I was checking out the heater control valve on my engine and looked down to see bare wires on # 6 fuel injector connector. Got to be mice enjoying a snack on the insulation. Truck runs ok but a friend is going to use it for a 1200 mile ride tomorrow.
Anyone keep mice killer in their engine compartment?0

 

I occasionally have a mouse killer on the motor, it's a polecat. Chewed the hell out of a brand new dipstick handle, left a dead mouse on a battery and trashed a few of those fat ***** you put out for birds in winter. There was such a mess I hosed everything down and it hasn't been back. It took out a spark plug cable on another vehicle too, so we had to protect them with hard plastic tubing.
At work we tried some spray on the duty vehicle but that didn't work, and there are also ultrasound deterrents that I've not tried. If you just have mice keep the cat hungry...

 

Claybreaker144, I feel your pain, been there done that. Like the shoemaker that had no shoes for his family. Here is what I use, not only for myself but my clients as well. This will be a long term control program that will require you to check and rebait as needed on a weekly basis.
You will need 6 tamper resistant rodent bait stations =
https://www.amazon.com/PROTECTA-BAIT...p+bait+station

Also you will need the very best rodenticide (also most expensive) on the market=
Fastrac Pellet Place Paks - Free Shipping

Set up perimeter around the area where the rodents are known to frequent, place the stations between 25 to a max of 50 feet apart. Do not open the packs (the rodents will), just penetrate the package with the included steel rods. Be especially careful with children and pets.
Yes it is an expensive set up but so are your alternatives, for instance #1 Calling a professional (which I highly recommend) or #2 buying engine harnesses now and later. (the rodents are not going away on their own).

Just my 2 cents.
Best of Luck.
Ed

 

It is amazing what the critters will chew on here. I have a Kubota tractor and zero turn mower in a carport out in a field and something, I assume a racoon chewed up the steering wheel on the tractor and removed the fuel cap from the lawn mower and chewed on the lip of the fuel tank. This was a few years ago and haven''t seen it happen since.
I have a barn and regularly change the mice poison in the traps. My truck is going to be outside for the Winter so now I will put some poison under the hood to attract them rather than they eat the wires.
Not looking forward to purchasing or installing a fuel injector harness.

 

A few years ago the wiring manufacturers changed the ingredients in the insulation for wiring and added "Peanut Oil". Go figure!
Ed

 

I take dryer sheets and place them around the engine compartment.Works great at keeping them away and smells good. They love air boxes also ,so check your air filter.

 

This meal bait works great, I made some 3" t style tubes with 1/2 end caps so the bait don't slide out the ends with a removable cap at the top of the T for filling , I've tried everything , snap traps stick traps

 

You can also use the DIY squirrel treatment.

Never thought of Peppermint Oil.

 

Give them a bucket trap with antifreeze. They will love it

 

That level of damage isn't mice in our area, it is rats! The Bromethalin that Scott turned me onto is way faster acting than the anticoagulants of old, plus they purportedly don't have 2nd kill potential (other animal eats target animal and also dies).

The Tomcat product line can be found at Tractor Supply and is at the concentration of the other product mentioned in this thread, but for a lot less money.

I have had good results from both the pellet form and the meal form of Tomcat. I did try antifreeze and couldn't see that any had been taken. I also built my own bait stations like Scott, but I used PVC 90 deg. els with short sections of pipe -- no glue! (don't want to scare the critters off), and used 1 1/2" to 2" pipe as I am going after mice and rats.

Have had the old Decon anticoagulant stuff right next to the Tomcat and they eat the Tomcat and leave the Decon.

Under the hood(s) I have placed dryer sheets and just bought some peppermint oil I'm going to try, but the sheets seem to be working at keeping the beasties out and I put the poison under the vehicles and spots in the garage and shop where I've found droppings.

IMO the Tomcat product is a very cost effective way to go.

Thanks again Scott!!!

 

I was thinking of growing some mint to keep the underground beasties away.
If the moles would say in the back gardens I would not be unhappy. But mowing
over the hills is too much.

There is other way to help keep the mice,rats and squirrels under control. Coyotes.
They do love a good fat rat or in my case a mole and some tasty hasenpfeffer in the raw.

 

Don't you have cats? We shoot coyotes on sight here...

 

I guess my mice are nice. No chewed wires that I know of. But I have had to clean out lots of nests under the hood every year. They use grey insulation. Not sure where they get it from. I am sure they love the warm engine because it is plugged in from Oct.-Mar. My 1989 F250 the little ****** packed the heater box full of dog food. On a side note somebody on this forum suggested using Silicone lube to prevent the doors from freezing shut. Works fantastic. It has also stopped my house doors from freezing.

 

I'm glad the product is working for you Scott it's been the best so far , Now I have a new problem ( Cotton tail rabbits ) last week I popped the hood on the ol farm truck , every spark plug wire chewed clear to the distributor cap from spark plug , and Alternator wire and coolant temp sensor and harness in a couple places, I'm goin to hunt me some RABBIT

 

Mine are indoor only. That is unless they are on a harness. That is do to
the fact that the Servals that they are crossed from have a large roaming
territory and I don't want to loose one of them.

Did you use the dry spray or the wet grease?
I found out a long time ago that the spray works wonders when
it comes to keeping doors from freezing closed.
The best test is when you have rain that turns to snow and then
really drops before you have time to drive again. Nothing like
a wet surface to freeze together.

Glad it worked for you too.