Heat shrink tubing

Dangeranger3 · 09-01-2007, 10:43 AM

Has anyone here ever used heat shrink tubing to repair a vacuum line? My PCV line is busted and its a crappy plastic piece that I think I will have to get the whole thing from the dealer

almostclueless · 09-01-2007, 10:48 AM

Unless space is a concern, cutting the plastic line and using an ordinary vacuum hose between the ends should work fine. Ford was just being cheap so they could continue paying their execs too much money IMO.

Dangeranger3 · 09-01-2007, 10:54 AM

Actually this is on the devil chevy lumina I been workin on. I called the dealer and its $108 for 3 little pieces of plastic. The plastic hose connects to a plastic T and broke off inside it. So I'm gonna try the heat shrink method to patch up this piece.

Dangeranger3 · 09-01-2007, 12:44 PM

The heat shrink worked like a charm after goin to 2 dif stores to get it. Even though one end was on 1/2 in and the othe end on 3/8 it sealed up just fine. Now as long as it holds...

**jetcjcski** · 09-01-2007, 08:18 PM

sounds like a good idea to me, i probably wouldnt have thought of it

**MAKG** · 09-01-2007, 08:48 PM

Yeah, I'd be concerned about longevity. Heat shrink assumes there is a nice stiff wire inside holding it together....

There is nothing wrong with replacing the hard line completely with flexible vacuum line (in bulk), or with making patches out of that (BTDT).

**AllanD** · 09-01-2007, 11:50 PM

The heavier type of heat shrink with the hot melt glue inside it works great for sealing the little plastic "spagetti" lines....

Polyolefin plastic is neat stuff...

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09-01-2007, 10:43 AM	#1
Dangeranger3 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Peoria, IL Year: 1989 Make: Ford Model: F350 Engine: 420 Class: 2WD Posts: 621 Rep Power: 13 iTrader: (3)	Heat shrink tubing Has anyone here ever used heat shrink tubing to repair a vacuum line? My PCV line is busted and its a crappy plastic piece that I think I will have to get the whole thing from the dealer __________________ 89 Longbed, reg cab, 5 spd, 2.9, 2wd, lockrite, 33's My rig is no more 87 F350, 6.9 IDI, 5 spd, 2wd, reg cab, utility bed, DRW, 4.10 LS
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09-01-2007, 10:48 AM	#2
almostclueless Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Year: 98 Make: ford Model: ranger Posts: 1,404 Rep Power: 14 iTrader: (0)	Unless space is a concern, cutting the plastic line and using an ordinary vacuum hose between the ends should work fine. Ford was just being cheap so they could continue paying their execs too much money IMO.
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09-01-2007, 10:54 AM	#3
Dangeranger3 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Peoria, IL Year: 1989 Make: Ford Model: F350 Engine: 420 Class: 2WD Posts: 621 Rep Power: 13 iTrader: (3)	Actually this is on the devil chevy lumina I been workin on. I called the dealer and its $108 for 3 little pieces of plastic. The plastic hose connects to a plastic T and broke off inside it. So I'm gonna try the heat shrink method to patch up this piece. __________________ 89 Longbed, reg cab, 5 spd, 2.9, 2wd, lockrite, 33's My rig is no more 87 F350, 6.9 IDI, 5 spd, 2wd, reg cab, utility bed, DRW, 4.10 LS
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09-01-2007, 12:44 PM	#4
Dangeranger3 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Peoria, IL Year: 1989 Make: Ford Model: F350 Engine: 420 Class: 2WD Posts: 621 Rep Power: 13 iTrader: (3)	The heat shrink worked like a charm after goin to 2 dif stores to get it. Even though one end was on 1/2 in and the othe end on 3/8 it sealed up just fine. Now as long as it holds... __________________ 89 Longbed, reg cab, 5 spd, 2.9, 2wd, lockrite, 33's My rig is no more 87 F350, 6.9 IDI, 5 spd, 2wd, reg cab, utility bed, DRW, 4.10 LS
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09-01-2007, 08:18 PM	#5
jetcjcski July STOTM Winner Join Date: Aug 2007 Year: 1994 Make: Mazda Model: B3000 Posts: 33 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	sounds like a good idea to me, i probably wouldnt have thought of it
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09-01-2007, 08:48 PM	#6
MAKG RBV Technical Advisor Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: California central coast Year: 1991 Make: Ford Model: Explorer Engine: 4.0L Class: 4x4 Posts: 4,643 Rep Power: 21 iTrader: (0)	Yeah, I'd be concerned about longevity. Heat shrink assumes there is a nice stiff wire inside holding it together.... There is nothing wrong with replacing the hard line completely with flexible vacuum line (in bulk), or with making patches out of that (BTDT). __________________ 1990 VW Jetta GL, 1.8L 8V gasoline engine, manual transmission, painted in oxidized red paint and ponderosa pine sap, unknown mileage. 1991 Exploder, 4.0L, M5OD-R1 manual transmission, electronic BW1354 transfer case, 3.54 gears, 31 inch tires, icky two-tone blue paint with little clear coat, 230K miles. 1972 Chevy C-10, 250 I-6, SM465 (2WD) four-on-the-floor, 3.73 gears in a GM 12-bolt, puke green with a white cab. The "4 wheeled trash can," with x70K miles. x is probably 2.
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09-01-2007, 11:50 PM	#7
AllanD RBV Technical Advisor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East-Central Pennsylvania Year: 1987... sorta Make: Ford Model: Ranger Supercab Engine: '93 4.0 Class: 4x4 Used For: Roadtrip Warrior Posts: 7,168 Rep Power: 47 iTrader: (18)	The heavier type of heat shrink with the hot melt glue inside it works great for sealing the little plastic "spagetti" lines.... Polyolefin plastic is neat stuff... AD __________________ Gun Control - A theory espoused by some monumentally stupid people; who claim to believe, against all logic and common sense, that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from robbing, raping, kidnapping, torturing and killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them that they cannot own a gun.
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