The check engine light went on in our 1996 Mercedes e300d last week. Shortly after returning it home fuel started pooling under it. Managed to get it to the mechanic and it turns out that rats (or mice) have been chewing on the lines. (They left poop all over the intake manifold and clear scoring marks on some of the hoses.)

Mechanic suspects (but isn't sure) that the B100 that we typically run is attracting the rats.

Anybody else having experience with this problem? Is it exclusively biodiesel-related or do rats chew on rubber engine lines just because? Maybe the b100 is just exacerbating an old problem?

Any solutions?

We don't really want to set out poison. Setting (and then clearing) traps doesn't sound that appealing either. The mechanic has suggested dryer-sheets (!?) / steel wool in the engine compartment to act as deterrents. He also suggested a sonic emitter thingy as a deterrent in the parking-area.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

- grey