Of Changing Oil In Damaged Pan?
The technician’s concern is not far-fetched. After all, an oil pan sits low on the vehicle and, especially on a lower vehicle, can take frequent hits from potholes, rocks, or speed bumps that can damage it, Wanasign Auto Parts reports.
AAA specifically warns that salt can accumulate underneath a vehicle and corrode components including the oil pan, which can affect the drain plug.
The plug has to be removed every time the oil is drained, and the surrounding threads need to remain intact so it can be reinstalled and properly sealed. NAPA notes that damaged oil-pan threads can lead to leaks and, when the damage is severe enough, may ultimately require replacing the pan.
According to CarParts.com, the plug is removed every time the oil is drained, and the surrounding threads must remain intact so it can be reinstalled and properly sealed. NAPA notes that damaged oil-pan threads can cause leaks and, if the damage is severe enough, may ultimately require replacing the pan.
So if the metal around a drain plug is already badly weakened, a technician has reason to inspect it before starting the service — even if it’s something “simple” like an oil change. Removing or reinstalling a plug can expose an existing problem with the pan or its threads. That does not mean the technician in the TikTok can know for certain that the pan would have broken if he continued, however.
It also does not mean every rusty oil pan needs immediate replacement, and CarParts.com outlines how drivers can identify when they need a new one. Normal surface corrosion and metal that has deteriorated enough to compromise the pan are two very different things, and the video alone does not identify alone how much material was left around this particular drain plug.
If corrosion has progressed far enough that the pan can no longer reliably hold the drain plug or seal against leaks, a replacement may be the safer long-term repair.
And an oil leak there is not something to shrug off, Grand Rapids Chevrolet reports. Losing enough oil can eventually lead to serious engine damage or fire risks.
That explains why @jaisenz3 stopped before draining anything: Once the plug comes out, there is no guarantee a severely weakened pan will go back together the way it arrived at the shop.
Viewers Had Their Own Ideas
The comments quickly turned into a debate over whether the technician was being overly cautious.
“Did this happen because he didn’t have an under-engine cover ?” one viewer asked.
Another commenter was skeptical of the video altogether.
“Fake video that doesn’t even look like real rust and besides, why would an oil pan be so rusty and everything else underneath not bad at all? This makes no sense, completely fake,” they wrote.
Others focused less on how the pan got that way and more on what the technician should do next.
“When you fill out the work order, you note the condition of the car and components and then make note that there is a [r]isk the pan could crack. Then you have the customer sign the work order. The liability is off you and all on them,” one person wrote.
Another suggested avoiding the drain plug entirely.
“Pump it out through the dipstick,” they wrote.
There were also commenters who shared their own experiences trying to keep corrosion at bay.
“I’ve gotten my 2019 Ram [crowned] every year since new, it still looks new underneath,” one viewer said.
A few others kept things lighter.
“Standard Ford oil pan,” one commenter joked.
“Too bad that’s a Dodge,” another replied.
Someone else suggested, “They should have made the oil pan out of plastic.”
And one viewer predicted the customer probably would not return.
“He will just go someplace else from now on,” they wrote.
Motor1 contacted @jaisenz3 via TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if he responds.
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