So, I looked in my engine compartment, and noticed these odd pellets near the PCV valve. They look kinda like turquoise fish pellets.

A close up.

Side View, where I found them.

Anyone know what these are?

 

That looks like the work of a small critter to me. Take a close look around to see if anything has been chewed on.

My father-in-law had a fuel line eaten through by a woodchuck. I don't think that critter got the mouthful of what he was looking for.

 

Agreed...sounds like animal activity. Hope it hasn't damaged your car yet. Here in NC, we get mouse damage to cars from time-to-time. Sometimes squirrell damage too.

David

 

See, I'd think that too, but the pellets aren't tapered like any animal feces. They have smooth sides. Again, think rat poison, fish pellets, or pet food. The sides are smooth and shiny, while the edges are rough, like they were broken off, not pinched off.

But I'll look.

 

Squirrels and chipmunks like to stuff things in their mouths that they find and hide them elsewhere....like under your hood. I wasn't thinking it was feces.

 

Could it be a desiccant from shipping the help keep the moistureunder control? Or and oil dry product?
I agree, they look man-made,not natural.

 

Just on a thought; do you think someone was trying to damage your vehicle? Are they are hard or soft? Do they break? I personally would drain my oil to just be on the safe side. I also think maybe it is an animal, to be on a more positive thought, hoarding it's finds in your engine compartment. I would look behind the engine dampener to see if someone was living under the hood. You could just have a hidden friend under the hood. See my father-in-law was right. My car is really powered by mice on a wheel!