Two Non Related Questions on Oil and Rodents

[KBrennan]

I have two questions regarding oil and rodents.
Question one, Oil: How dark should the oil be after changing with only 500 miles on the new oil? The engine had 10440 miles on it when the oil was supposedly changed by the dealer. I looked at the dp stick just to check the oil level as I always do after a few hundred miles just to make sure the level is good and the oil seemed very dark to me. No bad smell but just dark.

Question two, Rodents: When I popped the hood to check the oil a saw a mouse on the intake manifold. Further inspection indicates the little stinker was eating the insulation pad around the starboard (Passenger Side for you land boys) battery and left some mouse droppings as well. Any good ideas on how to discourage such infestations? I started her up and took a spin around the block to get the engine hot. It is rather gone or cocked. I was thinking on putting a sticky trap on the battery in case it comes back.

 

[R.Taylor]

It's gonna be fairly dark pretty quick. As for the mice.... Maybe he's a loner and if you get him with a trap it will be the end of it. A rat was eating the foam on the wife's car, After getting him in a trap we never saw any more activity.

 

[DavidC]

I bought 16 of those sticky traps (The ones with peanut butter on them) to catch 2 mice in the RV. They say dryer sheets will keep them away. Maybe put the traps on the floor around the truck and hopefully they want some peanut butter.

 

[KBrennan]

I bought 16 of those sticky traps (The ones with peanut butter on them) to catch 2 mice in the RV. They say dryer sheets will keep them away. Maybe put the traps on the floor around the truck and hopefully they want some peanut butter.

Well the truck is out side, to tall to fit in the garage but I zip tied a sticky trap on top of the battery. I will just check it before I drive of each time. I hate mice. I have a Non-oiled washable filter on my Jeep and the dang mice ate a hole in that. The down side to living in the country.

 

[DavidC]

Well the truck is out side, to tall to fit in the garage but I zip tied a sticky trap on top of the battery. I will just check it before I drive of each time. I hate mice. I have a Non-oiled washable filter on my Jeep and the dang mice ate a hole in that. The down side to living in the country.

Yeah, I personally don't care for them but maybe some cats are in your future. Diesel oil gets black real fast by the way.

 

[KBrennan]

I just don't recall my 99 getting that dark that fast. Or maybe it is just a phantom memory of the late Gray Beast

 

[lpennock]

I just don't recall my 99 getting that dark that fast. Or maybe it is just a phantom memory of the late Gray Beast

They started getting dark fast in 2004.5 when EGR was added to them. 2014 and later aren't as bad as 2007.5-2013 but still do it pretty quick.

 

[KBrennan]

They started getting dark fast in 2004.5 when EGR was added to them. 2014 and later aren't as bad as 2007.5-2013 but still do it pretty quick.

Good to know, thanks. I can rest easy now, as soon as Micky Mouse has met his doom

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

They say dryer sheets will keep them away.

Tried them in my old Chevy truck where the mice nested in the glove box and steering column (in a matter of 2-3 weeks in the middle of summer). After cleaning out the mess and disinfecting everything I put a bunch of dryer sheets and a few traps in the cab. Caught nothing and the little b-tards used the dryer sheets for nesting material!

Peppermint oil is supposed to deter them but I've never tried it.

 

[KBrennan]

Tried them in my old Chevy truck where the mice nested in the glove box and steering column (in a matter of 2-3 weeks in the middle of summer). After cleaning out the mess and disinfecting everything I put a bunch of dryer sheets and a few traps in the cab. Caught nothing and the little b-tards used the dryer sheets for nesting material!

Peppermint oil is supposed to deter them but I've never tried it.

Well it just under the hood that they are getting into. Chewing on the insulator over of the battery probably for nesting material. I have wild pepermint growing in the back yard. Maybe i can take a bunch put in one of those sacks you use to wash ladies socks in the washing machine.

 

[Ozymandias]

Crack the hood open. Use a rubber bungee to open it 10 inches at the front, thats enough.
These critters like the enclosed space, as soon as there is open they don't feel comfortable anymore and stay away.

 

[Ozymandias]

And if you want something that really works, ulrasonic doesn't - buy this.

https://shop.marderabwehr.de/marder...inus-high-voltage-device-with-ultrasound.html

I had that in my DD and it really solved my marten problem once and for all.

 

[nukegm]

rumor has it dryer sheets work for rodents. i have not tried that. what does work is cayenne pepper. even painters here in colorado mix it in house paint to keep woodpeckers off wood sided homes. good luck with the mouse. f y i amazon sells a " rat zapper " that electrocutes the critter with 4 aa batteries. its about 1/2 the size of a shoebox, longways. one of the best purchases i have ever made. several of my customers have them as well with impressive results. cheers comrade!

 

[HPSimpson]

I have used dryer sheets and peppermint oil which both seem to work, one other thing I have left the hood open for several days as well, good luck.

 

[dieselshadow]

I’ve left hoods open on some vehicles before. Nobody stopped by and finished the maintenance on them....

 

[HPSimpson]

Oh the engine oil beginning dark is normal on Cummins engine you could drive couple miles after change will be dark.

 

[HPSimpson]

Well did you leave note outside on what maintenance was need, we all here are not mind readers.

 

[Mike Wenrich]

After the mice and squirrels ate the underhood liner and chewed wires on my 2004.5 I put Bounce dryer sheets in every six months. Tuck them down beside the battery or anywhere I can get them. Also use the purple spray RVers on the rest of the components. No trouble since. They do not like the odor of Bounce in particular. Matter of fact, neither do I.

 

[KBrennan]

Some great ideas, thanks

 

[JR]

You mean like this?

I got rid of the blankets when I installed a set of group 31's. That's not a solution by any means...but at least they quit chewing on the dang blankets.