HarnessedLunacy

It looked like oil, but it was very sticky almost like tree sap or something. The hood is never open unless I am cleaning the engine bay so I am pretty sure it wasn't something external like tree sap.

I went ahead and checked all the fluids and everything read normal so I am not what it was or where it came from.

Has anyone else ever experienced something like this?

keman

Could be what the rat left behind after you started the engine up...

05DolphinS4

that prevents rust on the between the layers of metal. When it gets warm some of it melts and will drip out.

I seem to remember it being a carmel color. Is that what yours was?

Sia Bani

Did you check your oil and splatter some oil off of your dipstick?

HarnessedLunacy

and this is the first time I am seeing such a thing.

HarnessedLunacy

Come on man, that would be obvious

HarnessedLunacy

also on the intake manifold, but didn't think too much of it because it was a single little piece and I wasn't 100% sure what it was.

I haven't seen any other signs of rats around like chewing or droppings anywhere. . .

Sia Bani

But it happens! Especially if it's a bit dark out and you're checking with your touareg torch! ;-)

keman

It's verrrry annoying and ungodly expensive when rats chew into your wiring harness...

I once saw what happened when a cat took to sleeping in a trucks engine compartment. After it bounced it's head off the cooling fan, I'm happy to say I don't believe it suffered any pain. It was gruesome though, cuz it came to rest on the drivers side exhaust manifold.

Animals seeking warm shelters this time of the year can cause quite a bit of damage to cars and themselves.

daveak05

It does happen, and it would thicken from heat pretty quickly.

D-