The oil on the Tyre Trick

This sounds possible.

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From My InBox:

This incident happened to me and be very careful if you ever encounter such case in future.

On Thur 5 Feb, I was driving home after work in the afternoon. quite a number of cars on the road. I was driving near the UE3, Taman Miharja, Cheras when 2 Indian guys on a motorbike honked me and pointed to the passenger-side wheel. I slowed down, not stopping bdut they kept honking and pointing to the wheel. Finally, I stopped at the side of the road in front of the UE3 complex. The 2 guys stopped and came down from their bike. One has the “BMW” name and logo on his blue shirt. While the other guy squatted in fron of the passenger-side wheel (I cant see him), the “BMW” guy came to the passenger side. My car is always locked when I drive and I lowered the passenger=side window about 2 inch to talk with him. Speaking in Malay, he told me my wheel has smoke and oil. I hesitated evaluating the situation, and he then bend down at the wheel and came up showing me his finger with some oil on it. He said my brake oil is leaking and cannot drive and ask me to go down out to see the wheel. Pointing to Taman Pertama which is just nearby, I told him I stay there and will go to my mechanic there for check-up. He kept insisting I dont drive as my brakes are not working and can get an accident. He kept asking me to go down and look at the wheel. I said no and I drove off. Giving this “Good Samaritan” the benefit of the doubt, I drove home very slowly in case I really cannot brake the car. 10 min later I arrived at my mechanic shop which is quite near to my house. I ask the mechanic if there is any oil in the wheel, he touched it and said yes and possible brake oil is leaking. He took it into the workshop and took out the wheel. Lo and behold, there was no leak, all dry. There was some oil at the brake pd and at the back of the tyre. He took out the driver-side tyre and it was dry too. He told me the only possible answer was that someone must have poured oil into my wheel. He washed the tyres and cleaned up the oil and then I went off.

I didnt tell the mechanic what had happened earlier but putting 2 and 2 together, I think I know what happened.

The 2 Indian guys stopped me. While one was talking with me, the other guy squatting at the wheel must have poured some oil into my wheel, making me think my car’s brake oil was leaking and in panic, I might go down and check (that’s why he kept asking me to go down and see). If I go out of the car to see, the following things can happen:-

1. one guy will drive off with my car (hoping in panic I’ll leave the car keys in the car) while the other will ride off in his motorbike.
2. they will threaten and rob me (with or without injury)
3. they will say they can repair my car very fast with no hassle and charge me a bomb

Looking at the crime situation in KL these days, I think either one of the first 2 possibilities will happen. Thank God, I was alert and didnt panic.

So for you drivers in KL, please be careful and be alert at all times while driving. Dont be so gullible and take all “Good Samaritan” word as true. If it happens drive to the nearest police station or mechanic workshop. The worst thing that can happen is to buy 2 brand new tyres (if tyres are kaput) or pay to repair for the damage done to the car. Cheaper than your life or your car..

So drive carefully. Cheers.

LCWong