Eco-Friendly Brake Cables Eaten by Foxes Because They’re Made of Soy
Eco-friendly brake cables are being eaten by foxes, after manufacturers switched from petroleum-based insulation to soy, forcing owners to wrap their cars in tarpaulins. The Telegraph has the story.
Recent photos show multiple cars covered in blue plastic for protection after a spate of attacks in Worthing, West Sussex, with locals claiming at least 20 vehicles were targeted by foxes.
Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of roads policy, said the animals may be attracted to the soy-based insulation on brake wires.
Since 2000, peanut and soy-based oils and waxes have been used on car parts including gearbox insulation, primer bulbs and diesel injector wires, instead of petroleum-based coverings.
“There are two reasons why foxes attack cars in this way,” Mr. Cousens told the Telegraph. “The first is that some cables can be soy-based and therefore they get attracted to the taste of that.
“Secondly, within brake fluid there is something called glycol, which is a sweet-tasting alcoholic fluid, and they get a little bit attracted to that too. But they would only get attracted to it if they chew so far through the cable and uncover it.”
Eddie Mitchell, who lives on Broadwater Green in Worthing, the latest target for hungry foxes, said: “Everyone around us has been affected. There’s been at least 20 attacks by foxes on the brakes system under cars.”
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Nigel
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Mice also eat the yummy wiring as the insulation is also made from Soy.
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Anapat
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Yust send the foxes to Rwanda.
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Paul
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Lucky thing the tarpaulins aren’t made of soy! How much offset are we getting when people need to go out and buy petroleum based tarpaulins, that I know from bitter experience last barely 2 summers against soy based brake hoses that won’t last at all unless protected by petroleum based tarps?
Maybe close fitting steel mesh cages would be the go or feed the foxes some decent food.
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Howdy
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From the Telraph article:
“Secondly, within brake fluid there is something called glycol, which is a sweet-tasting alcoholic fluid, and they get a little bit attracted to that too. But they would only get attracted to it if they chew so far through the cable and uncover it.”
Confusing. As opposed to hydraulic lines, brake cables do not contain fluid, they are usually steel based, and slide within an outer sheath.
“The RAC said there were record numbers of mice, rats and foxes “surprising” its customers last year by causing serious damage to their vehicles.”
A change in behaviour across species.
US and other places will be able to tell you stories about damaged vehicles being attacked even when historically the vehicle has no ‘sweetener’ added to it’s construction materials. It’s just what animals do.
A rat in your loft will attack your joists, not because they taste nice, but for the effect on it’s teeth.
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