“It’s still running fine… but it has started smoking.”
Somewhere in Washington state, an SUV is running on faith, confusion, and what at first glance appears to be 10 quarts of misplaced 10W-30. This has got to be a joke, right?
In a viral Facebook Reel that’s been viewed more than 1.6 million times, creator Candace Jones (@candace.jones.5492216) claims she’s confused about why the needle of her oil pressure gauge is stuck in the middle despite her best efforts.
“Could somebody please tell me why I can’t get this oil gauge full?” she asks. “I have put two of these [five-quart oil containers] in there, and for some reason, I can’t get it full.”
Jones zooms in on the dashboard gauge she insists is refusing to cooperate. The needle sits stubbornly in the center, a problem she says she’s tried to solve by adding the contents of two five-quart oil containers.
Whether Jones is genuinely confused or deliberately trolling remains an open question, and that ambiguity appears to be fueling the video’s reach. In follow-up comments, Jones leans into the absurdity, replying enthusiastically to jokes about “Christmas gas,” premium fuel, and other long-running automotive gags.
The performance is subtle enough to keep some viewers guessing. Several commenters rushed in with sincere explanations of oil pressure versus oil level, while others confidently, but incorrectly, explained how gauges work. A few insisted she must be pouring oil into the gas tank, which would indeed be catastrophic, as even a small amount of oil in a fuel system can damage injectors and emissions equipment.
Jones never confirms or denies any of it, letting the comments section do the work for her.
Some viewers offered absurd advice, suggesting she simply keep adding oil until the gauge overflows. Others dusted off classic automotive folklore, reminding her to top off the blinker fluid, swap out the winter air in her tires, or check the reserve tank “in front of the fan.”
There were also long side arguments that had little to do with Jones at all.
Threads broke out over diesel nozzle sizes, fuel handle colors, and whether modern cars have made drivers too disconnected from basic maintenance knowledge. A brief detour even took commenters overseas, with one user noting that fuel pump color standards differ in the UK from those in the US, which is true. As often happens, the joke became secondary to the arguing.
For readers wondering how Jones’ confusion could even be plausible, it helps to understand how oil is monitored in modern vehicles. Most passenger vehicles do not have an oil level gauge at all. Most cars rely on a dipstick, while newer models increasingly use electronic sensors that warn drivers only when oil pressure drops or oil level becomes dangerously low.
Oil pressure gauges, when present, measure pressure and are not meant to move gradually from empty to full. According to Firestone, the center of the gauge is exactly where the needle is supposed to be. And while a low reading on the gauge can indicate a problem with your car, it does not necessarily mean your oil level is low, and adding more oil will not necessarily solve the problem.
Clips like Jones’ succeed because they sit at the intersection of familiarity and discomfort. Most drivers know just enough about their cars to get by, but not enough to feel confident explaining every gauge or warning light. When someone appears to misunderstand something basic, it creates an irresistible mix of secondhand embarrassment, superiority, and genuine concern.
If there’s a practical lesson here, it’s a simple one. If you’re unsure what a gauge or warning light means, consult your owner’s manual or a reputable source before adding fluids. Oil levels should be checked with the proper method for your vehicle.
Whether Candace Jones was staging a carefully executed bit or simply enjoying the chaos she created, one thing is certain: that oil pressure gauge isn’t getting any “fuller.”
Motor1 reached out to Jones via direct message and commented on the clip. We’ll update this if she responds.
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– The Motor1.com Team