Are there rodent droppings inside my engine?

[Haydogmc]

Hello Fellow Mudders,

I purchase my 2001 LX470 w/ 140,000 miles on BaT in October of 2022 and have enjoyed all of the work getting it up to snuff. I have completed a lot of work myself (thanks to MUD) and a local indie Toyota shop that uses all OEM parts has completed a decent amount as well.

I have two long trips through the rockies planned in the coming month and have been wrapping up the "punch list" items on the truck prior to. When I took the engine cover off to replace the heater T's (embarrassed to say this is the first time I personally have taken the engine cover off), I noticed what looks like rodent droppings mixed in with a large bed made out of the hood insulation. Are you guys seeing what I am seeing? If so, how could the mechanic have missed this? Photos are attached.

I have added a glamour shot of the truck as well.

 

[bj70bc]

check any wires nearby, rodents love toyota wires

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Seen it work well. Place a bright LED light in engine bay each night. Rodents don’t like it.

 

[planomateo]

@Haydogmc that photo isn't in focus, snap another?

Peppermint oil is a good deterrent.

 

[Mauser]

I have seen rodent signs there on almost every 2uz I have worked on. Suck it out with a vacuum and get some outside cats.

 

[Haydogmc]

check any wires nearby, rodents love toyota wires

No chewed wires that I can see...

Seen it work well. Place a bright LED light in engine bay each night. Rodents don’t like it.

Thanks for the tip! I'll try that.

@Haydogmc that photo isn't in focus, snap another?

Peppermint oil is a good deterrent.

I'll snap another when I am home from work. It was tough to get it in focus given it's such a small area.

I have seen rodent signs there on almost every 2uz I have worked on. Suck it out with a vacuum and get some outside cats.

That is oddly reassuring... I'm thinking it is from the prior owner since it has been in my garage every night since I bought it in October - but I have some mouse traps on order nonetheless. Do you think I need to do any additional cleaning other than removing the insulation bed and shop vacuuming it out?

 

[Mike NXP]

I've pulled many mouse nest out of the engine V right where you are looking. Remove the engine cover and get yourself a long grabby thing like this here.

You can access the V pretty good from both sides in a few different spots . Shine a light from the opposite side to light up the area. Be careful not to be too aggressive since there are wires and vac lines around there. Look around on these forums for a picture of the valley on the 2UZ.

After you pull the big stuff blast some compressed air in there and blow the rest out. I've lucked out an my mouse just likes to hang out there and hasn't destroyed anything else. although it hasn't been back in a while, hope hes ok.

 

[Haydogmc]

I've pulled many mouse nest out of the engine V right where you are looking. Remove the engine cover and get yourself a long grabby thing like this here.

You can access the V pretty good from both sides in a few different spots . Shine a light from the opposite side to light up the area. Be careful not to be too aggressive since there are wires and vac lines around there. Look around on these forums for a picture of the valley on the 2UZ.

After you pull the big stuff blast some compressed air in there and blow the rest out. I've lucked out an my mouse just likes to hang out there and hasn't destroyed anything else. although it hasn't been back in a while, hope hes ok.

Thanks for the thorough advice! Definitely picking up a long grabby from HF.

 

[Mike NXP]

Thanks for the thorough advice! Definitely picking up a long grabby from HF.

For sure, I have also flushed water into my frame to have some acrons and mouse material come out. Once the weather warms up park the nose up hill and flush into the frame holes and let it all flow out the back end.

 

[Haydogmc]

For sure, I have also flushed water into my frame to have some acrons and mouse material come out. Once the weather warms up park the nose up hill and flush into the frame holes and let it all flow out the back end.

Another great tip. Thank you. Reasonable to think if they made it into the engine V they made it into the frame...

 

[nissanh]

Or.. wear a mask and goggle and direct your leaf blower into the valley! It's not good to breath fine dust of dried mouse droppings...

Then spray some WD-40 to stop corrosion especially on freeze plugs.

For this exact reason, I have removed the beauty cover and keep the hood open once or twice a week (parked in my back yard: TX have back alley too!)

 

[Mike NXP]

Or.. wear a mask and goggle and direct your leaf blower into the valley! It's not good to breath fine dust of dried mouse droppings...

Then spray some WD-40 to stop corrosion especially on freeze plugs.

For this exact reason, I have removed the beauty cover and keep the hood open once or twice a week (parked in my back yard: TX have back alley too!)

Make sure you don't get that WD-40 on anything rubber unless you want it to swell and crack. Silicone lube is a safer choice.

psh...scared of a little Hantavirus? Just kidding, you're right rodent debris can certainly **** you up.

Long wand on an air compressor helps get into the further nooks.

 

[Haydogmc]

Make sure you don't get that WD-40 on anything rubber unless you want it to swell and crack. Silicone lube is a safer choice.

psh...scared of a little Hantavirus? Just kidding, you're right rodent debris can certainly f*** you up.

Long wand on an air compressor helps get into the further nooks.

I've got an air compressor, long grabber, and narrow shop vac attachment so I will probably go that route. To clarify - once everything is all cleaned out I can safely spray silicon lube onto the freeze plugs which are in the engine valley? From the attached picture I found online, it looks like it would be tough to spray anything in the valley without hitting the rubber tubes...

 

[Mike NXP]

I've got an air compressor, long grabber, and narrow shop vac attachment so I will probably go that route. To clarify - once everything is all cleaned out I can safely spray silicon lube onto the freeze plugs which are in the engine valley? From the attached picture I found online, it looks like it would be tough to spray anything in the valley without hitting the rubber tubes...

View attachment 3212015

Hmm, I've got no reason to spray lube down in there especially in your situation. Maybe if you were going in deeper and planning to replace stuff but that's just me. Like you said it wouldn't be easy to get a clean spray and it really doesn't do anything for you. I'd hate to get any of that stuff into seals / cracks. .

I'd focus on just getting the mouse debris out and taking a look around from all angles to inspect. You can see pretty good in there if you just peek from different angles.

As for general lube talk, WD-40 and petroleum based lubes can / will swell and crack rubber. Silicone lube is generally safe to use on all materials .

 

[Haydogmc]

Or.. wear a mask and goggle and direct your leaf blower into the valley! It's not good to breath fine dust of dried mouse droppings...

Then spray some WD-40 to stop corrosion especially on freeze plugs.

For this exact reason, I have removed the beauty cover and keep the hood open once or twice a week (parked in my back yard: TX have back alley too!)

Thanks for the advice. Definitely removing the engine cover and storing it in a safe place!

 

[Haydogmc]

Hmm, I've got no reason to spray lube down in there especially in your situation. Maybe if you were going in deeper and planning to replace stuff but that's just me. Like you said it wouldn't be easy to get a clean spray and it really doesn't do anything for you. I'd hate to get any of that stuff into seals / cracks. .

I'd focus on just getting the mouse debris out and taking a look around from all angles to inspect. You can see pretty good in there if you just peek from different angles.

As for general lube talk, WD-40 and petroleum based lubes can / will swell and crack rubber. Silicone lube is generally safe to use on all materials .

Got it. Sounds like the risks outweigh the rewards. I'll heed your advice and give it a good clean and inspect and go from there. Also good to know on the lube. Thanks for all your insight!