judifilksign: (Default)
[personal profile] judifilksign
 So, today, I go to get the oil changed in our van, because the light lit up on the dash.  

The oil change guys showed me how seriously low the oil was - just a gleam on the very end of the dipstick, and a special valve thingy showed scorch marks and melting.  So, I approved the clean out service  prior to the change, and the replacement of the valve thingy.  Guilt for letting it go so long - yes.  They guys said we should get an extra two miles per gallon with the difference in oil quality.  Since we keep track of mileage, this ought to be easy to check.

They call me back in to show the air filters.  The normal air filter wasn't too awful, some tarry stuff, leaves, etc. and needed to be changed.  The interior air filter (did I even know we *had* one of these?) was black, evil and grim.  I was sold on the idea of replacing them just by seeing them lying out next to the replacements, but the guy was really into his "I know it costs $35 dollars to replace, but you really need replace this," speech, and poked at some of the detris contained therin.  

"This looks like fur," he said, and poked it, dislodging a small, dessicated dead mouse - one of three!  It fell to the floor, and three grown men shrieked with horror and lunged away while I started laughing loudly.

The airflow in the van has much improved.

Date: 2008-08-12 10:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] maiac.livejournal.com
three grown men shrieked with horror and lunged away while I started laughing loudly

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

Fandom makes you tough.

Date: 2008-08-12 11:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jeffreycornish.livejournal.com
(ttto Sooj's dust dust dust song)

In the intake there was dust dust dust
but we will eat the air filter as we must must must
when we eat the crankcase will it taste like mouse?
we swear by the dust that we'll soon find out

Date: 2008-08-13 01:26 am (UTC)

Date: 2008-08-12 11:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] vixyish.livejournal.com
*gigglesnort*

Poor guys. :)

(But yeah... you really shouldn't wait until the 'low oil' light goes on before having it changed. That light isn't 'it's time to change,' that light is 'your engine is being damaged because you were supposed to top the oil up a while ago.')

Date: 2008-08-13 01:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] judifilksign.livejournal.com
In my defense, I haven't been driving the van much recently; it's the "dadmobile" for kid transport. It's ironic to me how so many of our traditional roles have flipped since I'm the breadwinner, and he's the at home dad/cook.

I get the third degree if I don't call when I'm 15 minutes late, and I am responsible for car stuff.

Date: 2008-08-13 12:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] madtom-o-bedlam.livejournal.com
Ummmm how did you get mice in your air filter?

Date: 2008-08-13 01:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] judifilksign.livejournal.com
They took a wrong turn, evidently.

Date: 2008-08-13 01:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] robin-june.livejournal.com
It was a nice cozy claustrophilic new home!

Right up until the moment the key turned and the airflow did them in.

Rodents and cats often find engines to be attractive lairs. Cats are perceivable when the ignition evicts them, as they are medium big and vocal (mrroOoww!). Rodents, on the other hand, don't get noticed unless they die there: we once found a female wild rat curled up asleep dead on the engine of the car that Alan's brother sold him from his farm.

Date: 2008-08-13 01:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] judifilksign.livejournal.com
Since we live near woods, we do get lots of field mice in the house, too. The fur the poor oil change guy touched looked like it was a nest. I guess having the van parked for any length of time made it look home-y.

Date: 2008-08-13 12:11 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] valarltd.livejournal.com
There's your problem. You need new mice to turn the engine!

Date: 2008-08-13 01:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] judifilksign.livejournal.com
Mouse-keteer "roll" call, sound off now! Board your wheels! Off we go.

Date: 2008-08-13 02:52 am (UTC)
ext_429145: (WTF?!)
From: [identity profile] elfowls-nest.livejournal.com
Good grief, now even your vehicle is catching mice! O,o And I thought it was impressive when your kids did it!

Date: 2008-08-13 03:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] needlewomyn.livejournal.com
Good lord! You and mice! Or well, your kids and your vehicle and mice.

*laugh*

Date: 2008-08-13 04:30 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com
"This looks like fur," he said, and poked it, dislodging a small, dessicated dead mouse - one of three! It fell to the floor, and three grown men shrieked with horror and lunged away while I started laughing loudly.

That's hilarious.

We had a mouse in our car last month. Bits of mouse nest blew out from the air conditioning. Since we had no money, treatment consisted of removing anything remotely edible from the car, and waiting. Presently the car reeked of dead mouse, so we hung air freshener and waited some more. Seems to be no more trouble now.

Date: 2008-08-13 05:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pondside.livejournal.com
Personally, I eat my mice only with the best extra virgin olive oil but, YMMV.

Hugs

Snicker

Date: 2008-08-13 04:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] u-must-b-joking.livejournal.com
Dead mice in cars. A frequent happening. Thank goodness they were desiccated, when they aren't they are really gharstly.

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