Real Environment Test

This is another Jamesism and you will often hear him say this on our Car Water Leak Found videos. 

When he says, "The car is all done and ready for its real environment test", what he means is, that the real test is being out in the real world. Our tests are very thorough, but they are not real-world tests, and they can miss issues that could only appear in real-world use, and these are issues we could never predict.

Examples of this might be holes that have appeared on the underside of the car. Our tests simulate rain, and so we pour water from the top, yet water ingress might appear when the vehicle is moving at a certain speed on wet roads, causing spray from the wheels to hit an area that wouldn't be hit when the car is stationary.  Some of these issues are known, for example, on some Ford Focus cars this can be an issue with holes hidden behind the bumpers. 

Another example might be something specific to the way the car is treated, such as being regularly parked nose-up or nose-down on a steep slope. This might cause water channels, which work perfectly when the car is parked level, to become overwhelmed.

It is also the case that when a car is moving, accelerating, or cornering, the body shell will flex, which can cause seams to open up and let in water. 

What it means

A real environment test is the final check that happens outside the workshop bubble. Once a leak has been found, fixed and tested with controlled hose, smoke, bubbles or dye, the car is then used in the way an owner would actually use it – driven on real roads, parked outside, left through proper weather – and rechecked afterwards. It is about proving that the repair stands up to genuine conditions, not just ideal test setups.

Why it matters

• Confirms repairs in real weather: Workshop tests are controlled; real rain, spray, road camber and wind can behave differently. A real environment test checks that nothing has been missed.
• Catches position- and slope-dependent leaks: Some leaks only show when the car is parked nose-up, nose-down or on a camber, or when water is thrown up from the wheels at speed.
• Builds confidence for the customer: Being able to say the car has been used and left outside without re-leaking is far more reassuring than “it didn’t leak under a hose for ten minutes”.
• Supports warranty and documentation: Recording that a real environment test has been completed gives a clear line in the paperwork that the job has been checked beyond basic workshop tests.

Where you’ll see it

You will see real environment test mentioned in leak reports, drying and decontamination job sheets and quality-control notes. Typical comments include vehicle to undergo real environment test overnight, real-world park-out in heavy rain, no further leaks observed or further real environment testing recommended due to intermittent symptoms. It may also appear in warranty terms where a return visit includes extra real-world validation.

Context

A real environment test sits at the end of a structured leak and water damage process. First the source of water is found (using smoke, bubbles, dye, spoor, cameras and moisture meters), then repairs are carried out and verified with controlled water tests. Once the interior has been dried and reassembled, the car is used and parked as it would be in normal life. After this real environment exposure, carpets, underlay, box sections and known weak points such as rear vents, membranes, drains and scuttle areas are rechecked for fresh damp or trace. Only then can anyone honestly say the car has been proven in the real world, not just in theory.

Common mistakes

• Relying only on a quick hose test at the workshop and assuming that means the car will never leak again in real life.
• Skipping any outside park-out due to time pressure, so slope- or wind-dependent leaks are not discovered until the customer uses the car.
• Doing a real environment test but not re-inspecting carpets, underlay and known weak points afterwards, so small weeps are missed.
• Failing to record real environment testing in the job notes, making it hard to demonstrate that a thorough validation was carried out if questions arise later.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 09/12/2025 03:24