A mechanic is going viral on Facebook after pulling off a move that has some viewers calling it risky—and others calling it part of the job.
A video, posted by Master AutoTech (@masterautotechutah), shows a technician doing what the shop jokingly described as stepping in for a failing part.
“When the mechanic has to be the fuel pump,” the account wrote in the text overlay.
The clip itself is a bit chaotic. It shows the mechanic positioned under the open hood while the vehicle is moving, with another worker behind the wheel. As the car rolls forward, the mechanic appears to spray starting fluid into the engine to keep it running.
It’s not entirely clear what led up to the moment, but the goal seems straightforward: keep the car alive long enough to move it.
The stunt caught viewers’ attention for obvious reasons. Some questioned how safe it was, while others said it’s not as unusual as it looks.
“This is a rite of passage into becoming a mechanic,” one commenter wrote. “If you’ve never had to drive a vehicle or ride on a vehicle into the shop while spraying it with some sort of starting fluid to keep it running, can you even call yourself a mechanic?”
As of Monday, the video had more than 504,000 views.
What’s Going On?
What’s going on in the Master AutoTech clip looks wild, but there’s actually a pretty straightforward reason for it.
According to some self-identified mechanics on Reddit, when a mechanic sprays starting fluid into an engine and it suddenly starts, it usually indicates a fuel problem. Starting fluid is more combustible than gasoline, so it can act as a temporary stand-in to keep the engine alive.
That’s why you’ll sometimes see something like this. If the engine stays running while it’s being sprayed but dies as soon as it stops, it tells the mechanic a few things right away: Firstly, there’s a good chance your vehicle’s fuel pump is dead.
Of course, even with this issue, it’s possible that your car’s engine is fine—and has spark and compression. But if it’s not getting fuel the way it should, your car won’t run correctly. One mechanic on the r/AskMechanics subreddit recommended buying a pressure gauge to test your car’s fuel pressure should you find yourself in this predicament.
From there, the issue usually comes down to a handful of parts. While a bad fuel pump is one of the most common, it could also be a clogged fuel filter, a problem with the injectors, or an electrical issue that’s preventing fuel from reaching where it needs to go.
What the mechanic in the video is doing is basically bridging that gap for a moment, just enough to move the car. In some cases, shops will do this briefly to get a vehicle into a bay or out of a tight spot when it won’t stay running on its own.
It’s not something you’d want to do for long, though. Starting fluid isn’t meant to replace fuel. It doesn’t lubricate the engine the same way, and using too much of it can cause damage. It’s also flammable, so there’s a real safety risk if something goes wrong.
Still, in a controlled setting, it can be a quick way to figure out what’s actually causing the problem.
Viewers Appalled Yet Entertained
People who watched Master AutoTech’s video had mixed reactions, with some impressed by the workaround and others questioning how far the mechanic went to get the car moving.
A few viewers said they understood exactly why it was done.
“Whatever it takes,” one person said. “Beats pushing it.”
“Nice fuel pump modulation,” another wrote.
“Sometimes that part is 3 days out, and you need the bay in the meantime lol,” a third person added.
Others, though, pointed out the risks, sharing their own experiences with similar situations that didn’t go as smoothly.
“Been there. Be careful not to catch it on fire like me, though,” one person wrote.
“Did that a few years back,” another shared. “The plastic intake didn’t like it … it exploded halfway in the shop.”
“Careful there,” a third person warned. “...Lost 90% of my beard. Melted my eyelashes and a small part of my eyebrows.”
At the same time, several commenters said the approach itself isn’t all that unusual in a shop setting, even if it looks extreme from the outside.
“I no joke had a customer ask me if we could move his car this way,” one person wrote.
“I have done this [so] many times and boy do district staff get mad,” another echoed.
“Been there, done that! So many times,” a third person added.
Motor1 has reached out to Master AutoTech via direct message on TikTok. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
