One mechanic is warning drivers about a potential automotive scam as more vehicles are being built without dipsticks. He said it could potentially affect millions of drivers who know nothing about cars.
In a TikTok video, the mechanic explains that drivers could be taken advantage of because they have no easy way to check whether certain fluids have been changed after taking their cars to a shop. He says many newer vehicles no longer have traditional dipsticks, which could give dishonest repair shops an opportunity to charge customers for services they never did.
A shop could claim it changed the oil or transmission fluid without actually doing the work. Without a dipstick, drivers may have a harder time checking the fluid themselves and proving the shop never changed it.
The mechanic clarified that not every shop will do this, but some might, and claimed it could be the next big automotive scam in 10 years.
A Potential Scam
@818mobilemechanic1 The next generation of drivers is going to have a problem most people aren’t talking about. As manufacturers remove dipsticks and make basic fluid checks harder, drivers may not know something is wrong until they’re staring at a massive repair bill. #CarTok #AutoRepair #MechanicTok #Transmission #CarMaintenance ♬ original sound – 818MobileMechanic
The mechanic also warned newer drivers that they could fall victim to this type of scam because they may not know much about vehicles. Drivers could end up paying thousands of dollars for engine or transmission repairs if a shop skips an oil or fluid change, according to the mechanic.
Without a way to check whether the work was done, drivers might not realize anything is wrong until their engine or transmission eventually fails.
In the video, the mechanic shared an example of a Mazda that came in with a hard-shifting transmission. After checking the transmission fluid, the mechanic said he found that it was gray instead of the typical red color and contained material that shouldn’t have been there.
Why Do They No Longer Have Them?
According to NAPA, transmission dipsticks have become less common on automatic vehicles over the years, with many newer models featuring sealed transmissions. These are designed without traditional dipsticks in mind and may not even have a recommended transmission fluid service interval.
NAPA says that checking the fluid in these vehicles requires special tools, and mechanics may need to lift the vehicle, bring the fluid to a certain temperature, and use a scan tool to check its level. This makes it harder for drivers to inspect their transmission fluid on their own.
Drivers Share Their Experiences
One commenter claimed that a dealership they knew was already doing this every other time. Another commenter said they have been doing their own oil changes for more than 20 years and had caught repair shops failing to perform requested work like this before.
But a comment from a mobile repair shop disagreed with the mechanic’s warning, calling it a silly mistake. They argued that mechanics have no incentive to let customers’ engines fail because it would hurt their business.
As more vehicles move away from traditional dipsticks, it’s important for drivers to find repair shops that they can trust.