Anyone else using 0W40 Engine oil
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 883
From: MA
Definite mouse house.
My house is surrounded by forests and wetlands and when I installed a new cabin filter it would look like this in a week.
I finally made a cover or shield for the cabin air intake using 1/4 inch galvanized metal hardware cloth. In my mind it was going to be easy but it ended up being a major pain because it's not that easy (at least for me) to reach under the cowl. But, since making my shield I haven't had any evidence of mice on the cabin air filter.
Next step is to do the same on my wife's car (Nissan Leaf). A few months ago she told me that it was making funny noises when she ran the fan, leading to my discovery of a badly soiled cabin air filter and acorns in the blower motor fan.
My house is surrounded by forests and wetlands and when I installed a new cabin filter it would look like this in a week.
I finally made a cover or shield for the cabin air intake using 1/4 inch galvanized metal hardware cloth. In my mind it was going to be easy but it ended up being a major pain because it's not that easy (at least for me) to reach under the cowl. But, since making my shield I haven't had any evidence of mice on the cabin air filter.
Next step is to do the same on my wife's car (Nissan Leaf). A few months ago she told me that it was making funny noises when she ran the fan, leading to my discovery of a badly soiled cabin air filter and acorns in the blower motor fan.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,522
From: Manitoba CANADA
I had a mouse nest inside the engine air filter box. I use mesh wire to cover the air intake by the radiator so I wouldn't have that problem again. I used steel wool stuffed into openings which they used to get at the cabin air filter. there was also a large nest under the car on top of the gas tank. The tank had to be dropped to get it all out. Some plastic emissions parts had to be replaced because they were chewed up (creating dash warning codes). There was damage inside the blower housing, etc. And of course mouse droppings in areas they frequented. From memory I think the insurance claim was around C$ 2,600 to have everything professionally cleaned out and chewed/damaged parts replaced. I was without a car for well over a month because getting necessary parts from Honda was not quick. Lots of mouse traps in my garage now!
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Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 217
From: Canada
It would seem that you are not at all in the wrong for using 0w-40.. Only in the US they push hard for vehicles using 0w-20.. it is due to CAFE standards and regulations. In other countries in the manual they recommend these type of oils.
Jazz 1.5 i-VTEC (2008 – 2011) L15A7
0w-40
5w-30
10w-40
I also browse the boards for Toyota 4Runners... The guys there debate about oil use.. and in the US the manuals say to use 0w-20. While in Puerto Rico the manual say to use 10w-40 / 10w-30.
So unless Toyota builds engines specific to the US (which they do not).. they print the manual to say 0w-20 for CAFE standards and regulations.
Jazz 1.5 i-VTEC (2008 – 2011) L15A7
0w-40
5w-30
10w-40
I also browse the boards for Toyota 4Runners... The guys there debate about oil use.. and in the US the manuals say to use 0w-20. While in Puerto Rico the manual say to use 10w-40 / 10w-30.
So unless Toyota builds engines specific to the US (which they do not).. they print the manual to say 0w-20 for CAFE standards and regulations.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 217
From: Canada
Definite mouse house.
My house is surrounded by forests and wetlands and when I installed a new cabin filter it would look like this in a week.
I finally made a cover or shield for the cabin air intake using 1/4 inch galvanized metal hardware cloth. In my mind it was going to be easy but it ended up being a major pain because it's not that easy (at least for me) to reach under the cowl. But, since making my shield I haven't had any evidence of mice on the cabin air filter.
Next step is to do the same on my wife's car (Nissan Leaf). A few months ago she told me that it was making funny noises when she ran the fan, leading to my discovery of a badly soiled cabin air filter and acorns in the blower motor fan.
My house is surrounded by forests and wetlands and when I installed a new cabin filter it would look like this in a week.
I finally made a cover or shield for the cabin air intake using 1/4 inch galvanized metal hardware cloth. In my mind it was going to be easy but it ended up being a major pain because it's not that easy (at least for me) to reach under the cowl. But, since making my shield I haven't had any evidence of mice on the cabin air filter.
Next step is to do the same on my wife's car (Nissan Leaf). A few months ago she told me that it was making funny noises when she ran the fan, leading to my discovery of a badly soiled cabin air filter and acorns in the blower motor fan.
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 217
From: Canada
I had a mouse nest inside the engine air filter box. I use mesh wire to cover the air intake by the radiator so I wouldn't have that problem again. I used steel wool stuffed into openings which they used to get at the cabin air filter. there was also a large nest under the car on top of the gas tank. The tank had to be dropped to get it all out. Some plastic emissions parts had to be replaced because they were chewed up (creating dash warning codes). There was damage inside the blower housing, etc. And of course mouse droppings in areas they frequented. From memory I think the insurance claim was around C$ 2,600 to have everything professionally cleaned out and chewed/damaged parts replaced. I was without a car for well over a month because getting necessary parts from Honda was not quick. Lots of mouse traps in my garage now!
I have a few traps in our garage now to.
Already got 2 mice.
Member
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 53
From: Nevada
I wouldn't run that thick of an oil in an engine designed for 0w-20. 40 weight is a significant increase for a car designed with tighter tolerances. I could see going as high as 5w30 in warmer weather, but more than that you are likely to see adverse effects.
Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,628
From: California
I had a mouse nest inside the engine air filter box. I use mesh wire to cover the air intake by the radiator so I wouldn't have that problem again. I used steel wool stuffed into openings which they used to get at the cabin air filter. there was also a large nest under the car on top of the gas tank. The tank had to be dropped to get it all out. Some plastic emissions parts had to be replaced because they were chewed up (creating dash warning codes). There was damage inside the blower housing, etc. And of course mouse droppings in areas they frequented. From memory I think the insurance claim was around C$ 2,600 to have everything professionally cleaned out and chewed/damaged parts replaced. I was without a car for well over a month because getting necessary parts from Honda was not quick. Lots of mouse traps in my garage now!
Member
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 883
From: MA
Depends on where you live, how many small mammals are around, and how eager they are to find a nice cozy place to live. It is less likely that a daily-driven car will be damaged by rodents, but not impossible.
Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,522
From: Manitoba CANADA
My car is only driven maybe once a week which doesn't help. I'm retired Don't use the car that much. The car sits in the garage but its an old garage and small rodents can get into there without too much difficulty.
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