Is an MOT wash really necessary?

Hasbeen

ripplyuk wrote: »

It must be a Northern Ireland thing. Everyone here takes their car for an MOT wash beforehand. That’s why there are always car wash places with signs for ‘MOT wash’ beside or very close to the test centre. They put the car up on a ramp so they can clean everything underneath which takes longer so it costs more. I was always told the underneath of the car must be cleaned or else they can’t examine it properly and could fail it for that. Also, I guess muck would fall on the guy underneath checking it.

Do most people NEVER clean the underneath of their car? I thought the dirt would rot things if it wasn’t done occasionally.

Never heard of it and I have been driving for 45 years. But will now set up a MOT car wash and inform all the newer drivers who do not even know how to check the oil level that this is a must LOL


Dirt under car, you would have to do it every day and all that water would rust the car.:)

Gloomendoom

I live in England and have done it with my 4x4, which tends to get caked with mud. It something I do anyway but I make a point of doing it just before an MoT.

I'm sure it's written down somewhere that the vehicle is supposed to presented for testing in a clean state anyway.

Joe_Horner

Arklight wrote: »

An MOT wash? Have you tried driving fast through a puddle?

Backwards.

I tend to find that normal driving through puddles around here can put some mud from the verges up into the wheel wells, so going through them backwards should remove any already there.

It must work because I've never done anything else and never had a test refused for a dirty bottom.

interstellaflyer

Can't say I've ever cleaned a car inside or out let alone gone to the extra effort of cleaning the underside before an MOT

Joe_Horner

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Can't say I've ever cleaned a car inside or out let alone gone to the extra effort of cleaning the underside before an MOT

Yeah but not all of us are rich enough to throw them away when the ashtray's full :beer:

interstellaflyer

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Yeah but not all of us are rich enough to throw them away when the ashtray's full :beer:

I drive a 13 year old MK2 Focus so hardly rich.

societys_child

I always empty the ash-tray and vac the carpets, it's important to prepare for the MOT . .

nickcc

Always pressure wash the underside of the car whenenever I wash the bodywork. Have the underside angled jet that fits on the pressure washer lance and cleans off all the crud and salt that builds up. Probably being a PSV/HGV mechanic in years gone by has brain washed me but still feel the car drives better after a good clean. Try sticking your hand under the wheel arches and feel how much crap has built up and you might then decide that if you want to stop corrosion cleaning under tha car is probably a good thing.

Robisere

nickcc wrote: »

Always pressure wash the underside of the car whenenever I wash the bodywork. Have the underside angled jet that fits on the pressure washer lance and cleans off all the crud and salt that builds up. Probably being a PSV/HGV mechanic in years gone by has brain washed me but still feel the car drives better after a good clean. Try sticking your hand under the wheel arches and feel how much crap has built up and you might then decide that if you want to stop corrosion cleaning under tha car is probably a good thing.

Exactly what I do, although not for MOT as I am a Motability driver and MOT is only done at almost the end of the Lease. I don't use a pressure wash, but we have really good water pressure in the village. I use my garden hose with a restrictor and a high pressure jet, it blasts off all the winter muck and salt. And I was also a workshop foreman, got used to keeping cars immaculate. I was also an MOT tester and I can assure you that testers feel kindly disposed towards the owner of a car with a clean underside: being able to clearly see components such as brake pipes, steering and suspension and floorpan areas which are close enough to load bearing members, is a Good Thing! Makes the test quicker, which makes a Tester and customer happy!

My dd drives me crackers: her little Mazda is a tip. Ds has a Vauxhall Combi van which he keeps immaculate, and he uses that to transport all kinds of stuff, including old Stationary engines. On the other hand, her house and garden is truly impeccable, whereas ds's place looks like a breaker's yard.

mollycat

No one's saying they don't wash the underside of their car, (crazy not too).....

Just that they don't take it to places offering an "MOT wash" that are charging £15 for it.