If you’ve ever seen a car driving around with a small bucket hanging from its rear bumper, you’re probably scratching your head. Is it just a quirky decoration? A viral TikTok challenge? Or something with deeper meaning?
While it might look odd today, the practice of attaching buckets to vehicles has surprisingly deep roots — going all the way back to the days of horse-drawn carriages.
Long before cars took over the roads, wagons and carriages had an issue: their wheel axles needed frequent greasing, especially during long hauls across rocky paths and muddy tracks. Since there were no convenient service stations back then, travelers had to bring grease along with them — and the simplest way to do that was in a bucket. So, a bucket hung under the wagon was a standard sight.
When early cars arrived on the scene, the humble bucket took on a new purpose. Back then, engines had a tendency to overheat quickly, and coolant systems as we know them today didn’t exist. Instead, drivers carried water in — you guessed it — a bucket. When the engine got too hot, they’d pull over, pour in the water, and get back on the road.
In the days of older diesel vehicles, especially in cold climates, the bucket gained yet another use. In places with tough winters — especially in areas that used vehicles like MAZ, KamAZ, and BelAZ — diesel fuel and engine oil could thicken or freeze, making it nearly impossible to start the engine.
To solve this, drivers would pour gasoline into a metal bucket, light it, and place it under the engine to thaw out the fluids. Not the safest method, but it often worked when nothing else did. These improvised heaters became a lifeline during freezing mornings.
The tiny, colorful buckets seen on cars today are a far cry from the practical, fuel-warming ones of the past. Now, they’re mostly used as playful nods to automotive history. Some drivers hang them purely for fun, while others believe the bucket brings good fortune or protects their car from mechanical issues or bad luck.
In fact, it’s not uncommon to find a coin, a charm, or even a small stone placed inside — all part of turning the bucket into a lucky symbol on wheels.
