Dropping your car off for a quick oil change is supposed to be a routine task. You shouldn’t have to wonder if the shop crew is joyriding your engine behind closed doors. But that’s exactly what one Texas driver saw when he filmed Walmart oil change techs flooring his car from inside the bay.
Atlanta-area creator Zayy (@kc_zayy) clearly isn’t happy with what’s going on in the TikTok he posted, which has been viewed more than 1.3 million times. From the waiting area of the shop, you can see and hear that the engine on his Dodge Daytona is being run in the red.
That seems fairly out of line with what’s needed for a simple oil change, prompting him to note in the caption: “They don’t have to worry ‘bout me comin’ back for an oil change.”
The video quickly sparked a wave of viewer reactions, many of them outraged that Walmart employees would rev a customer’s car to that degree. “You realize them doing this is illegal?” one commenter wrote, while another joked, “Sue for what… $2 in gas?” The split in reactions reflects tension between what customers assume is proper testing and what actually happens behind the service-bay door.
Stay Out of the Red
According to Walmart’s own Auto Care Center page, its oil change process includes “checking engine performance” but doesn’t call for any high-RPM tests. Typically, technicians start the vehicle briefly after service to circulate the new oil and verify that there are no leaks. Anything beyond that would fall outside standard procedure.
In some cases, a technician may lightly rev an engine after an oil change to confirm oil flow or pressure consistency. But holding the throttle near the redline can risk damage, especially on engines with older seals or high mileage.
Engineering Explained has broken down what happens internally when an engine is revved hard: oil pressure spikes, piston speed doubles, and heat increases, all of which can accelerate wear if the car isn’t fully warmed or properly serviced.
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That technical nuance didn’t calm the TikTok crowd. Many viewers warned that such behavior could lead to blown gaskets or spun bearings. One commenter summed it up bluntly: “Regardless, someone else not revving my car when I drop it off.” Another pointed out that revving could void a warranty if something failed afterward, which is true since automakers explicitly reserve the right to deny claims caused by abuse or negligence.
Oil Change Basics
The incident has also renewed an old debate over where drivers take their cars for basic maintenance.
“It ain’t hard to change oil dawg why would u take a performance car to Walmart,” one commenter wrote, to which others countered that not everyone has the tools, space, or physical ability to do it themselves. As several mechanics noted in the thread, chain shops like Walmart, Jiffy Lube, and Valvoline handle millions of oil changes annually, and most are uneventful. However, incidents like this make it harder to maintain trust.
Consumer protection laws provide some recourse in the event of damage. For instance, under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, shops can be held liable for negligent service or misuse of a customer’s property. But proving harm from a few seconds of revving would be difficult without visible damage or a mechanical failure tied directly to the event.
The TikTok creator followed up in the comments to say it was “the last time I’ll ever do it fasho,” a sentiment that many viewers seemed to share. That distrust often becomes a business opportunity for mobile mechanics, whose appeal lies in transparency, as you can literally watch the work being done in your driveway. Independent technicians typically charge more for that access, with mobile diagnostic rates running between $50 and $150 per visit, compared with a RepairPal-estimated shop diagnostic range of $122 to $179.
For drivers who’d rather skip the risk altogether, learning to change your own oil is more straightforward than it sounds. You’ll need a few basic tools, including a jack and stands or ramps, a drain pan, a wrench, and the right oil and filter for your car. Step-by-step guides show how to safely drain the old oil, replace the filter, and refill to the specified level. Most jobs take about 30 to 45 minutes once you’ve done it once, and the total cost of supplies usually runs less than a single professional service.
The most significant benefit beyond saving money is the control it affords. You’ll know exactly what oil weight is going in, that the drain plug is tightened correctly, and that nobody’s revving your engine for fun. For renters or those without a driveway, some municipalities and auto parts stores offer “DIY bays” or self-service garages with lifts that can be rented by the hour. Even if you only do it once or twice a year, the confidence and understanding you gain about your car’s maintenance can make those viral service-bay horror stories a little easier to laugh at from a safe distance.
Still, for many drivers, the issue is a matter of respect. A vehicle can represent years of payments, pride, and personal space. Watching someone else abuse it, even briefly, can feel like a violation. As one user wrote, “Just because I take a nice car to Walmart doesn’t mean y’all get to try to rev it like it’s yours.”
Walmart hasn’t commented publicly on the video, and it’s unclear which store location was involved. But if nothing else, the viral moment serves as a reminder that customers are watching and recording. In the smartphone era, even a few unnecessary blips of the throttle can turn a routine oil change into a cautionary tale.
Motor1 reached out to the creator via direct message and to Walmart via an online email form. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.
@kc_zayy It’s worth the risk #fyp #explore #relatable ♬ original sound - Zayy
