Who He Is
Jason Ardrey graduated diesel tech school in 2001. That is not the whole story though. He started doing major engine rebuilds at 14 and was drag racing out of Noble, Oklahoma by 16. He counts 30 years of employable experience, and says what is really on the van or in the bay is himself and that experience.
His business, The Mechanic LC, is based in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He wants that clear, because people sometimes think he is out of Sand Springs. He is not.
What He Gets Called For
Diagnostics is the job he gets called for most. Specifically, problems other shops have already tried and failed to fix.
He says some customers think paying for a diagnostic is a waste of money, especially if another shop or a parts store already told them what part they need. His point is that when that part does not fix the problem, the customer is now out money for a part that was not needed, plus labor, plus they still have to pay someone to find the real issue. Paying for the diagnostic up front and getting one correct repair costs less in the end.
A Repair He Is Proud Of
A recent job was a Chrysler Town and Country. It was not dead, but it was hemorrhaging coolant, and two mechanics before him had diagnosed it as a head gasket.
Jason says it took some convincing, but he used a borescope to show the customer the real problem. It was a defect in the oil cooler filter housing, something he describes as common and well known on that engine. The head gasket was never the issue.
Maintenance People Skip
Asked what people skip most, Jason named transmission fluid changes. It is a simple maintenance item that gets ignored until there is a bigger, more expensive problem to deal with.
Where He Works
Jason services Creek County, south Tulsa County, and north Okmulgee County, working out of Sapulpa.
What to Check Before You Hire a Mechanic
Jason's advice is to look up credentials online and check with the Secretary of State to confirm the business is actually licensed. He also suggests a simple Google search of the business and the mechanic by name.
Two things he flags as red flags: if a mechanic asks for money up front, or if they make you go buy your own parts.
Asked about his favorite vehicle he has worked on, he did not hesitate. A 1968 Peterbilt 359.
Interviewed by MechanicRank · October 2, 2026. Nothing here is sponsored and nothing was rewritten into marketing copy. Read the other features or tell us about your own shop.