Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 22:14
Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus - hannahspanna

Please could someone help me.

Took car for MOT on Tuesday (5days ago), failed

Re-Mot test done on Thursday - (for bushes/bulbs/number plate only)

Had only driven it maybe 5 miles max in one go but since the MOT was done I had noticed a funny smell an thought I could see a bit of smoke coming from engine - didn't really think anything of it .

Anyway had a bit more of a drive today(Sunday), still only about 20 odd miles but substantially more smoke/smell was coming out - got someone to have a look under the bonnet and my oil cap is completely missing!? Oil is all over the engine and spiling down the front of the car.

I cant understand why an oil cap would be removed for Mot - An advisory note was issued that there was oil leak somewhere though. - could this be the reason why?

The car was not smoking or smelling before it went in (and surely they would have noticed oil spurting out and lack of oil cap?) and we have not touched the bonnet since.

Now obviously I will call the garage first thing tomorrow but would really like a little bit of knowledge/advice behind me before I do because I dont want to be fobbed off or look stupid because as you can probably tell I really dont have a clue about cars. I am so confused (and upset - I have had my children in the car with me all the time) so any advise before I call them would be very appreciated.

And also what sort of damge could this have done?

Thankyou

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 22:19
Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus - bathtub tom

When was the oil last topped up? I'd say that's the most likely time someone failed to replace it.

No need to remove it for an MOT.

Check your oil level and get a new cap. As long as your oil level hasn't fallen below MIN on the dipstick there should be no damage.

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 22:30
Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus - hannahspanna

Thanks for reply

Oil was done AGES ago (cant even remember) surely I would have noticed smoke/smell and they would have seen it at some point during the MOT? There is a hell of a lot of oil on engine and it doesn't look like it's been there long. It's literally since the MOT.

This is why I am so confused ? Can they break off?

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 22:21
Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus - piston power

There is no reason for the cap to be removed but for topping up the oil or for it's service, It may have not been put on properly from the last time and worked it's way loose.

Don't go in shouting and balling you won't get anywhere simply tell them and see what they say.

Put it down to experiance i think and check your levels once a week to avoid this sort of thing.

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Sun 24 Oct 2010 22:42
Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus - hannahspanna

Im always nice when complaining :-)

Thing is I do the dipstick thing quite regularly but hardly ever need to top up (I really dont do a lot of miles) so cap has not been touched, It's a long time to work its way loose - unless it's broken I suppose.

I guess I will see what they say about it.

Thanks

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Mon 25 Oct 2010 00:09
Ford Focus - Oil cap missing after MOT??Ford Focus - Dirk S

They check the brake fluid and water under the bonnet on an MOT surely, and something as glaringly obvious as a missing oil fillercap must be noticed. If its a very weak-fitting cap it could be pushed out by very, very bad blowby perhaps - unlikely though.

Edited by Dirk S on 25/10/2010 at 00:10

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