Mice proofing engine bay ideas

[blazer2007]

My blazer has to sit under the carport this year and already found some mouse poo. The only thing I could find is to use peppermint or cedar. Any other ideas. I don,t want to use mice traps and attract them and I don,t think you could trap all the mice outside. I also don,t have wheel tubs up front

[geezer#99]

Mothballs work.

[72c20customcamper]

I use the mint repellant. Works well even in the barn

[Big Kev-O]

Those little bastards like dark places and love to eat wire insulation. Leaving the hood popped can help keep they from nesting in your engine bay. Adding some LED lights can help but make sure they don't produce much heat because thel like heat too.

[FleetsidePaul]

Get a mean cat.

[Thealien]

I have been using a multi layered approach for a few years after noticing evidence of rodents. Peppermint oil all around the perimeter of the storage area. Inside and out. A few bars of Irish spring soap scattered under the vehicle. Mouse poison bait blocks around all perimeter walls. Dryer sheets in the engine bay and any other area they might go, peppermint oil laced rags also. Steel wool in the exhaust pipes.

I have moving blankets that I lay on when working on the ground. I have found evidence they were nesting in some of those blankets. Better there than the vehicle?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

Get a mean cat.

I prefer hungry cats.

My dad had problems with Mice eating wiring, and other things in his hobby car. I got him to feed the local feral cats, and they quickly disappeared.

He gave the cats a area to shelter in to keep them close at hand. Going on 5 years now with no issues from mice, and no needing to spray.

[BASE]

Well if you can lure them into the air cleaner and then start it up, that fixes one problem.

It took me way too long to figure out why the old girl wouldn't start. I found a good chunk of his nest down in the carb. No sign of the little guy since. I guess it could be worse. I was starting it to get it into my garage to begin the engine swap. I have no idea how he even got in there as it's sealed up tight and the element doesn't have any holes chewed through.

I put a few traps in the cab of the truck and a couple in the engine compartment. I'm pretty sure he's lodged in the intake valve of one of the cylinders though.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Ziegelsteinfaust

I prefer hungry cats.

My dad had problems with Mice eating wiring, and other things in his hobby car. I got him to feed the local feral cats, and they quickly disappeared.

He gave the cats a area to shelter in to keep them close at hand. Going on 5 years now with no issues from mice, and no needing to spray.

My next door neighbor had a cat. She inherited it when she bought the house. It had been abandoned by the previous owners. She spoiled that cat. But he had lived off the land so long that he killed every rodent in sight. That's how he had survived on his own.

I'm not really a cat person. But I liked that cat. He was tough.

That cat wouldn't go near me for about 5 years then one day he just walked up to me and meowed. I couldn't believe it. After that he was my buddy. It only took 5 years.

[blazer2007]

Thanks , how often do you change moth balls ?

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by blazer2007

Thanks , how often do you change moth balls ?

Pardon me, but that sounds kind of personal.

[LT7A]

I might be opening myself up to a shot of my own humor here, but I remember one member recommending rubber snakes. He put them around the truck on the ground, kind of parked in the middle of them and the rats would leave his truck alone. I thought about getting a couple to put on top of the radiator. Can rats and mice see in the dark?

I've been leaving the hood popped to make the underhood environment less protected. It's kind of hit and miss on my vehicles - sometimes they'll nest in there anyway - and unfortunately leaves your battery and underhood components at risk.

[fun in dirt]

I've had good luck with placing Bounce dryer sheets around, but need to swap them out every few months.

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

I use the mint repellant. Works well even in the barn

You mentioned mint packets. Do you just use mint tea bags, or are there other bags packets made for this use?

[old Rusty C10]

i throw bags of moth balls around and something called cab fresh available at tractor supply never see mice

[Sheepdip]

I do not endorse, personally use or have any affiliation with this product but they advertise it to work. You be the judge!

https://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Blocker...01856881&psc=1

[Getter-Done]

I am going to try this stuff.

Link: https://www.grandpagus.com/products/mouse-repellent-1

[61_FL_Apache]

Originally Posted by Getter-Done

I am going to try this stuff.

Link: https://www.grandpagus.com/products/mouse-repellent-1

If Grandpa made it, it has to be good!

[Yukon Jack]

Originally Posted by Sheepdip

I do not endorse, personally use or have any affiliation with this product but they advertise it to work. You be the judge!

https://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Blocker...01856881&psc=1

I got one of these for my 30 x 30 shop that had a big mouse problem and it has helped greatly!

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by LT7A

You mentioned mint packets. Do you just use mint tea bags, or are there other bags packets made for this use?

They are little packets nylon mesh filled with mint . Made by Victor the big box store has them.

It's actually a pleasant smell in the cars and trucks . Dryer sheets make me puke . My dad used them and it's like getting into a car with someone who puts on way to much perfume or cologne .

[LT7A]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

They are little packets nylon mesh filled with mint . Made by Victor the big box store has them.

It's actually a pleasant smell in the cars and trucks . Dryer sheets make me puke . My dad used them and it's like getting into a car with someone who puts on way to much perfume or cologne .

Haha, I know what you mean about people overdosing on fragrances. In these days of mask wearing, it helps with that, but now I marvel at people I can smell from 10 ft away through my mask... anyway, thanks for the info. So far, I don't have a problem with them getting into the passenger cabin. So I can use dryer sheets under the hood, and make people at the stoplights wonder if I wash my truck with laundry detergent, haha. But the mint packets seem like good preventive maintenance for the interior. I suppose I could use them under the hood too.

[89AKurt]

My Honda was attacked, again. There is a fuzzy sound deadening mat under the hood they like, should rip it out. I have a few moth balls stuck around the engine bay. So far so good, but not digging the smell.

[Getter-Done]

Originally Posted by 89AKurt

My Honda was attacked, again. There is a fuzzy sound deadening mat under the hood they like, should rip it out. I have a few moth balls stuck around the engine bay. So far so good, but not digging the smell.

If that is all there going after I wouldn't.
They will find something else.

I bought one of the bucket top traps in the link below.

It works great.

Link: https://www.rinnetraps.com/product-p...ket-compatible
They are Made In The USA.
There are cheaper versions of these,
Reviews say that they are poorly made,
and won't fit the top of the bucket Etc Etc.