electrical tape use under the hood, where to buy or what type?
 

Factory electrical tape is good stuff, but where to get this stuff. Most of my electrical tape will come apart within months when used under the hood. I suppose from the heat? There are some stuff I like to tape up in my diesel truck for slightly better protection. Where do they get this stuff and what is it called. Normally they look like cloth tape on the outside but they really stay put pretty well under there for a long time. My truck is a 93 and that tape that's on there is still , well on there pretty damn good.

I see some of this stuff on ebay but don't know if its good or not. I bought a small roll from Autozone that seem very much like the ones on ebay or factory, but it came apart in months.

There is a genuine VW tape listed in their parts catalog. It's the cloth tape that's used on the engine wiring loom and the main wiring under/behind the dash.

But it's not cheap... About $12 a roll from memory. (50 meters)

I've also used self amalgamating tape. It reacts and sticks to itself. It really works well.
Also... You can extend the life of standard electricians tape by securing the end with a small zip tie. It stops it unwinding when heated but still not as good as the cloth tape.

Most any hardware store sells good tape. The stuff sold at out lets is crap .

I use this stuff at work for anything that matters.

Scotch Super 33+ Vinyl Electrical Tape :3M US

Scotch Super Vinyl Electrical Tape 88 :3M US

Check an electrical supply house. You MAY find the Super 33+ at a box store

This tape from ECS is great. I use it on my Audi whenever I do electrical work on it. Very sticky and is 100% the same as what is used originally.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-TT_MKI-Quattro-225HP/General_Purpose/Tape/ES10764/

I've picked up what is probably the exact same cloth tape from a Mercedes dealer, not cheap but I think it's made to withstand the heat of the engine bay and it looks correct.

I use a self vulcanizing/amalgamating tape.

Cloth tape sold as friction tape at electrical supply houses.
It'll still unravel on you. Cover it in the Super 33+ mentioned above. It's about the best tape you can buy.
Pull tight as you're wrapping, and relax the tape for the last couple of laps. Pulling tight at the ends will cause the unraveling.

Carter

+2

That is the only electrical tape I use.

Dave

33 is the stuff, I've built entire car harnesses using it and never had an issue. ..... Ever

I get mine from Jaycar.

We use 3m fiberglass tape up to 150C (302f) with no issues. It is great for abrasion and heat resistance.

The 3M that comes in the little plastic box is the good stuff! ;)

Thanks. I knew that would be an easy one for you guys

This is the mistake a lot of people make when using electrical tape... guaranteed to unravel if you stretch it the last couple of turns.

Yeah huh!

Years of electrical work. Maybe more like decades.

BTW, heat/oil will exascerbate the unraveling once it starts.

Carter

$3.98 at Lowes

Shop Scotch Super 33+ 3/4-in x 66-ft Professional Electrical Tape at Lowes.com

Use any kind of electrical tape you have on hand, then once you're done, secure it with either one zip tie centered on the taped area/join, or two zip ties; 1/8 of an inch in from each end of the taped area/join.