Rats underhood in my 1999 E320.
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Get a box of wooden clothespins. Put them in the jar and fill it with peppermint oil. Let them soak. Attach few under the hood. Change monthly.
'72 350SL, '85 300D, '98 E320, '19 Subaru Outback (sold '14 GLK250)
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14,146 Posts
This thread caught my eye!
Background: Over Christmas, we had a major blizzard that lasted about 3 days. Our 98 E320 was sitting outside. Once things calmed down, we cleared the snow from around the car and after a few attempts, were able to back the car out to where the snow had been cleared.
When we went to clear the area where the car had sat for 3 or 4 days, I noticed that the snow had yellow stains centered right under car. I have a hole in the under engine covers and that is likely where stain came from.
A few days ago, I put the car in the garage. I moved the fan shroud and the engine cover. Looking down, I could see some minor leakage, but that would have been oil or PS fluid. Nothing coming from cooling system that I could see. The MB coolant is a sort of yellow color, so that was what I thought might have leaked. Windshield washer was another suspect, but it is not yellow. I put a tray under the car but only got clear water. But there were yellow stains on the outside of the engine pan near the drain hole.
So, another thought, is that we may have had a visitor under the engine? Given the weather I wouldn't have blamed them for seeking refuge. I didn't take a picture, but it looked a lot like this (dog pee):
![]()
I should take pans off and have a better look. But crawling under car in winter is not fun. If I see it again, I might have to get local garage put it up on hoist and have a look.
Background: Over Christmas, we had a major blizzard that lasted about 3 days. Our 98 E320 was sitting outside. Once things calmed down, we cleared the snow from around the car and after a few attempts, were able to back the car out to where the snow had been cleared.
When we went to clear the area where the car had sat for 3 or 4 days, I noticed that the snow had yellow stains centered right under car. I have a hole in the under engine covers and that is likely where stain came from.
A few days ago, I put the car in the garage. I moved the fan shroud and the engine cover. Looking down, I could see some minor leakage, but that would have been oil or PS fluid. Nothing coming from cooling system that I could see. The MB coolant is a sort of yellow color, so that was what I thought might have leaked. Windshield washer was another suspect, but it is not yellow. I put a tray under the car but only got clear water. But there were yellow stains on the outside of the engine pan near the drain hole.
So, another thought, is that we may have had a visitor under the engine? Given the weather I wouldn't have blamed them for seeking refuge. I didn't take a picture, but it looked a lot like this (dog pee):
I should take pans off and have a better look. But crawling under car in winter is not fun. If I see it again, I might have to get local garage put it up on hoist and have a look.
Use UV light. Mouse / rat urine glows with UV as the amino acids in the urine are sensitive to it.This thread caught my eye!
Background: Over Christmas, we had a major blizzard that lasted about 3 days. Our 98 E320 was sitting outside. Once things calmed down, we cleared the snow from around the car and after a few attempts, were able to back the car out to where the snow had been cleared.
When we went to clear the area where the car had sat for 3 or 4 days, I noticed that the snow had yellow stains centered right under car. I have a hole in the under engine covers and that is likely where stain came from.
A few days ago, I put the car in the garage. I moved the fan shroud and the engine cover. Looking down, I could see some minor leakage, but that would have been oil or PS fluid. Nothing coming from cooling system that I could see. The MB coolant is a sort of yellow color, so that was what I thought might have leaked. Windshield washer was another suspect, but it is not yellow. I put a tray under the car but only got clear water. But there were yellow stains on the outside of the engine pan near the drain hole.
So, another thought, is that we may have had a visitor under the engine? Given the weather I wouldn't have blamed them for seeking refuge. I didn't take a picture, but it looked a lot like this (dog pee):
![]()
I should take pans off and have a better look. But crawling under car in winter is not fun. If I see it again, I might have to get local garage put it up on hoist and have a look.
1998 MB E300TD, 1997 MB E36 AMG, 2001 MB E55 AMG. 2011 BMW 335d
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8,711 Posts
Don't bring the UV light inside the house unless you want to question your life.
I used this, and barely survivedDon't bring the UV light inside the house unless you want to question your life.
.
Amazon.com: LE UV Flashlight Black Light, 51 LED UV Light Handheld Blacklight, 395nm Detector for Pet Urine, Stains, Bed Bug and Scorpions, Battery Not Included : Pet Supplies
Amazon.com: LE UV Flashlight Black Light, 51 LED UV Light Handheld Blacklight, 395nm Detector for Pet Urine, Stains, Bed Bug and Scorpions, Battery Not Included : Pet Supplies
www.amazon.com
This is a great idea to soak the wooden pegs. Rodents do genuinely hate peppermint, so our pest control guy says.
I use dryer sheets (cheap brand) and place throughout my pickup. Truck stays under a farm shed so plenty of critters around. The sheets work great. Like mentioned above, take a hand full and place them throughout the car and engine bay.
This has worked for about 2 years now with zero issues!! Plus, i haven't changed them out since the smell remains strong.
This has worked for about 2 years now with zero issues!! Plus, i haven't changed them out since the smell remains strong.
Are they effective for ants?
My daughter's engine compartment near the firewall has ant infestation after few days ol cold weather.
unsure about dryer sheets for ants, but i had the same ant issue when i purchased the w210 in August.
Just purchase the ant posion plastic containers from anywhere. I left two containers in engine compartment, the trunk and around the dashboard. The ants take the posion back to the nest. Two or three days and they are gone!
Just purchase the ant posion plastic containers from anywhere. I left two containers in engine compartment, the trunk and around the dashboard. The ants take the posion back to the nest. Two or three days and they are gone!
I believe the ones infesting the car come from the parking lot. The car is parked at different parking spots, so the new ones invite themselves in. I sprayed some bug sprayer I use for the outside of the house near the firewall. Let's see if this will help.
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