‘Mayo under your oil cap’ and a damaged ‘big end’ – what this confusing mechanics’ lingo really means about your motor
Misunderstanding what's wrong with your car can see you pay over the odds for repairs. So how many of these phrases can you actually translate?
A TRIP to the garage can be stressful for any motorist, especially when it seems like the mechanic is speaking another language.
And even clued-up drivers can end up forking out more for repairs if they misunderstand technical lingo.
Almost half of British drivers feel they have overpaid to have their car serviced because they didn't understand the car jargon used to describe what was wrong with their vehicle, according to a new study.
And while most mechanics are happy to explain what your car needs, some can exploit confused drivers and charge over the odds for simple repairs.
has decoded some of the most common mechanical lingo to make sure drivers know exactly what they are paying for.
So how many of these phrases did you already know?
"Your big end has gone"
Not quite as rude as it sounds, this is referring to a large bearing inside your engine.
If it wears out, it can damage other parts of the engine.
You'll usually know something is wrong as you will be able to hear a large knocking noise when you accelerate.
"Your steering has excessive play"
Having too much "play" in your steering means it won't respond how you want it to.
Put simply, it means you either have too much, or too little movement in that part of your car.
If can also refer to your suspension.
"Your bushes in the wishbone are going"
While it might sound like Australian slang, this phrase is actually referring to your suspension.
Bushes are the rubber elements that attach to triangular "wishbone" parts, and can wear out easily.
And they might sound technical, but the small rubber components are quite cheap to fix.
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"You need a diagnostic charge"
A lot of modern cars come with an on-board computer, or diagnostics, system which can give the mechanic a run-down of what is happening inside the car.
But accessing it is as simple as plugging a laptop into the car.
Some mechanics might try to use this label to hide lengthy labour costs - but it's certainly not a time-consuming service.
The electronics system can also sometimes be referred to using the jargon term "CAN-bus".
"You've got mayonnaise under your oil cap"
Not something you'd expect to hear about your car, this phrase actually refers to a serious engine problem.
Water or condensation mixing with your engine oil can create a thick, white gunk that collects under the cap.
If this occurs, it could mean you have an issue with your head gasket.
"You seem to have spongy brakes"
If your brakes are "spongy", it just means there isn't much resistance when the pedal is pressed down.
If this is the case, your brakes won't be working properly, which could mean you are low on brake fluid.
But if your fluid levels are normal, there could be a bigger issue with your brakes.
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MotorEasy founder, Duncan McClure Fisher, said: “Garage mechanics are among the worst around for using phrases and terms that may make sense to them and may even be technically correct, but which mean nothing to the casual car owner.
“While some garage customers may be bold enough to ask for an explanation, the majority are very British about it and will simply accept what they’re being told, trusting that the technician knows best.
“The problem is that this trust is open to abuse and unscrupulous garages could even use jargon to deliberately confuse their customers and even get them to part with more cash unnecessarily.”