February 2019

Stuart commented: “If you test vehicles in both group A and group B, you need to study all the topics. You also need to train for at minimum six hours a year, instead of three, and take two annual assessments.” On courses available, Stuart said: “The RMI offer various training solutions to assist all Testers in completing their MOT Annual Training. This includes on-site training, training workbooks, online training, training at regional venues and at our three RMI Academy of Automotive Skills sites across the country. “Due to the amount of content and areas to cover in the annual training the RMI are again offering an opportunity to attend our academies to conduct an enhanced annual training package which is an all-day option.” “Stuart added: “The RMI also can assist members in ensuring compliance and reducing MOT risk with our MOTQC scheme, where one of our team will visit to conduct a precautionary MOT site audit which includes observing an MOT test. Advice and recommendations from these visits are given in a report that can be used by the VTS to assist in improving Test Quality and compliance.” Help customers pass the MOT What about the sharp end, where the customers are? Making sure you are complying with all the rules surrounding the running of the MOT is one part of the equation, but the other is actually testing the cars. If a customer’s car fails, you are likely to get the business to get it through the test. How can you help? “MOT laws are getting tougher as part of the push to get diesels off the road,“ says Wayne Radford, Technical Manager at Automotive Brands,“ and forever reducing the number of unsafe vehicles out there. Automotive Brands’ products are helping vehicles to meet the tighter 52 AFTERMARKET FEBRUARY 2019 MOT www.aftermarketonline.net Below: Garages need to be able to help customers’ vehicles get through the MOT specifications and pass their MOT with its range of additive products.” Major fault: Visible smoke of any colour “Any vehicle fitted with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF ) which includes all diesels made from 2009 onwards, will automatically fail their MOT if there is visible smoke of any colour emitted from the exhaust, explains Wayne. “Fortunately, Automotive Brands have a handful of products which can help fix the cause of the smoke in the first place, improving the condition of the vehicle as well as enabling it to pass its MOT. “Automotive Brands’ Power Maxed Stop Smoke oil additive eliminates black smoke from the exhaust. It works by thickening the oil to a higher viscosity, increasing its ability to function despite worn internal components, reducing engine noise, black/blue smoke and increasing the efficiency of the vehicle. For lighter smoke leaving the exhaust, Power Maxed Diesel Injector Cleaner is a fuel additive which can be added to approximately a quarter of a tank of fuel to help clear fuel dregs and other contaminants from the injectors to increase efficiency and reduce emissions, dark smoke and engine noise. “White smoke or steam from the exhaust can be a sign of a head gasket problem. Check for loss of coolant, oil in the coolant expansion tank and for a creamy white substance around the oil filler cap which can all be indicators of a blown head gasket. Use Automotive Brands’ Steel Seal pour-in head gasket fix to permanently repair the blown head gasket. The product circulates the cooling system until the combined heat and pressure caused by the faulted head gasket causes a thermochemical reaction whereby the Steel Seal solidifies in layers in the damaged area, repairing it as the reaction continues. The vehicle is