marq replied:

It's happens - like service depot's - make sure you check the engine oil has been changed before you drive away in your vehicle.

--

Like Black Toyata in Dalby QLD - tried to tell an older female family member that she "had" to spend over $3000 to fix the key that was not functioning properly (remote to open the doors on a RAV). At least she said "I think about it".

Ended up just needing a battery replace in the key remote (which cost $9) - which is what most of us would expect.

Visitor replied:

A rental does approx 150,000kms a year....
Does anybody ever wonder how they can buy these cars with 60,000kms on them after two years??????....
Then we do our first oil change and say It's not very often we see vehicles under 100,000kms severely sludged............
If you knew how easy it is to turn back a digital speedo and cook the service books you would die with a leg in the air...

Flash replied:

Son's best mate works for the local 'Yota dealer as a third year apprentice.
They regularly see vehicles (sedans, 4Wd's etc) with 50k or MORE from major rental companies which have NEVER had an oil change. The oil that comes out is more sludge than oil....
He says they often remove the sump plug and nothing drains until they poke a screwdriver up the hole and probe around!
Bloody incredible.

Truckster (Vic) replied:

if they are only keeping them for 50k klms why would they bother servicing

Rentals are flogged mercylessly, I wouldnt go within lightyrs of one.

res.q.guy replied:

A mate of mine hired a vehicle from Darwin a few weeks ago. While waiting for his family to return from shopping he actually was reading the owners manual, service books etc in the glove box, and found a form stating at what klm reading the speedo is to be turned back, and to what figure it was to be turned to.
Don't belive the spedo reading ................
Regards
Neil

Member - Oldplodder (QLD) replied:

Hired a rental last February when I flew into Townsville.
I was sent out to the car, and as I always do, first thing I did is go right over the car for dints and scrapes and photo them.
But I also do an engine check, oil, water battery etc.
Hire rental person that walked past give me a real funny look.
Most people just hop in and drive.
This time, all was OK, but I have had batteries with almost no water, low oil etc. The people at the counter are that flat out sometimes they do what they can but they don't have that sort of assistance.

Have you seen any one lift the bonnet on a rental car when they pick it up?

My 4wd travelling habit is to check all these things including tyre pressure at the start of each day. Look for things in the engine bay rattling loose, fraying fan belts, oil on the ground under the car. A lot easier to fix on a cold engine. Who else does it?

3.0turbob replied:

I posted something similar a week or 2 ago. The guy across the road from me works for a rental mob here in Sydney. Often he brings home a vehicle that hasn't been rented for the day/weekend. He recently bought home a 3ltr Patrol, had the bonnet up. I went over to talk to him ( because I have one) to check it out. I pulled the dipstick and there was no evidence of oil on it! There was a small list of other things I found disturbing with it.

Rob

TerraFirma replied:

With all that sludge rolling away in the crank and bearings youd reckon that in some time damage would be done. I'd imagine plenty of extra friction too. A good job for CEM Oil Flushing Solution no doubt..!

old mate replied:

I used to work for a major rental company and have dealt with a lot with other major comanies through work/travel with both car and 4WD. The major companies look after and service their vehicles regularly because they don't need the hassle and cost of a breakdown or tow back to the yard but more importantly they care about their reputation.

Some of the smaller companies that do el cheapo rentals rent out a lot of stuff that shouldn't be on the road anyway. I mean you roll up at a small suburban car rental yard and they give you a 10 year old car with 340000kms on it for $25/day, well what do you expect.

Looked at an ex Hertz troopy pop top a few years back being sold by Hertz. I asked for and was promptly shown service records and they would allow an independent inspection if I wanted. Not all ex rentals are bad.

Kiwi Kia replied:

Work mates son does servicing on lease vehicles. He is given a definite time to do the service, if something needs attention and he runs out of time then the remaining service items don't get done!