What am I doing wrong?

It's not that they prefer lazy people; it's because you've established a pattern of giving your work away. It sounds to me like you're overcompensating because you are insecure and/or have low self-esteem. Otherwise, why would you feel the need to continually prove yourself and out-perform everyone else? Seriously, you're laying down a welcome mat to be taken advantage of and your boss is wiping his feet all over you. The reason it's called "work" is because it's a job and you're there to get paid. Don't treat it like a hobby. Do your business during normal business hours, nothing more and nothing less. Take your breaks, clock in and out on time and behave like a professional, responsible coworker who realizes the value of his skills and expects to be compensated for them. And if you still get no results and continue to feel unappreciated and underpaid, start looking around for another job.

You're in the wrong job. I can see that you love working on cars, but maybe a better choice would be work at a Napa or ORieley's where you can get ahead for all the extra work you do.

You just have a crappy boss man.

You've just learned a very important lesson in life. It is the workers who get the sham. The lazy good-for-nothings get the raises and promotions. This is why I became self-employed. I no longer have to deal with the politics and other garbage.

Your boss prefer lazy worker because lazy workers work only few hours and don't have enough time for the week so you boss don't have to pay as much as you. so your boss want people who work has less time than you, so he could pay that person less money than you.

you are being taken advantage of. This happened to me at my last job...I worked longer, harder etc. just as you described. and, I never got ahead...Finally, I gave my notice and then transferred to another store. I have since gotten many raises and, I am appreciated and valued. Your best bet is to leave and find a boss that will stick his neck out for you and appreciate your hard work.

put in a good day and work hard. Stop doing the extras as it is not only not getting you anywhere, if you get hurt working off the clock the companies workman's compensation plan will not cover you.

for your own good, only work while on the clock and do your best then and only then.

Pay your boss under the table if he seems shady. The boss gets no extra money if he puts you in charge versus someone else. But if you pay him, he won't care who gets the job.

Just don't stay late unless you got there late, to some bosses that's annoying. They might want to leave with the other employee's.