MOT terminology

[Saigon]

Had an email from my daughter earlier after her car had been for it’s MOT, it passed but in the advisories section it states (Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material) she asked me if she should be concerned, I didn’t know the answer, and asked her if she had asked the garage the same question at the time. She had, and they said not really we just have to inform you ?. So does the above mean brake pipe corroded, or may be corroded, but can’t see it due to grease or other material. I know we have an ex mot man in France, possibly one for you. But most likely others on here have experienced the same advisory, what does it actually mean, it appears to be very non specific. Especially as the garage said not to be particularly concerned. But it doesn’t look nice if you are intending selling your car, which she is.

 

[2b1ask1]

I’d say they are phishing for work...

 

[philw696]

It's something that used to be done years ago to protect brake lines.
Today unscrupulous people do it to hide corroded pipes.
The only way to check properly is clean the grease off and inspect.
What's the car, age and where in the UK as that has a big bearing.

 

[lifes2short]

as above, dodgy dealers/traders/owners covering pipes with a load of grease/gunk to hide corrosion, never understood why they just cant give it a quick wipe to see the condition of pipe during inspection or are they not allowed to???

 

[Saigon]

It's something that used to be done years ago to protect brake lines.
Today unscrupulous people do it to hide corroded pipes.
The only way to check properly is clean the grease off and inspect.
What's the car, age and where in the UK as that has a big bearing.

Hi Phil, it’s a 12 year old LR discovery, she lives in Lincoln, the car has spent all its life there. She has had the car for 6 years and certainly never put any grease on the pipes. It’s the terminology I’m interested in, either the pipes are corroded or they are not. And if they are not, but just possibly corroded because the tester can’t see them, then the advisory should not say pipes corroded. If they are definitely corroded it should possibly be considered as more serious than an advisory.

 

[Saigon]

as above, dodgy dealers/traders/owners covering pipes with a load of grease/gunk to hide corrosion, never understood why they just cant give it a quick wipe to see the condition of pipe during inspection or are they not allowed to???

Agree, but if you have owned the car for 6 years and you know that you haven’t put any grease on the pipes, why has it not been mentioned in any previous MOT’s. That would infer to me that it’s possibly corrosion. Not (covered in grease or other material) the MOT statement is very ambiguous. And yes, why don’t they just wipe off the grease if it’s there, and not take a guess.

 

[lifes2short]

that is very unusual especially after 6 years suddenly appearing on the mot, has the car been serviced by someone who may have smeared grease on pipe?, believe it or not I believe the Disco is a body off/lifted for some of the brake pipes need renewing, why the heck would it be designed that way is anyone's guess, i would ask the mot guy or get it on a ramp to have a look for yourself

 

[MarkMas]

So this seems to be a standard message, picked from a menu, not a specific message tailored to this car. And it appears in A LOT of Google searches.

Some say that the grease is likely protective, not accidental or fraudulent.

And this is an interesting interpretation:

Should I be worried if the MOT history reads like this?

Could you pls advise? I want to buy this used Toyota Verso, 2016. It is an ex Motability car, so first, I don't know if this may be an issue. Secondly, its only MOT history reads like this: Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories): Vehicles internal headlight adjuster altered to recheck light...

www.toyotaownersclub.com

which suggests that the message really means:
"Brake pipe corroded, or covered in grease or other material"
So basically it is saying:
"Brake pipe not leaking, but it is either showing some signs of corrosion, in which case you might want to replace it one day, or it is covered in protective grease, plastic, or something like that, so I have no idea if it is corroded or not."

So, a general advisory, then.

 

[philw696]

I was always told by the Ministry to Pass and Advise putting the responsibility on the owner.
@Saigon i would be checking with the Garage that Service and maintains the car for their opinions.
Disco and Sport is body off to do many repairs.

 

[Gazcw]

Similar to in the past when you used to get an advisory for structural construction of sills obstructed by The Sun and P40.

 

[lifes2short]

as i understand, MOT testers are under no legal obligation to note advisories on MOT certificates

 

[alfatwo]

The way I've always been explained is..
The tester as a multi choice answer on he's sheet as to why there might be a problem, if none of those fit, he just chooses the nearest explanation and ticks the box!

Is that true Phil?

Dave

 

[philw696]

Okay chaps i stopped testing end of 2014 and @lifes2short your right but a guy doing the job properly or the woman not wanting to offend and wasn't aware of any gender neutral testers.
A decent tester will give advisories if they are warranted.
You're expected to know the manual well and it's easily navigated online since the testing has been that way for a few years.
@alfatwo there is a list of the common advisories that you can add but you were always able to type your own one in too.
Who remembers the small hand written certificate then ?
I bet a few on here never seen one.

 

[Zep]

Who remembers the small hand written certificate then ?
I bet a few on here never seen one.

From the bloke down the pub, right?

 

[Oneball]

They weren’t that long ago! Pass for the Mini and a fail for the Beetle

 

[CatmanV2]

Had loads of them over the years.

C

 

[philw696]

From the bloke down the pub, right?

I could tell you a story about that one day.
Working in the Motortrade in the 80's and 90's had some sketchy moments.
Pleased to say when I went to New Zealand i passed all the Police checks.

 

[Phil the Brit]

I rub LM grease on my brake pipes on my old Bentley. Do it every two years when I waxoyl its chassis components. Never been told not to do it by MOT station nor been given any advisories on it.

 

[RoaryRati]

I had the same advisory for my 1999 Subaru - means taking floor panel out - also need to renew sills. But it has done 165000 miles in all weathers and I love it.

 

[bigbob]

Hi Phil, it’s a 12 year old LR discovery, she lives in Lincoln, the car has spent all its life there. She has had the car for 6 years and certainly never put any grease on the pipes. It’s the terminology I’m interested in, either the pipes are corroded or they are not. And if they are not, but just possibly corroded because the tester can’t see them, then the advisory should not say pipes corroded. If they are definitely corroded it should possibly be considered as more serious than an advisory.

I drove Discoveries for a long time until they ruined them with the D5. They are known for brake pipe deterioration and the dealers replace them with copper. My Discovery3 only lasted till about 7 years IIRC. I would take it to a Land Rover specialist and ask for an opinion.