I rented from Hertz at IAH this week. They have a common rental facility for all companies. On the way back to the airport, I was sitting beside two gentlemen who had rented from Avis or National. As best I could figure out the story, the "oil" light came on in their rental car less than an hour before they returned it to the rental car company. They told the guy about the problem; the company decided that they couldn't close out the contract until they determined if damage was done to the engine. They explained the story to people on the bus; it just dawned on them that they may have to pay to replace the engine. One more point: they rented that car at about 8 in the morning; we were on the bus back to the airport at about 4 p.m.

What do people here think about this? I would never think to check my oil when I rent a car, but I spent a while reading the fine print today. I guess it depends on how you read the contract, but I could see that if Hertz wanted to, they could hold a customer liable for if the engine seized up. I am not going to worry about it . . . unless someone has had a bad experience.

I can't believe they let a car out that would need an oil change that bad. I've drove my vehicle 5-600 miles over recommended change and no trouble at all, let alone a oil light coming on. If it was due and Hertz rented it to these guys knowing they would bring it back in 10 hrs or so, I'd say thy took a chance. Besides, part of the rental agreement is for rental co to provide a properly maintained and safe vehicle.

This is exactly why customers don't report problems and the next user gets the mess. There is no way a customer has anything to do with the engine and its parts. I don't rent a car to fix someone else's maintenance issues. I need transportation.

Now if the light came on and the guy kept driving it for a considerable period of time, that may be an issue. But if it came on less than an hour and you were on your way back to the agency at that point, I'd say this guy is not liable for anything. Maybe, however, there is more to this. What about a customer who drives over a curb and rips up the underside some and thats what caused all the oil to drain out - that would be different.

Well, I think a lot may depend on your past record...

My brother has a former coworker who is banned from Hertz for managing to destroy at least three transmissions..... He was billed for the last one (I don't know if he wound up paying)

(And yes, he destroyed the transmissions it wasn't just bad luck. Did you know that if you sit if Ford Tarus long enough with one foot on the gas and one foot on the brake and slam the gear shift between gears at high speed you can destory one??? This guy thought that was great fun)

I too wondered if there was something more to the story. I know you can't always tell, but they both sounded and looked honest. It was also, from what I can tell, the first time the pair was on a business trip together, at lease they were commenting about their success and that they should do it again. It just didn't sound like they knew one another to collude over something--but heck, stranger things have happened!

What I have read makes sense. I did rent a car when I arrived in LAX--I pulled over and checked the oil--it was fine. I guess the experience made me a little paranoid. If I saw an engine light go on, I would contact Hertz and let them know. I probably wouldn't do anything with the engine for fear of doing the wrong thing!

Since you said "former" I hope this idiot was fired. Really made me angry to hear that he was purposely trying to tear up transmissions. He probably goes home and kicks his dog a few times too. Sounds like he has some real anger problems that we all pay for in the long run.

I have had the light come on all the time but it comes on automatically based on mileage for a routine maintainence schedule. First time I actually returned and switched a car because of this light and they thought I was crazy.

It really depends upon what we mean by "oil light". Some cars (GMs particularly come to mind that I know for sure, but there may be others) have a light for "low oil level". If that were to come on, it really wouldn't be that big of a deal because I'm sure it comes on well before any damage could occur. Likewise, there are many cars that have a "maintenance interval" or similar light, and that one is just based on a mileage interval on many cars. Some more sophisticated ones use several different computer inputs to come up with that interval, but still not talking damage here.

Now, if the low oil pressure light were to come on, this being the real honest-to-goodness actual oil warning light, and you drove more than a couple miles (or even much more than pulling over to the side of the road in some cases), the engine probably would be shot. It would depend a lot on what was causing the low pressure, and how low it actually got (in some cars there may still be a gauge, but in many there isn't), but this is the serious problem light that really shouldn't be ignored.

The thing is, in a rental, how the heck do you know which is which? It's one thing to know the distinction in your personal car which you drive all the time and have taken the time to know the details of its operation. Most people renting aren't going to know. I'd probably fall in the middle there: I might stop and try to make sure which warning it was trying to give me, if it wasn't readily apparent.