New Hire Admits Nearly Making Rookie Mistake, Dragging Valvoline into Viral "Over-Tightened" Oil Plug Meme

Levi Finlayson-Gumbs, a TikTok user who claims to be a new Valvoline employee, posted a video poking fun at himself for nearly forgetting the "most important rule" on his first day of work—don’t overtighten the oil pan drain plug. In the clip, he first tightens the bolt by hand, then continues applying force with a power tool, striking a chord with viewers online. The video has already garnered 1.8 million views. In reality, overtightening can strip threads, deform sealing surfaces, cause oil leaks, or even crack the oil pan—especially risky with aluminum or lightweight materials. Professional technicians typically hand-tighten the plug first, then torque it to the manufacturer’s specified setting. If damage occurs, repairs may involve rethreading (tapping), installing thread inserts, or—in severe cases—replacing the entire oil pan. Although the video doesn’t explicitly accuse Valvoline of having this issue, commenters have flooded the section with jokes and skepticism about quick-lube shop practices, with remarks like, “No wonder I couldn’t get my drain plug off after my last oil change.” Valvoline has not yet responded to the incident.