A 17-year-old visiting family in Indiana turned to Reddit for help after discovering that their brother had dipped the key to their 2015 Chevrolet Malibu into candle wax. By the time the teenager noticed, the key had already been inserted into the ignition.
The driver removed the key and tried cleaning away the wax, but some residue remained inside the ignition cylinder. A Q-tip and bobby pin became makeshift cleaning tools, potentially complicating what had started as a sibling prank.
With a two-hour drive home planned for the following day, the teenager worried that the remaining wax could cause problems with the car. Calling a mechanic also seemed like an expensive and unnecessary step if nothing was actually broken.
The October 14 post in Reddit’s r/MechanicAdvice community attracted thousands of votes and numerous responses, with commenters debating whether the wax posed any meaningful risk.
A Sticky Situation
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My brother dipped my car key and candle wax, and I started my car without noticing
by
u/laylapop25 in
MechanicAdvice
The teenager explained that the key had been cleaned after the discovery, but the ignition still appeared greasy. A photograph accompanying the post showed the opening of the ignition cylinder.
Although the post’s title stated that the car had been started, the description only explicitly mentioned inserting the key. That distinction became a point of discussion among commenters trying to determine whether the Malibu was still operating normally.
Several users offered straightforward advice. If the vehicle started and the key turned properly, they believed the teenager could make the trip home without worrying about the remaining wax.
Said one straightforward guy: “Put the key in the car and turn it on. Does it turn on? If yes, just drive it. If no, then no, you aren’t fine to drive all the way back because you can’t start your car.” This was a popular and supported comment.
Others pointed out that candle wax was not an ideal lubricant for an automotive ignition. While some commenters believed the small amount involved was unlikely to cause damage, they acknowledged that residue could potentially interfere with the lock cylinder’s internal components.
What Chevrolet Recommends
The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu owner’s manual provides specific guidance for ignition keys that become difficult to turn.
Chevrolet recommends inspecting the key blade for debris and periodically cleaning it with a brush or pick. The manual does not specifically address candle wax inside the ignition cylinder.
A separate General Motors service bulletin covering several vehicles, including the 2015 Malibu, discusses a sticking ignition cylinder door that can interfere with remote keyless entry functions. The bulletin recommends a particular type of lubricant for that condition, rather than replacing the entire cylinder.
Neither document establishes whether the teenager’s ignition was damaged by the wax.
Back on Reddit, some commenters offered reassurance, while others criticized responses that seemed designed to frighten the young driver.
The original post was eventually locked to new comments. The available account does not establish whether the teenager completed the two-hour drive home or needed additional work on the ignition.