Rats in the engine bay...any suggestions to keep them away?

[David655321]

I opened up the hood to check the oil via dipstick, and there is a full on nest on top of the engine bay. Some of the foam lining the hood was chewed up, but I didn't see any wiring damages, and haven't got any warnings/codes/etc. I cleaned it out and had it washed out to get rid of the rat piss etc.

Searching the forums didn't really give me much info, and the internet of course has many suggestions such as peppermint oil, Ultrasonic noisemakers, fabric softener, LED lights flashing, and many more.

Has anyone had problems with this and possible solutions to keep these bastards away?

Many thanks!

[pdqgp]

Google bucket trap for mice. Watch the videos.

I have two made from 5 gal buckets that I keep in the back side of our house behind some shurbs near the foundation. We have a wooded lot behind us and in the spring and fall those little suckers find their way into our crawl space. Not any more. The only real sure fire way to get rid of them is to catch and kill them all. This will do it.

Set one up in your garage filled 1/3 way with water and be prepared for a surprise in the morning. The first time I set one, I caught 5 in one night. Was shocked.

Use a 5gal bucket, a wire coat hanger a tin can and peanut butter. I put a branch from the yard as the ladder to the top.

[Pyromatic177]

Interesting. Never heard of that trap. I'll have to look into that myself

[ihkskim]

hoodrats are never a good thing.. stay away from hoodrats

[seanj130]

Drive your car, get that engine bay nice and hot, and see if those ******s survive... That foam lining that they are chewing is your fire suppressant if the motor catches fire, don't worry about that..

[iviegatron]

I had this problem when I was living in an apartment in Seattle. I had a reserved parking spot close to a dumpster (that's the only available covered parking spot they had at the time). One day I was cleaning the engine bay and noticed rat droppings. I immediately cleaned it with Lysol to get the sh*t/piss smell out. Rats like to live in their own filth. Started parking far away from dumpsters and never had the problem again.

[jygesq]

Some people use a sock filled with moth balls and attach it to something under the hood.

[Arn560]

I'd just move!

[chaos2984]

I guess first question is where are you parking? If your in your garage, I would set up traps and figure out how they are getting into your garage and seal the holes so they cannot get into the garage. If your not in a garage, like the other guy said see if there is an outside source what they are attracted to and if there is move your car father away or clean up the issue if its possible or complain to have it fixed if possible. If nothing of the above clean your engine very well and put some moth balls in your engine bay. Also I think there was a member that put a trap on his S/C over night and got one. I think there is something else that you can use but I cant remember what it is. Just try google for it. Count yourself lucky that they haven't chewed any wiring yet.

[RudyH]

I'd just move!

lol agreed

As mentioned where do you live? Do you have control over where you are parking? As in your garage / open parking => why do you have rats to begin with!! I had tree rats (squirrels, looking for a home in the winter) getting into my shed where I was parking my motorbike. You don't have to spray it on the car, but spray around it. I sprayed this stuff where they were getting in until the spring when I put up some chicken wire (knocking down that shed anyway after a few wind storms and trees crashing down on it)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Havahart-...3145/100549772

I wouldn't bother with traps, I tried different ones and they were too smart, or I was too dumb setting them. The poison 'treats' I was thinking of leaving, but then they look for a place to go die and you might have a bigger problem of a dead rat rotting somewhere you can't access.

[littleredwagen]

Drive your car, get that engine bay nice and hot, and see if those ******s survive... That foam lining that they are chewing is your fire suppressant if the motor catches fire, don't worry about that..

It is not a Fire suppressant, it is sound dampening material. as for the rats/mice a bucket with some coolant will take of them

[o1brit]

hoodrats are never a good thing.. stay away from hoodrats

Spit out my coffee when reading this. Well played. I see what you did there


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[MrFunk]

I had a muskrat once burrow into the hood insulation of my GTI when I was in college parking outside during the cold winters. He must have been looking for somewhere warm to sleep. I had opened the hood to check the oil and saw a large bulge in the insulation... I tapped it with my hand and it had considerable weight to it then a leg with claws kinda fell out of it... so nasty!

I closed the hood and drove to the humane society... we opened the hood and placed a cage under the bulge where it was still sitting... then I poked it with a mag flashlight I had in the car and it jumped out into the cage. The thing was NASTY and angry... the mess it left in the engine bay was brutal... That insulation turns to mud when mixed with the water and moisture from winter driving... took it to the dealership to have a professional engine bay detail which was not cheap as a college student...



To answer your question... if you are parking in a personal garage I'd work on sealing it better...

[Dippy]

When I saw the title I didn't think this would really be about rats in the engine bay. You Americans have all the fun :)

[mmm def]

Little fkrs did this to mine ImageUploadedByTapatalk1458751077.438403.jpg

[SDV325]

I'd just move!

Come to Canada! Too cold for those pests (Alberta claims to be rat free lol)

[chopz33]

this is insane! you have to give them credit though. If i was a rat id rather hide out in an Audi than a Honda or something.

[eurotic]

Use a 5gal bucket, a wire coat hanger a tin can and peanut butter. I put a branch from the yard as the ladder to the top.

This sounds like you were drunk playing the Mouse Trap board game.

[David655321]

Thanks kindly for all the suggestions, both helpful and humorous!! I park outside and don't have a garage. Live in rural wine country. I will try some of these suggestions and hopefully kill them all, or at least not have them in my car anymore!

[sangaroo]

You can take my girlfriend's cat.... I'm sure he will work for you.