Would the plural of Taurus be Tauri?
Rental Car .....good times
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I think you did a good deed. I wouldn't have added anything. If it shows up on the dipstick then there is plenty of oil in the sump.
I've done that with my rental cars I've gotten via Hertz - one Focus was low on coolant, in went a bit of G-05. The most recent one was a Taurus, it was low on oil. I had some 5W-30 from the Sienna laying around for the top-off.
I have read BITOG posts obsessively, and this is my first response. You did a good deed. Most customers wouldn't have checked the oil, let alone add any for free. Used oil is infinately preferable to low oil or no oil, especially when it will likely soon be changed.
It is the rental companies resposibility to maintain the vehicles.
It is the rental companies resposibility to maintain the vehicles.
I have to agree that this is a better choice than seizing the engine, especially since he did it with a relatively clean and new synthetic oil. Just my opinion though.
Put me in the camp that you did a good deed and nothing less. Checking it was good. And adding anything - even old oil - was even better. Plus, if you're a BITOGer, there's a very good chance that oil from your Accord wasn't in that bad of shape.
Personally, I check the oil in rental cars. I don't want anything to happen while I'm driving it, but too, why should I beat up a car unnecessarily? Yes, it's a rental and I could beat the heck out of it and it would never, ever affect me. But why? I look at it like someday someone may rely on that car as a daily driver. That single mom/old person/whomever needs it to be a good car. I shouldn't abuse it.
(I should mention I tend to have somewhat spiritual connections with my cars. More than a few times I've reached down and patted the dash after my old Jeep got be there and back with no trouble. Loyal like a dog she was...)
Personally, I check the oil in rental cars. I don't want anything to happen while I'm driving it, but too, why should I beat up a car unnecessarily? Yes, it's a rental and I could beat the heck out of it and it would never, ever affect me. But why? I look at it like someday someone may rely on that car as a daily driver. That single mom/old person/whomever needs it to be a good car. I shouldn't abuse it.
(I should mention I tend to have somewhat spiritual connections with my cars. More than a few times I've reached down and patted the dash after my old Jeep got be there and back with no trouble. Loyal like a dog she was...)
"""""it's a rental and I could beat the heck out of it and it would never, ever affect me. But why? I look at it like someday someone may rely on that car as a daily driver. That single mom/old person/whomever needs it to be a good car. I shouldn't abuse it.
(I should mention I tend to have somewhat spiritual connections with my cars. More than a few times I've reached down and patted the dash after my old Jeep got be there and back with no trouble. Loyal like a dog she was...) """""
I take the same approach-one day someone is going to need THIS car. Rented an Olds 88 in Salt Lake one time-200miles on the odo and was 2 quarts low on oil. Drove that car for 6 thousand miles in 10 days-this could have been ugly
Steve
(I should mention I tend to have somewhat spiritual connections with my cars. More than a few times I've reached down and patted the dash after my old Jeep got be there and back with no trouble. Loyal like a dog she was...) """""
I take the same approach-one day someone is going to need THIS car. Rented an Olds 88 in Salt Lake one time-200miles on the odo and was 2 quarts low on oil. Drove that car for 6 thousand miles in 10 days-this could have been ugly
Steve
I rented a car to go down to Kentucky for my best friends wedding and when I got to the place they didn't have my model so they gave me a Chrysler 300. It was overdue for an oil change 2,000KM (1200 Miles) when I got the car. I pointed it out to them and they said, oh don't worry about it you will be fine. I told the guy it's 850KM (531 Miles) one way, plus the driving down there, and plus the trip back and he said that he would make a note of it on the paper, which he did. I drove the car home loaded it up with stuff and checked all the fluids before leaving. It was a half quart low, so I added some 5w30 I had left over to top it off, and it was a nasty dark colour on the dipstick. I drove to Kentucky around and back and when I got back I had put on 2300KM (1438 Miles).... So that means it was 4300KM (2638 Miles) overdue!
Checked the oil when I got back and it hadn't used any but boy was it dirty looking! Looked to have 12,300KM (7687 Miles) on the dino oil... YUK!
Was very slimy between the fingers... (Had to touch it!)
Was very slimy between the fingers... (Had to touch it!)
I rented a pickup to help some people move out of state. Long round trip, 2000 miles. Just as I was about to pull out of the renters parking lot, I noticed the truck has gone 11,000 miles on the last change, according to the decal on the windshield. I stopped, pulled back in, and asked if they simply forgot to replace the decal, assuming at least one change had happened, but wasn't indicated. They kinda smiled, and said no,it wasn't changed, but don't worry about it. When you get back, that truck is planned to be sold.
I wouldn't dare lift the hood of a rental. if you ask them about OCIs, and they say its OK, it's on THEM. I won't touch anything on their car to avoid liability. if something happens to the car while I'm using it, and I told them I added oil? I'm not taking that responsibility.
as for the view that someone down the road will need it to be reliable, please. you really think your one 'good deed' of checking the oil is going to make that car reliable for all future owners?
my resonsibility w/ a rental begins and ends with me telling the OWNER of the car what is due/needed. it is not my job to do it for them.
as for the view that someone down the road will need it to be reliable, please. you really think your one 'good deed' of checking the oil is going to make that car reliable for all future owners?
my resonsibility w/ a rental begins and ends with me telling the OWNER of the car what is due/needed. it is not my job to do it for them.
Originally Posted By: mpvue
I wouldn't dare lift the hood of a rental. if you ask them about OCIs, and they say its OK, it's on THEM.
I didn't. I just kind of felt bad for the truck. I gave them a chance to do a change, but they didn't care. I feel for the eventual owner, too.
