Many of us will remember the 1988 Telecom advert that featured a farmer with his hapless son who was having issues with his car.
“Sounds like the battery son … Under the bonnet son!”
We have mates who are mechanics who’ll tell us that drivers don’t check their tyre pressures or oil levels between services. Apparently, “that’s what mechanics are for.”
Servicing your rig involves more than simply ensuring you book-it in for its 10,000 km scheduled services. For starters, you need to be changing the lubricants every 5,000 km. Do this, and you’re well on your way to maximising your vehicle’s life. And, these days, when a 4x4 can easily cost $60-100,000, a little bit of care goes a long way.
While you’re under the bonnet changing the oil, it’s probably a good time to conduct a general ‘health survey’ of your engine bay. For leaks - for fluid levels - and even for acts of nature.
In rural areas, rats, mice and reptiles (among others) may find your engine bay a sanctum and relief from the elements. Think about it. It’s warm, dry and provides heaps better protection than just about anything found in nature.
So what …?
Rats and mice like to chew on things like wiring. And the results can be alarming. The start of your worries may be when your dashboard indicators turn into Christmas lights. Look a little closer and vermin may be chewing into your windscreen water reservoir - among other things. They’ll also nest under your seat, in your dash or simply stash food like squirrels.
Once ensconced, they may also start attracting other unwanted visitors - whether it’s more rodents, or things that like to feed on them. Do you fancy the prospect of lifting your bonnet to see a three metre Diamond Python oozing its way around your engine block? It’s more common than you think. They may be looking for those rodents or simply basking in the radiant heat of the engine block.
Either way, ignore these hitchhikers, and you’ll be visiting a mechanic quicker than you might like.
So, what are you looking for? For rodents, look for build-ups of detritus like leaves and nuts or even chewed up plastic bags, wiring or general gnawing. Also look for the tell-tail sign of scat as they may be hiding deep within your vehicle components and out of sight.
A snake, on the other hand, will probably be more obvious. It will either be looking for the vermin or resting in a warm place. Either way, you’ll need to take efforts to remove it. The damage a snake can do can may extend beyond simply terrifying your passengers. Mechanical damage from (for example) a dislodged fan belt will also wreck your day.
So the next time you fill up with fuel, top up your fluids and also conduct a thorough check of your engine bay. Furry and scaly stowaways can cost you more than you budgeted for.
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