Camster

I live in a wooded area.For a car kept under a car cover for a few months,is there a way to deter mice,etc from setting up home under the hood and elsewhere? Thanks.

Urambo Tauro

One trick I've heard used in garages goes like this: Set the car up on jackstands at all four corners. Put each jackstand in a tub with an inch or two of motor oil. Mice will avoid the oil, and not have any other way to climb up the car.

You could also build a wall of flashing as seen here: Mice in Cars: Solution

Z28KLR

^ Mice can jump, and higher than you may think. I've personally seen a group of them that got stuck in a cardboard box at a shop I worked at years ago jump 12" to 18" trying to escape.

I would set up (and regularly check/maintain) traps inside and out of the car (don't forget under the hood and in the trunk), poison unless there's a risk of a pet eating a poisoned mouse, and probably one of them "old wise tales" but I've heard that a few mothballs inside the car will act as a deterrent. Some people have reported success with those ultrasonic sound thingy's that you plug into the wall as well.

oxfordgt

Cotton ***** soaked in peppermint extract all around the engine bay and inside will keep them out. Or just put them around the garage door or anywhere else a mouse can get in. Used to use it to keep them out of my house when I had a bad problem with them. A few peppermint ***** out and they never came back.

Camster

Thanks for the responses.
We still have my mother's 86 Pontiac Parisienne around here.Garaged,but in former times,seldom used.About 25 years ago,mice really tore up the hood insulation,and peed all over the top of air cleaner,which made it rusty.

uberstang1

You can but one of those zip up car ports, I think even harbor freight sells them, unless animals chew through the car port its sealed inside it.

stillahotrodder

I put clothes dryer fabric softener sheets throughout the car when storing for the winter.It seems to work.