I wouldn't dare lift the hood of a rental. if you ask them about OCIs, and they say its OK, it's on THEM.
I didn't. I just kind of felt bad for the truck. I gave them a chance to do a change, but they didn't care. I feel for the eventual owner, too.
Originally Posted By: peterdaniel
Originally Posted By: cyclic
so I threw some old waste 5w20 in it from my oil change on the weekend.....
Never buy a used rental car.
that was driven or rented by you?
This my friend is what integrity is all about. What would it have cost you to buy a cheap quart of oil?
I really really really do not understand people...
I completely agree. It would take all of what - 5 minutes to stop at an Auto Parts store and buy a quart of oil which you would be reimbursed for!
Even if you spent an extra 3.00 for a quart of oil - is that going to break the bank? PLEASE!
I can't believe people don't bother checking the fluids in a rental car. You are going to trust the person at the rental car agency with caring about the vehicle and your safety?
I treat a rental vehicle the same as I treat my own. Check fluids, tire pressures, etc. before any big trip.
When my sister got married a few years back, I took them to the rental car agency to pick up their vehicle. They were about to drive off when I checked the tires and saw the right rear tire had a big screw in it. The rental agency said they didn't have anyone on duty to "fix" it, so they gave them another vehicle.
Years ago I worked for a major rental car agency. The stories I could tell.
IDK - does anyone still believe in karma?
Originally Posted By: cyclic
so I threw some old waste 5w20 in it from my oil change on the weekend.....
Never buy a used rental car.
that was driven or rented by you?
This my friend is what integrity is all about. What would it have cost you to buy a cheap quart of oil?
I really really really do not understand people...
I completely agree. It would take all of what - 5 minutes to stop at an Auto Parts store and buy a quart of oil which you would be reimbursed for!
Even if you spent an extra 3.00 for a quart of oil - is that going to break the bank? PLEASE!
I can't believe people don't bother checking the fluids in a rental car. You are going to trust the person at the rental car agency with caring about the vehicle and your safety?
I treat a rental vehicle the same as I treat my own. Check fluids, tire pressures, etc. before any big trip.
When my sister got married a few years back, I took them to the rental car agency to pick up their vehicle. They were about to drive off when I checked the tires and saw the right rear tire had a big screw in it. The rental agency said they didn't have anyone on duty to "fix" it, so they gave them another vehicle.
Years ago I worked for a major rental car agency. The stories I could tell.
IDK - does anyone still believe in karma?
My grandmother bought a 08 Galant that was a rental. I changed the oil, coolant, PS, flushed the brake fluid and tranny because of this. People rag the [censored] out of them and the dealers don't service them. Other than my OCD for routine maintenance it's a surprisingly great car and good on gas.
That's why I check the fluids in my rental car, not because I care about the health of the car, but because I want to get where I'm going and back safely... If the oil was gooey on the dipstick because it had like 30,000 miles or something crazy on the oil, I would have it changed at the rental place or else I would refuse to rent the car... It's about a safe trip, not about car maintenance.
Some of you amaze me!!!! This guy returns the car in BETTER condition than when he got it, it's not even his responsibility to maintain it. And some of you think he should have taken the time to go buy a quart of oil (I suppose he should have researched the exact brand and viscosity so as not to mix?), and then suffer the hassle of trying to get reimbursed from some slack jawed 18 year old at the return counter? Maybe you think he should have clayed and waxed it too........
Originally Posted By: emejay
Some of you amaze me!!!! This guy returns the car in BETTER condition than when he got it, it's not even his responsibility to maintain it. And some of you think he should have taken the time to go buy a quart of oil (I suppose he should have researched the exact brand and viscosity so as not to mix?), and then suffer the hassle of trying to get reimbursed from some slack jawed 18 year old at the return counter? Maybe you think he should have clayed and waxed it too........
I have rented a lot of vehicles over the decades! I have never had trouble getting my money back for buying a quart of oil.
And what would be so wrong with returning something in BETTER shape than you found it? That's what I was taught to do - regardless of whether you borrow something from a family member, friend or rent something from a company.
Research the exact brand and viscosity? PLEASE! Grow up here.
It's about doing the right thing. Yes the rental company personal should have checked it. But I was always taught "Two wrongs don't make a right".
Some of you amaze me!!!! This guy returns the car in BETTER condition than when he got it, it's not even his responsibility to maintain it. And some of you think he should have taken the time to go buy a quart of oil (I suppose he should have researched the exact brand and viscosity so as not to mix?), and then suffer the hassle of trying to get reimbursed from some slack jawed 18 year old at the return counter? Maybe you think he should have clayed and waxed it too........
I have rented a lot of vehicles over the decades! I have never had trouble getting my money back for buying a quart of oil.
And what would be so wrong with returning something in BETTER shape than you found it? That's what I was taught to do - regardless of whether you borrow something from a family member, friend or rent something from a company.
Research the exact brand and viscosity? PLEASE! Grow up here.
It's about doing the right thing. Yes the rental company personal should have checked it. But I was always taught "Two wrongs don't make a right".
mpvue - To me it's about doing the right thing. If I do it, then maybe others will too. If everyone thinks like that, then later someone gets to buy a good car. Is it my responsibility? No. Not at all. But does that mean I shouldn't do it? You say yes. I say no.
I was taught to take care of things, mine or otherwise. And I'm not big into being wasteful. And taking more life out of a rental car than I need to is wasteful.
But you're right, renters are not required to do anything but pay and bring it back.
I was taught to take care of things, mine or otherwise. And I'm not big into being wasteful. And taking more life out of a rental car than I need to is wasteful.
But you're right, renters are not required to do anything but pay and bring it back.
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