---
title: "Here’s What Happens When You Use Cooking Oil Instead of Motor Oil in Your Engine"
description: "Quite possibly the worst life hack ever."
date: "2017-07-07"
modified: "2019-07-30"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/12259/heres-what-happens-when-you-use-cooking-oil-instead-of-motor-oil-in-your-engine"
categories:
  - "Gas & Oil"
  - "News"
  - "The Garage"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "mastermilo82"
  - "Motor Oil"
  - "Tiburon"
---

# Here’s What Happens When You Use Cooking Oil Instead of Motor Oil in Your Engine

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/07/mastermilo.png>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

When we last left expert destroyer-of-things [Mastermilo82](<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3eSiX_rjJk2jg5EJSBcqBw>) and his trusty old Hyundai Tiberon, the damn thing just refused to die [despite taking an off-road beating](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/11103/all-you-need-to-go-off-road-is-an-old-hyundai-tiburon>) that would shame most of the so-called SUVs made these days. In his latest video, the crazy Dutchman uses the little coupe to answer an age old question - what happens if you, in a pinch, fill your engine with regular cooking oil [instead of Mobil 1?](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/11245/aaa-study-confirms-synthetic-oil-is-better-than-the-conventional-stuff>)

Now, even if you've never had a reason to ask that question (and really, you shouldn't), you're probably just a *little* curious about the answer now. To prepare for this extremely scientific experiment, Mastermilo82 had to perform some minor surgery on the Tiburon, welding up a busted oil pan and cleaning out the valve cover to inspect for existing internal damage.

Once everything is ready, he fills up the pokey 1.6-liter engine with used cooking oil literally straight out of a deep [fryer](<https://www.dontwasteyourmoney.com/best-air-fryer/>). On a brief test fire, it actually doesn't sound half bad for an engine that's been to hell and back. But when everything is finally buttoned back up and the oil has had a chance to work its way through the motor, it emits some weird, kind of horrifying gulping sounds as Mastermilo82 tries to get it going for real. Only one cylinder is firing, and it's clearly not happy doing so.

A little later on, things are briefly looking up after a bump start gets the Tiburon moving under its own power. But just when you think used cooking oil *might* just actually work, bingo: [catastrophic failure.](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/8998/watch-what-happens-when-you-run-an-engine-without-oil>)

https://youtube.com/embed/-ya5GyIHcDA

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)