Rental cars and oil changes

Pennzoil motor oil
Status
Not open for further replies.
My friend currently works at Enterprise and told me the service provider depends on the area. For her territory, they use Wheelworks and the cars are serviced every 5k. Around here, Wheelworks puts Kendall 5W30 in everything and doesn't pay much attention to what the oil cap says.
 
At less than 1 year old and 19k miles, I don't think many problems could have developed.

I'd guarantee it's had at least 1 oil change, and the Duratec V-6's are very, very easy on oil.

If it's a good price, I don't see how you can go wrong.....
 
I may get hit hard for this, so please remember this is just my opinion. I would stay far,far away from any previous rental/loaner vehicle. And that goes for auction vehicles as well.
 
Last edited:
Well, I have personal experience with this. A family member used to work for a shop that serviced cars from Ent. They would often get cars with 20+K miles with factory fill. When he went to E to pick up the cars the sales guys said that cars were always booked and they couldn't get them serviced in time. The shop owner also instructed not to change oil filters after the first change. If they had their own filter on the car they would not change it at all. Another thing, no matter what oil car required, they always pupmped it from a non branded black oil barrel that probably had the cheapest conventional as far as I know. I'm sure not all places are like that, but I would not take my chances.
 
My friend had a rental Buick something or other. It was winter and he wanted heat now so he would put his foot to the floor, start it, and red line it for a few minutes until heat came out of the vents. Did good for a stone cold engine at 0 degrees, smoked a bit.

Than we had a rental C300 4matic we put into dyno mode and imitated Tokyo drift with it. That particular one had a nice tick in the valve train when it went back to the dealer. But the dealer screwed him out of about $4k in warranty work so karma's a [censored] as they say.

The good MB dealer gives out good rentals mostly E's and ML's. Those are treated like normal cars and even get 93 octane when they need gas.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: edwardh1
rented in san jose, only car left, change oil lite was on.
drove it 1500 highway miles over 10 days, turned in in l.a.
hertz guy complained why is oil lite on. I said your guy gave it to me that way. highway miles though, probably no problem.


When did you do this? What year?


in 2010, why?
 
My cousin that works for Enterprise in Detroit location, said they go about 4k for toyota, 6500k for gm, and buick, gmc, and 5k for chrysler, and 4k for honda, suzuki, vw, and volvo. I asked what kind of oil do they use, he said Safety Kleen 5w30 in everything.
 
Owned 2 Taurus and one Expedition from rental fleets. (Enterprise and National)

Ran up the miles on all of them. No issues.

Bought all from Ford dealer and they were certified. Good enough to be certified...
 
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
My friend had a rental Buick something or other. It was winter and he wanted heat now so he would put his foot to the floor, start it, and red line it for a few minutes until heat came out of the vents. Did good for a stone cold engine at 0 degrees, smoked a bit.

Than we had a rental C300 4matic we put into dyno mode and imitated Tokyo drift with it. That particular one had a nice tick in the valve train when it went back to the dealer. But the dealer screwed him out of about $4k in warranty work so karma's a [censored] as they say.


Been there, done that more times than I care to admit. It happens when your friends are all extreme motorheads and you travel constantly. I/we have had to have more than 1 rental towed away and limped plenty in with bad transmissions or broken suspensions, springs, you name it.

Some posters have obviously had good luck with rentals, but IMO, you would be absolutely crazy, repeat, absolutely crazy, to buy one. They are just like a repo, there has been no care or concern whatsoever in their operation.
 
Originally Posted By: rjacket

They do get a wash after every rental.

Some locations keep cars under cover
Where is this? I'm familiar with Enterprize and Avis and both just leave the dirty cars in the parking lot. My mom used Avis a couple years ago and got a very dirty car that was 2 qts low on oil. I added 1 qt to get it up to add. When she turned it in the next renter rented it before she was out the gate.

