Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: JJ on 22 November, 2020, 04:39:41 pm
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I'm flogging a car. It's old and rattly but it has life in it still.
3 guys turned up to look at it. They asked me to pop the bonnet, and then one of them asked me questions while the other two poked around under there. Then one asked me to take him for a drive, which I did.
When we got back, he asked me to pop the bonnet again and pointed out oil on the turbo, where I've never seen any before, then dipped a stick in the expansion bottle and came up with oil.
After that they were all about "Will you take £500 for parts".
The question is, am I right to be suspicious? Is that a known scam?
And also how am I going to get oil out of my coolant?
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Tell them to come back while you double check
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Sounds like it.
I've heard a story before about three guys turning up to buy a car, maybe on this forum. How many guys does it take to buy a car?
An oil related problem is identified and a ludicrous low offer is made. When the offer is declined the guys get a bit aggressive.
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Yes, anyone who turned up to buy a car they could drive, and found what you've noted would simply walk away, not try and get it at parts value.
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I told them I wouldn't decide until I'd spoken to a mechanic tomorrow. They got pretty forceful.
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/motoring-news/oil-trick-scam-drivers/
Do I need to change the coolant?
Sent from my moto g(8) power using Tapatalk
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I would drain the coolant and flush before refilling.
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Oil and water do not mix well and oil in your coolant is not a good thing really. I would be inclined to drain, flush and refill.
I would also report an incident like this to the police. At best it is a silly prank, at worst an attempt to defraud you and presumably the next "punter".
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I would also report an incident like this to the police.
Seconded.
J
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Well,
I rigged myself up a drain bottle somewhat like the ones I've spent too much time watching them hook up to my son lately (another story) with an old dyson for vaccuum. It occurred to me that the car never got hot enough for the cooling to kick in so the oil would all still be in the expansion vessel. I've sucked it all out of there and I'll drive the car tomorrow. We'll soon see! If need be I'll drain it, but it's too late and too dark now.
My neighbour has their reg on his CCTV, and I have a phone number, so off I go to report it. I hope they really did come from Dartford like they said. Perhaps I should invite them back again tomorrow, or offer to meet them in the short stay carpark at Stansted (at £££ per 15 minutes)
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Your neighbour's cctv could throw up even more useful evidence such as images of the three men and even evidence of the tampering.
That would be rather good if it did.
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Alas no! All the real action happened out of sight of it. Next time it won't!
What an educational afternoon I have had!
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Alas no! All the real action happened out of sight of it. Next time it won't!
What an educational afternoon I have had!
Reported. Not the most fulfilling experience!
And thanks everyone for your advice.