Can something live under the hood of my car?

Sterica

So my brake light came on yesterday, and I went to check the brake fluid. But that isn't the issue.

I noticed a beige-colored growth on one of the numerous tubes running throughout. It looks suspiciously similar to a nest, but I didn't want to knock it off in the event that something is leaking and it just happened to harden up to stop/slow the leak. Yeah, I'm pretty car-ignorant.

I am very skeptical that it's a nest simply because it's been a ferociously hot summer, and I pity any creature dim enough to eke out a living in an even hotter place. Not to mention that I haven't seen any insects hanging out near my car in a fashion that I would consider as "living there."

So, what could it be?

bowen

Got a picture?

Sterica

I'll try to get one in a minute here, but my phone's camera is on the fritz.

Magus`

Yes, technically something could live there but I highly doubt it would want to. The heat and fumes aren't exactly inviting to any animal I can imagine.

That being said, did it have any noticeable shapes in it? Like little straight-edged holes?

Sterica

It's got to be a nest, as it's basically three small cylinders glued together.

I think something is inside one, but nothing really did anything when I tried to knock it off with my keys. I think the inhabitants were flame broiled a while ago.

bowen

Probably a wasp's nest or something.

Eat it You Nasty Pig.

it sounds like a wasp's nest; had you not driven the car in a while or something?

evilthecat

hilarious.
you turn the ac on and you get a face full of angry hornets.

Dehumanized

My grandfather's truck once broke down because there were mice living in the engine. Definitely possible.

Delphinidaes

Spoiler'd for bugs

Without seeing pics it sounds like Mud Dauber Wasps. Used to get lots of those where I used to live. The nests I saw were usually a lighter brown though but I live in Southern California so they get baked by the sun pretty well sometimes.

MichaelLC

Yeah, probably a wasp nest.

A paper wasp nest:

I'd try to knock it off with some tongs/long stick, and be prepared to run like hell. Probably they've moved on, but you never know.

Also I don't think you're supposed to lose brake fluid, so probably want to get that checked out.

Pel

Yea, wasps can set up a nest in a matter of a few days easily, but they'll probably abandon it by choice or necessity before long: the heat and fumes probably wouldn't bother them much, but most creatures don't appreciate a home which moves around randomly on them.

A bigger concern is, why is your brake fluid low? Fill it back up and monitor it very closely: a small amount could possibly very very slowly leak from the calipers if they are worn, but if a noticeable amount goes missing, you need to figure out why ASAP: a small hole in a high pressure line can rupture under heavy braking, which is exactly when you don't want it to!

Sterica

I am already aware of my brake fluid leak, but thanks.

I am unemployed, so I have been driving less.