Mot Changes 20th May, Can anybody clarify?

[Burnside]

Been for a Mot last Week and had one of the new style Mot Certificates. While I was waiting had a chat at the garage and seams that from after the 20th May, any oil leaks are a automatic failure. An apparently the emissions are being tightened up with regard to tolerance limits. 

 

Also if you issued with a Dangerous Defect notice it illegal to drive your vehicle away unless it towed. An if you do the garages are been instructed to report you to the police !

 

Not trying to cause anybody to panic or argue over the matter.

 

I just want someone in the know to clarify how it affects people like us, who own older i.e pre 2000 petrol and diesel vehicles that aren't Mot exempt. I'd also like to know what affect that has on modern petrol and diesel vehicles after 2000. 

 

As even the garage I went too seamed a bit confused about it.

 

Have been on the Gov.UK but I didn't find it very helpful. 

 

Cheers

[dollywobbler]

Nothing has changed regarding DANGEROUS defects. They can put that on the certificate now, and have been able to for many years. 

 

Oil leaks worrying, as most of mine lose a bit...

[Bobthebeard]

Oil leaks also worrying here.... Mine do to. Crankshaft pulley oil seal on the Saab 9-5 drips a bit. Advisories for last two MOT's.

[SiC]

I spoke to my garage when my 2007 Civic diesel was MOT'd. They said mine was too old to have the tighter diesel emission limits and will be on the existing ones.

[SiC]

This was an interesting post on the DVSA blog: https://mattersoftesting.blog.gov.uk/why-its-important-to-check-for-corrosion/

 

Not easy to navigate the threads but of interest is the post named as "Dave posted on 20 March 2018".

 

Quite a long chat, but this is what the DVSA revised what they said:

 

Chris (DVSA) posted on 20 March 2018

 

Hi Dave,

 

From 20th May 2018, the MOT will change. Defects will be classed as dangerous, major and minor. If a vehicle defect is categorised as dangerous or major it will fail its MOT.

 

If a defect is identified as being dangerous, the vehicle should not be driven away from the MOT testing station.

 

Thanks,

 

Chris

 

Note: this has been amended to clarify the original comment. The MOT garage will have no authority to detain a vehicle.

[angle]

There's a draft test manual here:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles

 

You must check for fluid leaks on all vehicles other than Class 3. You should do this with the engine idling.

 

A leak of fluids such as engine coolant, screen wash and fluid required for Selective Catalyst Reduction aren't reasons for failure.

 

You should fail a vehicle if a fluid leak creates a pool on the floor within 5 minutes that's more than 75mm in diameter or if there are many leaks which collectively leak fluid at the same rate.

 

You can refuse to carry out the test if there's an excessive fluid leak. For details see item 4 in the 'Introduction' of this inspection manual.

So yes, you can fail on an oil leak, but only a pretty massive one...

[oldcars]

Does that mean my small ish oil leak on the Reliant will be ok as its class 3?

[Bobthebeard]

There's a draft test manual here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-inspection-manual-for-class-3-4-5-and-7-vehicles

 

So yes, you can fail on an oil leak, but only a pretty massive one...

Thanks for that. Most* of us should be ok there I suspect.

Although am sure MOT testers will be a tad pissed off at having to measure the size of pools of fluid on the garage floor...

[jakebullet]

I've had "oil leak" as advisory for 5 years now. It's a bloody discovery of course the steering box leaks. MOT due June, have invested in 2 cans of engine degreaser, it's not much of a leak so clean it up and hope for the best.

[panhard65]

My tester said if it drips oil on him whilst he is testing it he will fail it. He also said that steam cleaning anything with a leak before taking it in would be a good idea.

[Split_Pin]

Pretty sure my 75 would not pass with the PAS leak and oil leaks collectively but the former is being sorted in June.

[clayts450]

Have to confess the 'oil leak' thing has put me off pursuing a couple of old Rovers whose MoTs come after 20 May.

[chaseracer]

My tester said if it drips oil on him whilst he is testing it he will fail it. He also said that steam cleaning anything with a leak before taking it in would be a good idea.

 

Are testers allowed to make up their own rules?  Interesting...

[Zelandeth]

That's going to be fun, of course the steering box on the Lada leaks... that's how you know it's got oil in...

 

To be fair, I make a point of not filling it near to the MOT, as no tester wants EP90 dropped in their face!

[martc]

Oil leaks - good job most 'classic' British motorbikes are exempt from MOT testing.

[colnerov]

 Hi, Like most things it's all going to come down to individual testers discretion.

