Mouse deterrent

[inaminit]

Hello- I am getting an engine ready to store in the barn, where the mice and red squirrels have the run of the place. I covered all the small openings with tape and made a large cover for the fan from some aluminum flashing. It took less than 5 minutes and it came out better than I expected.

[Reiver]

Good luck, those tiny bastards defy physics and every other law of nature when it comes to breaking and entering.
I'd try a couple of barn cats...hungry barn cats.

[89911]

It might not hurt to leave an explicit message to them telling them not to chew your wiring.

[Schmierung]

Stainless steel wool in all holes, moth balls, then seal with heavy plastic.

[Reiver]

Good point on the wiring and they can enter that blocked off area from below too...actually, no way I'd park it in a barn, I've never seen one survive unscathed in that environment.
Rent a storage facility that deals with cars.

[brighton911]

The sad but true fact is a mouse can get through a 1/4" crack like it was a regular door. So seal up everything really well and have traps, bait around the car and if you can, that hungry cat nearby. Hate those rodents!

[HawgRyder]

Warfarin...lots of it...in a continuous pile around the sides of the barn...add to it weekly.
Bob

[Reiver]

Not sure about the poison .....when they get ready to croak they go home and if that home is in the car they'll rot there. Hard to get rid of the smell.

[jsaucedo]

That looks awesome!

A guy I work with uses dryer sheets to help ward off rats...apparently rats hate that bouncy, fresh scent!

[mepstein]

We had a cat for 14 years. Cat died and we had mice for the 1st time.

[mightys4]

Tractor supply and Agway sell a pouch that contains a natural deterent, its basically pine, really strong pine the mjce apparently can't stand... Works for me and doesn't smell like mothballs. Bounce drier sheets too, they don't like those either.

[fbarrett]

Devcon!

[Wilhelm]

Originally Posted by mepstein

We had a cat for 14 years. Cat died and we had mice for the 1st time.

+1. A cat or 2 will take care of the problem. Not "house cats". Make sure you get a good "mouser" or 2..

[Craig_D]

They don't like the smell of vinegar, and it's not caustic. Of course the best mouse trap I've ever made was a masonry bucket, with a stick on the outside running to the lip, and a bit of peanut butter in the bottom of the bucket. They can't resist, and can't get out. Go for a drive and dump em in the woods to fend for themselves.

[tevake]

If you are just storing an engine, why not build a box for it? A tightly built box.
Slide that puppy in there and close it up tight.
It would probably cost less that a set of spark plug wires.

Cheers Richard

[Buckterrier]

cotton balls dabbed with peppermint oil around the car works wonders.

[gamin]

Get some galvanized sheet metal and make a box and put the engine in it. Rodents will not chew on metal. Thinking out of the box. No pun intended.

[s_morrison57]

I always wondered if those car tents would stop mice, sure they can chew through it , but would they ?

[bigel]

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

cotton balls dabbed with peppermint oil around the car works wonders.

What do you mean by "around the car"? Inside? On the floor?

[Buckterrier]

Originally Posted by bigel

What do you mean by "around the car"? Inside? On the floor?

I put them around the parameter of the car, and in the engine bay and trunk. Peppermint oil is very strong. I'd be cautious about putting them in the car unless you like the smell of peppermint! I also do that with my lawn tractor in the shed. I walk into the shed now and get blasted with peppermint odor which isn't really a bad thing.