Rats in engine bay

No really..

Remove all food sources from the garage. I had major infestation in ma-in-law's because that's where she stored the dog food. Found the nest and it was not a pretty site. Oh the carnage....I had to pull everything out of the garage and wash it down.

 

I got that, I wasn't, sorta. Figure a hungry cat would do it's job better.

 

Not soy based wire covers since 2016 with Toyota.

 

Many years ago manufacturers switched from "normal" petroleum based plastic to soy based plastics as wire covering. They did it not because of cost (articles cited it was a wash) but because of environmental group pressures. Most manufacturers have now switched back to petroleum based plastics because there is no advantage to soy based.

Believe it or not vermin were chewing up just as many wires way before soy based plastics were invented. They chew up the insulation for nesting material, not food. They get under the hood because it is sheltered with lots of nice spots to build a nest.
If you live where there are lots of nice, rats, squirrels, chipmunks, etc then they will use your vehicle as a nest at some point.

My solution was simple... I am not a cat person (dog guy) but several neighbors have cats. However, I have several cans of the best cat food made sitting in my garage. When I have a problem with vermin I just put out a can of that food.
A few weeks ago I discovered signs of moles in my backyard. I put a can of that cat food on my deck for a few nights and the only thing left was the can and paw prints. Not a mole or chipmunk to be found.

 

Instead of starving them, you're baiting them...nice.

 

I removed my cowl to locate the remaining of the hose and located this looks like rats been going to town on this hose

 

The exact same thing happened when I had my 13TSS chewed same place and huge rat turds on top and that was just in a day or two because I check things out often!! I put poison under, in, outside, around, and every place I could and keep it out now and haven’t had a problem since!! I hate them!!!

 

Yeah I just bought some peppermint oil to put in the engine bay and I also have a inspector coming out tomorrow to catch this guy. Glad it was just this hose could of been way worse

 

If you park outdoors you can try spreading a circle of garden lime around the truck. The lime is poisonous to mice and they will get it in their feet as they cross it to seek out water and then they lick it off.

It will likely be more than one critter. The peppermint oil will keep them out of your truck, but they will still be living somewhere nearby. Find their food and water supply and cut it off and you'll drive them out.

How close is your neighbor?

 

What's the recommended mix / ratio of peppermint oil to warm water for use in a handheld sprayer?

 

Daves Hot Pepper Honey. Irresistibly good.

 

I used the force lol. I think I did half the pint to a gallon sprayer, it burned my nose a little when I was spraying .