Cleaning and taping engine wires
Thread Starter
Chris
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,287
From: Southern New Jersey
Cleaning and taping engine wires
hello! What is the best thing to use to clean grease and oil and dirt off of my engine wires and cables?? And what kind of tape should I use on the sections wheee the tape is unraveling? Any brands or types you would recommend?
Running On Empty
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 26,225
From: Earth
To clean them, I generally take a shop rag & spray it with some PB Penetrating Catalyst fluid then grab the wire(s) and slide the penetrated rag down the wire(s) several times before a final dry rag.
For restoring the tape or replacing the tape I use a cloth/fabric tape - which is nearly identical to the original electrical wiring tape. Ace Hardware or many hardware stores carry fabric/cloth tape.
There are several brands of electrical wiring loom harness tape on the market; but, the cloth/fabric wiring loom harness tape works the best, IMO.
Additionally, for long runs of wire you want bundled, you can use Cord Protector Wire Loom Tubing Cable. There are various styles and manufacturers of this material.
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...cal-tape/30982
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...l-tape/3585254
For restoring the tape or replacing the tape I use a cloth/fabric tape - which is nearly identical to the original electrical wiring tape. Ace Hardware or many hardware stores carry fabric/cloth tape.
There are several brands of electrical wiring loom harness tape on the market; but, the cloth/fabric wiring loom harness tape works the best, IMO.
Additionally, for long runs of wire you want bundled, you can use Cord Protector Wire Loom Tubing Cable. There are various styles and manufacturers of this material.
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...cal-tape/30982
https://www.acehardware.com/departme...l-tape/3585254
Last edited by Vintage Chief; Nov 18, 2018 at 06:22 PM.
Running On Empty
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 26,225
From: Earth
Here's some of the types of Cord Protector stuff. They make various sizes depending on the number of wires and size of your wires - e.g. 1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1", etc. Just shop around a bit.
https://www.cableorganizer.com/wire-loom/
https://www.cableorganizer.com/wire-loom/
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 536
From: Rainy Washington State
friction tape is the bomb !!!!
sticks to itself .... doesnt come loose under heat.... I like the 3m from home repo
yes ... a rag with some juice on it... GLOVES ...more rags... more juice
power wash ? ..... good ole gas ... then a final wipe with clean gas n rags
old towels with fuzzy stil on em rather than a shop towe l works better ...
no real fast easy way if its still under your hood and your car is immobile
just time n wipen ..... and fresh air ...... tear your towel into 10" squares so its manageable
sticks to itself .... doesnt come loose under heat.... I like the 3m from home repo
yes ... a rag with some juice on it... GLOVES ...more rags... more juice
power wash ? ..... good ole gas ... then a final wipe with clean gas n rags
old towels with fuzzy stil on em rather than a shop towe l works better ...
no real fast easy way if its still under your hood and your car is immobile
just time n wipen ..... and fresh air ...... tear your towel into 10" squares so its manageable
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,972
From: New Mexico
I have used Acetone with great success to clean wires. There is actually 'wire wrapping tape' sold in many places that will give the OEM look to your wire bundles.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,148
From: Plano, TX
I really like Silicone Tape. It used to be impossible to find locally, but now all the auto stores have at least one roll on the shelves. Won't goop up like electrical tape since there's no adhesive. You may have to knot the loose end or go back and trim off the bit that doesn't stick after a few days.
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,815
From: Northern VA
I just use lacquer thinner to clean the wires. Dampen a rag and wipe. So long as you don't soak the wires in lacquer thinner, there is no problem. Been doing this for 40 years now.
As for tape, the factory tape is non-adhesive plastic tape. It gets tied at the ends. Many repro houses sell the correct tape. Whatever you do, do NOT use regular adhesive electrical tape. The adhesive lasts about a month in the underhood heat, at which point it starts to ooze out and forms a horrible, sticky mess. As for the self-fusing silicone tape, just hope you never have to take it apart. There's a reason why the factory used what it did.
As for tape, the factory tape is non-adhesive plastic tape. It gets tied at the ends. Many repro houses sell the correct tape. Whatever you do, do NOT use regular adhesive electrical tape. The adhesive lasts about a month in the underhood heat, at which point it starts to ooze out and forms a horrible, sticky mess. As for the self-fusing silicone tape, just hope you never have to take it apart. There's a reason why the factory used what it did.
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Posts: 18,255
From: Edmond, OK
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 2,972
From: New Mexico
I just use lacquer thinner to clean the wires. Dampen a rag and wipe. So long as you don't soak the wires in lacquer thinner, there is no problem. Been doing this for 40 years now.
As for tape, the factory tape is non-adhesive plastic tape. It gets tied at the ends. Many repro houses sell the correct tape. Whatever you do, do NOT use regular adhesive electrical tape. The adhesive lasts about a month in the underhood heat, at which point it starts to ooze out and forms a horrible, sticky mess. As for the self-fusing silicone tape, just hope you never have to take it apart. There's a reason why the factory used what it did.
As for tape, the factory tape is non-adhesive plastic tape. It gets tied at the ends. Many repro houses sell the correct tape. Whatever you do, do NOT use regular adhesive electrical tape. The adhesive lasts about a month in the underhood heat, at which point it starts to ooze out and forms a horrible, sticky mess. As for the self-fusing silicone tape, just hope you never have to take it apart. There's a reason why the factory used what it did.
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