Rat Nest in Air Filter Box

[tractorseller]

Just a heads up. I'm sure others have run into this. I had a pack rat or two get into my engine compartment. The usual nest on the battery. No big deal. Cleaned it all up, killed the rats and went on with life.



I just changed my air filter yesterday. When I pulled the filter out I couldn't believe the mess. A rat had crawled in through the bottom of the filter housing, chewed up the bottom of my filter, and left the usual assorted pine cones and other garbage in the housing. The problem is that none of this was visible from the top side, even with the lid off, and the air flow meter showed everything was fine. This could have been a disaster had the rat chewed all the way through the filter. He was only in there for one day.



If you have any sign of rats and have a factory air box please pull the air filter out and check under it. I'm tempted to go with an aftermarket air filter that I can inspect more easily.

 

[dmhollister]

Just a heads up. I'm sure others have run into this. I had a pack rat or two get into my engine compartment. The usual nest on the battery. No big deal. Cleaned it all up, killed the rats and went on with life.

My parents had a similar run in with pack rats but had other issues to look at.



Check the wiring harnesses for "chew" marks, replace/repair as needed.



If they "packrats" have access to dog or cat food, check for "stockpiles". My parents had to spend $150 to have the vent system cleared of the "stockpile".



Just some other thoughts.

 

[Pawpaw]

You might get some hardware cloth from your local hardware store. In case you don't know what that is (lots don't, I've discovered), it's a screen wire mesh with 1/4" squares and zinc coated.



Cut & shape the hardware cloth to fit and drop it in. It wouldn't cause much, if any, air restriction but should do a good job of keeping the "critters" out.



Bob