 

 Colin

[busmansholiday]

If they fail things for oil leaks there's going to be fuck all Land Rovers on the road after May.

[MarvinsMom]

since the orange mini and the metro both drop oil, when first hearing that oil leaks would now be an mot faili thought that was going to be an issue.

 

now however, i see that its no more a problm than it wa before hand.

 

its some pretty bloody major leak to make a 3 inch pool in 5 minutes!

 

plus those cars been a good few years old the tighter emission thing isn't going to be a problem either fror the mini or the metro, or for the rover either cos thats donkeys years old.

 

and if an a-series engine isn't dropping at leaadt som oil, then there is no oil in it! this is also true for a landrover....

[Tamworthbay]

If they fail things for oil leaks there's going to be fuck all Land Rovers on the road after May.

or anything with an A series in it.

[DodgeRover]

A 3" puddle in a few minutes means it's probably not going to make it home from the mot station anyway...

[anonymous user]

If they fail things for oil leaks there's going to be fuck all Land Rovers on the road after May.

I don't think my mot is due until July

[bigstraight6]

Oil leaks - good job most 'classic' British motorbikes are exempt from MOT testing.

And cars, both my old Zodiac and Triumph 2000 leak a bit of engine, gearbox and diff oil as is usual with motors of this vintage. My ‘modern’ stuff (2002 Polo TDI and 2004 Volvo S60 D5) don’t seem too leak anything but from now on I will do a check and rub over with a rag if need be before an MOT, not that my preferred tester gives me anything to worry about!

[flat4alfa]

The BMW throws oil everywhere so the undertray will have to do its job or it's the bailer Latvian container truck

 

I can see undertrays getting a bead of sealant built up on the inner side just to pass 

 

Another thought - the Rover 420 is a T-series so leaks like it's got B-series rope seals (in homage to its lineage).  I made up an undertray and cable-tied it home just to save the driveway.  What does the tester do there?  Advise on 'engine parts covered' as they have been for a while now if they feel like it, or will they remove it to peer behind, in order to fail it?  Just asking for a friend. 

[robinmasters]

I once had a leak on the bedroom floor, but I don't recall my wife measuring the diameter of the pool before giving me a bollocking; can I appeal?

[Kringle]

If your engine has a plastic floor covering the underside and is leaking. Id do a bit of the old plastic welding and melt a food tray or tupperware to the inside to collect it. MOT pass I thank you very much.(providing you can't actually see the brown Lidl mushroom pot)

 

I think that's also known as kicking the can down the road.

[timolloyd]

Drain engine of oil pre-MOT, re-fill post MOT. Simple

[cros]

I once had a leak on the bedroom floor, but I don't recall my wife measuring the diameter of the pool before giving me a bollocking; can I appeal?

You probably lost your appeal as far as the Mrs. is concerned.

[vaughant]

Are testers allowed to make up their own rules? Interesting...

Yes and no and like anything else, it's all discretionary.

 

I know of a tester years ago that said he'd fail any metro that came in first time (going back to the mid 90's when they we're pure chod fodder) because if he didn't, he could be almost certain a new owner would bring it back with a major defect wanting to get his licence taken off him.

 

Harsh but generally fair back then as they were an MOT nightmare.

 

I've had another tester try to fail a car of mine on reverse lights and another cancel a test mid MOT because oil dripped on him (was certainly a leak but not extreme) and another say that he shouldn't really have tested the car with such a bad leak but passed the car as everything else was ok (which to be fair it was a bad leak even after I'd cleaned the underside).

 

I've had cars pass on a balljoint one year then get advised on it the next then not get mentioned for the next two years all on the same balljoint.

 

MOT testers work within the guidelines and I guess how much they need the repair money that week?

 

I've got no issues with any of my cars failing as really I want them to spot anything that could get nasty before it does, but I find most modern stuff deals with the MOT pretty well, certainly German, Swedish,French and Jap stuff seems to fly it most years from personal experience.

[twosmoke300]

Yay I can see another mot tester bashing coming up . It's been nearly a month !

 

Oh and the oil leak thing - as a motorcyclist I agree with it . Anyway it's gotta be pretty damn serious to fail . Fix the fucking thing !

[garbaldy]

Oh and the oil leak thing - as a motorcyclist I agree with it . Anyway it's gotta be pretty damn serious to fail . Fix the fucking thing !

Don't you realise it's the mot testers fault it's leaking so they should just pass it anyway, sod the oil slick on the roads it doesn't affect the owner who just wants a ticket.