Technical Rear crossmember rust, would this pass MOT?

[spleenharvester]

This is the rear crossmember area of our 2011 500, are we likely to get dinged on MOT for this? I think it is just affecting the surface but it has spread very quickly, it looked very clean when I was last under there six months ago... OEM crossmember, rear shocks replaced a few years ago. Car is running OK but has a minor creak from the back end when we start moving sometimes.

 

[ZaphodB]

Don't wait for it to fail......

Wire brush it everywhere to get the loose stuff off and slosh some waxoyl all over it. If they can't see corrosion they can't go digging for it.

 

[Danoid]

That won’t fail an MOT, at most you’ll get a minor for rust

 

[GettinBetter]

That won’t fail an MOT, at most you’ll get a minor for rust

As said above , but you could lightly spray oil over it all, but not too much, you don't want any drips as they have in the past failed mine for for thinking the shocks were leaking. You can do a heavier coat AFTER the MOT.

I spray the whole underside of mine every year long before an MOT (~60/40 engine oil & white spirit), so the oil collects dust and the dust in turn soaks up the oil, and forms a nice protective barrier against the elements, all bolts are easy to undo making any maintenance far easier.

 

[ZaphodB]

I've just paid good money just last week to have waxoyl slapped on all over front and rear x-members (on a 3 year old 595).
(and got the remainder of the 5L tin for future touch-ups)

 

[GettinBetter]

I've just paid good money just last week to have waxoyl slapped on all over front and rear x-members (on a 3 year old 595).
(and got the remainder of the 5L tin for future touch-ups)

Yep, people do. But I've been doing this forever, and my lightly used engine oil is free.



Attaching my shultz gun and using my compressor which is just a case of chucking the hose to the car and turning it on.
Always do it, when finishing up on any maintenance.

 

[ZaphodB]

Always do it, when finishing up on any maintenance.

 

[GettinBetter]

Is that a new type of shultz gun ? Progress eh, I just can't keep up.

 

[ZaphodB]

Is that a new type of shultz gun ? Progress eh, I just can't keep up.

Cuts out the middle man, straight from the bottle

 

[GettinBetter]

... Cuts out the middle man ...

Of course, as a production engineer, thats right up my street...

Next step...
Just need a big bath, then drive in and out sorted

 

[spleenharvester]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone I've just been made redundant so glad this isn't an extra expense!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Of course, as a production engineer, thats right up my street...

Next step...
Just need a big bath, then drive in and out sorted

Only if you take the filler cap off first....

 

[The Panda Nut]

Thanks for the reassurance everyone I've just been made redundant so glad this isn't an extra expense!

Sorry to hear of your redundancy. Its never easy. Just remmeber its not your fault and dont let it get you down. Something always turns up, and often its not worse. Sometimes better.

 

[steveras57]

Just preparing to attack mine again!.
A happy day under the car with the drill, wire brush attachments, hand brushes, scrapers,angle grinder with flap wheel (careful now might end up with no car and a big pile of rust ) and a big tin of hammerite!.( yes i know mask and goggles etc)

I take my time and also take the rear wheels off so as i can get to everything, to be honest the prep takes ages and the painting half an hour!.
I do understand the wisdom of the wax-oil/oil and brush approach- but to be honest if i do this properly this time it will probably be the last time i have to do it, as either the car or myself will likely pop our clogs before it needs doing again!

 

[GettinBetter]

... A happy day under the car with the drill, wire brush attachments, hand brushes, scrapers,angle grinder with flap wheel (careful now might end up with no car and a big pile of rust ) and a big tin of hammerite!.( yes i know mask and goggles etc) ...

Never done that, the environment is too harsh to bother, water always gets under paint, the paint forms a skin and holds the water in, to work faster and longer. Doesn't do that with oil.

As long as you're happy, that's all that matters.

 

[steveras57]

Never done that, the environment is too harsh to bother, water always gets under paint, the paint forms a skin and holds the water in, to work faster and longer. Doesn't do that with oil.

As long as you're happy, that's all that matters.

Happy might be overstating it!

 

[ZaphodB]

Waxoyl FTW

 

[bugsymike]

Ex boyfriends car?

 

[ZaphodB]

Ex boyfriends car?

No idea behind the pic, there's another similar:

 

[GettinBetter]

Nah, the first one was spot on, I couldn't believe how fast you found and posted that right after my comment.