History behind blinker fluid : It's Origin and Memes

What is blinker Fluid?

Blinker fluid is a fictional element often used in pranks or jokes to poke fun at someone unfamiliar with cars and their mechanical operations. It is termed as necessary fluid to turn signals or blinkers function properly. The idea of blinker fluid is completely fictional, and there’s no such thing. However, this term has been mainly considered car humor, and it is often used by experienced mechanics and seasoned drivers to make fun of those who do not know much about cars.

This article will help you explore some more interesting facts about blinker fluid and also explore some of the more common practical jokes that have been played in the automotive world.

The Origin of the Blinker Fluid

The concept of blinker fluid originated in the mid-20s when cars were becoming accessible to more and more people and car ownership began to boom. But, with the increase in the purchase of vehicles, the knowledge gap between car enthusiasts and the average driver has also been increasing. While many people only have basic knowledge of cars mainly about driving only a fraction of them truly know about the working and every detail of vehicles.

This gap created a strong field for jokes and pranks, especially among the casual drivers and those who prided themselves on automobile expertise. The idea of blinker fluids played an important role in the fact that cars require several essential fluids (like oil, brake fluid, and coolant), and the casual driver might not have an in-depth understanding of all of these.

By introducing this fictional term Blinker fluid, pranksters could easily convincingly suggest to someone that their car required this foolish, nonexistent fluid to keep their turn signals functioning. This kind of joke becomes a casual way to make fun of inexperienced drivers, especially those new to car maintenance or less knowledgeable about vehicles.

Over some time this joke blinker fluid spread finding its way into social media, and making it one of the most well-known car-related jokes today.

Why has Blinker Fluid become so popular?

The blinker fluid became so popular for many reasons, because of humor, societal dynamics, and the evolving relationship people have with technology.

The Humor of Technical Ignorance:

The humor behind Blinker Fluid is a gap between expert knowledge and layperson ignorance. As Mechanics and car enthusiasts roast those people who are unfamiliar with cars often use blinker fluid as a litmus test. This type of humor is known as insider humor, and such people who have expertise in automobiles enjoy poking fun at those who don’t have much knowledge.

The Complexity of Modern Cars:

The technological upgrade in cars also made it harder for the average person to understand and repair. Especially, for the people of the older generation because in the early 20s cars had a simple mechanism that could often be fixed by the owner with some mechanical tools, modern vehicles are far more complicated, involving electronic systems, computerized components, and advanced engineering. This increased complexity has made the gap between car experts and everyday drivers and also between two generations.

Relatability:

Most people interact with their vehicle at some point in their lives, which is a sign of automotive humor, and even people who don't know much about cars have likely heard jokes about blinker fluid.

The Rise of Internet Culture:

The rise of the internet has helped these practical jokes to become memes and spread among social media platforms. This also helped to sustain the joke of blinker fluid which has made the automobile culture a humorous culture.

Other Popular Automotive Myths and Pranks:

The blinker fluid isn’t the only joke or misinformation that circulates in the automotive world. Here are a few other examples of car-related jokes-

Muffler Bearings:

Like blinker fluid, muffler bearings are a fictional component that is used to fool those unfamiliar with car parts.

Left-Handed Wrenches:

This joke means it’s a way of teasing someone who isn’t familiar with tools or mechanical work.

Winter Air vs. Summer Air in Tires:

Some mechanics have joked that you need to swap out the air in your tires depending on the season, but in reality, air pressure can fluctuate with temperature, so there’s no need to swap out the actual air.

Conclusion:

The blinker fluid may just be a joke but it highlights the importance of your vehicle. If you know your vehicle then it will also stay in top condition and will help you avoid falling for pranks.

At the end of the day, the blinker fluid joke teaches us that never stop learning. Whether you’re a car enthusiast or a new driver, there’s always more to learn and explore about the fascinating world of automotive mechanics.