I used to work at a shop that maintained Enterprize rental cars. They didn't want to tie up the car long enough for us to do an inspection and they were doing 10-12k oci's on our bulk oil back in the early 90's.
 
the one rental car I had was fine. Other than no oil how much damage can one do in 20,000 miles of in frequent oil changes. Should not be concerned about the maintenance on it.
 
Just had a rental (Impala from Enterprise) for 3 weeks while my DD was in the shop (don't ask why).

When I picked it up, the OLM said 5% remaining. 2 days later the tire pressure monitor said the right front was low. Yeah, like 17 lbs...aired it up and 2 days later it was low again. Brought it to the shop Enterprise directed me to and they pulled a nail out of the tire. What I found most interesting was that the OLM now said 98% remaining.
21.gif
I know they didn't change the oil because I watched them the whole time.
 
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Just had a rental (Impala from Enterprise) for 3 weeks while my DD was in the shop (don't ask why).

When I picked it up, the OLM said 5% remaining. 2 days later the tire pressure monitor said the right front was low. Yeah, like 17 lbs...aired it up and 2 days later it was low again. Brought it to the shop Enterprise directed me to and they pulled a nail out of the tire. What I found most interesting was that the OLM now said 98% remaining.
21.gif
I know they didn't change the oil because I watched them the whole time.

Enterprise does not go by OLM, they go by a fixed 5000 mile interval, per my friend who works there.
 
Back in the 80's I worked for Budget. I would NEVER buy any of their cars - especially the branch I worked for in L.A.

But not every rental car agency is the same. My Mercury was a rental car for about a year, then it was purchased by a private party and then by me. It had about 30K miles on it when I bought it and was a "Ford Certified Used Car." I was skeptical about the certified part - but I went over it with a 'fine tooth comb' and everything was in perfect condition.

It has been pretty much trouble free other than about a year ago I had to replace the HVAC fan controller (70.00 part and about half an hour time). I've replaced the tires and the brakes once since I've owned it and it currently has about 92k miles on it.

I tried hard to find a used one that had NOT been a rental car, but for that particular make/model/style of car it just didn't seem to exist. I've been very happy with this car and once I save up the money, I will probably buy a Town Car or another Grand Marquis - which should be later this year.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Just had a rental (Impala from Enterprise) for 3 weeks while my DD was in the shop (don't ask why).

When I picked it up, the OLM said 5% remaining. 2 days later the tire pressure monitor said the right front was low. Yeah, like 17 lbs...aired it up and 2 days later it was low again. Brought it to the shop Enterprise directed me to and they pulled a nail out of the tire. What I found most interesting was that the OLM now said 98% remaining.
21.gif
I know they didn't change the oil because I watched them the whole time.


Sounds normal to me. The tires are always low and who knows about the oil. After renting for years, I dont even think about it anymore.

I rent about 30 cars per year. They are treated like dirt. Utter insanity to buy one, unless it's a near giveaway deal.
 
Originally Posted By: Jeff_in_VABch

Sounds normal to me. The tires are always low and who knows about the oil. After renting for years, I dont even think about it anymore.


Last one I rented was perfect, of course it only had 850mi when I picked it up...
 
Originally Posted By: TFB1
Originally Posted By: Jeff_in_VABch

Sounds normal to me. The tires are always low and who knows about the oil. After renting for years, I dont even think about it anymore.


Last one I rented was perfect, of course it only had 850mi when I picked it up...




Uh, yeah that makes a difference.
grin.gif
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

G
How have fuel dilution issues changed oil change intervals
2
Replies
34
Views
1K
altaylar
A
  • Question Question
Can a dealer detect an oil change?
2
Replies
27
Views
1K
robbobster
sru1436
Oil for 2006 Honda CR-V?
2
Replies
27
Views
860
D1dad
G
Notes from yesterday's U-Haul auto transport rental (one significant)
Replies
19
Views
547
D60
S
oil change at dealership
3 4 5
Replies
82
Views
3K
Speedbird001
Back
Top Bottom