I bought a 2024 Nissan Versa (used) from Hertz last week with 20,000+ miles on it, but failed to check the fluids. I just now checked the oil dipstick which shows the oil as clean but over the limit. What should I do? It does come with a one-year Nissan warranty. Thanks!
How far over the full line is it? Can you post a pic?
How did you check the oil level? The link shows how to do it I don’t know you and don’t know your skill level. If this is how you do it, great. If it’s slightly overfilled, let it go. If it’s significantly overfilled, take it back to Hertz and have them fix it.
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a28246625/how-to-check-engine-oil/
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You should verify that it is actually a Nissan warranty as their web site says they put a 12000 mile or 1 year Limited Warranty on their used vehicles.
The web site also says they only provide one set of keys so what happened to the second set that came with the vehicle.
Yeah, every rental I had put both keys in a stranded steel ring.
OK, just because the oil level is between the lines just how much trouble is it to add enough to reach the full mark . If it is already down from full why take a chance that it might get too low before you check it again.
The dipstick has a bump indicating the lowest level of an acceptable amount, another bump the highest. The oil is a few millimeters over the highest bump. Maybe nothing to worry about? Maybe I should just get an oil change? I mentioned the oil looked clean but actually on 2nd glance (my senior eyes & mind are lacking these daze) its darker than I remembered. Thanks again.
3 millimeters (or even 6) over the max line is nothing to worry about. Drive on
It is common for oil changers to slightly overfill on purpose because people never check their oil… And by accident because they are in a hurry and oil they have added to get to the full mark takes time to work its way into the oil pan.
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+1
That miniscule amount of “overfill” is nothing to worry about.
In fact, one of our forum’s now-deceased master mechanics (ok4450) stated that he always ran his engines with ~1/2 qt over the “full” mark.
However, no auto warranty covers damage from neglect or misuse. So, if the crankcase had been grossly overfilled and engine damage resulted from that gross overfill, the repairs would not be covered by warranty. If that happened, you would have to do battle with Hertz.
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Maybe this is how they justify changing the oil less often on their rental cars.
Why are rental cars typically nearly brand new? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy the vehicles when they are in the 3 to 10 year age range?
That’s nothing at all to worry about.
Because when I’m paying good money to rent a car I want something new, clean, and reliable. If I want to drive a 10 year old car I can just use my own.
There have been discount rental agencies that used older vehicles but I believe they met with marginal success. With names like “Rent a Wreck” I’m not surprised.
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You can’t be serious !
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+1
But, many years ago, when I was a bit short of funds and needed a car for just short drives for a few days, I did resort to Rent-a-Wreck. There are just a few R-a-W locations left in my state, so I’m thinking that their business model isn’t very successful.
Channel Marker Nissan Dealership
-Laura, Northern Germany
People that rent cars for trips or personal use want the peace of a low mileage and almost new vehicle…
Also, rental vehicles are normally abused more then personal vehicles, so newer cars with lees abuse tend to hold up to abuse more than older abused vehicles that are getting rattles and other noises…
Rental company’s generally have a strict oil change (and rotation for some) guidelines/increments and do great with changing the oils since they are mostly still under factory warranty… filters not so much, and they don’t last long enough for other fluid changes… And because of liabilities, they have to guidelines on tire replacements also…
Yes I’ve done and delt with wayyy to many rentals over the years on the service side of them… lol
I disagree. We had a large number of people on the programs I worked on, and we travelled a lot. Almost everyone rented a car becasue our schedules were so different. It was cheaper to rent the car than pay people to arrive early and leave late to fill up a car.
Anyway, In the 11 years I worked on that program, there were only two people that abused their rentals. My group had well over a thousand rentals. Even thought those two probably had 20 rentals between them, that’s not much in comparison.
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Who was paying for the rentals?? The business or the was it out of pocket for the driver??
I was referring to people renting for personal use, like trips or when there car was in the repair shop etc etc…
I both worked for a small rental company (7 years) and saw 1st hand, cause I saw EVERY car that was returned and due for maintenance (hundreds of vehicles)… As well as worked for 17 years seeing rentals everyday, at times we would service 10+ a day from just one name brand RAC company…
I’m sure some company’s renting vehicles probably have a deal with the RAC company and frown on abusing the rentals as it could cause a rise in cost, meaning, you take a chance on retribution if caught… Others may not care…
But as abuse, I meant more stuff like hitting potholes and speed bumps and curbs, stuff like that…
The business paid at a contract rate. If there was damage, the rental company was a lot more forgiving of problems on returned cars because we rented so much.
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Since this topic drifted a bit from oil to car rental, I’d like to ask:
What do you all think of the “retired rental” sales model?
Depending on how specific ones vehicle needs are, does it save a couple $thousand in the long run?