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One automotive trend that we are not excited about is the introduction of cheap parts. Although these works are cheap, they are of poor quality. An old saying, "you get what you pay for", immediately came to mind.

If you check Amazon or eBay, you will find that various products are much cheaper than their brand-name products. You can find low-priced items such as steel braided hoses, joints, throttle bodies and intake manifolds. The part we want to focus on is the LS-swap harness, more specifically, the TXL wire.

Recently, we made a complete article with the help of BP Automotive, specifically discussing the issue of these cheap wiring harnesses. Although we did mention the TXL wiring, we did not go into details. In the video above, Bil Hillock, owner of BP Automotive, introduced us to one of the dangers of not using TXL wiring under the hood of a car. Just use a heat gun and a few seconds of exposure time, and the main thread will start to bubble and melt. Since there are no fusible wires in the wiring harness, if the wires are short-circuited, the possibility of your car being burned due to an electrical fire is very high. Then, Bill ran the same test on the TXL line without any accidents.

But what is the TXL line and what is its application?

According to the Del City website, “TXL wire is a stranded, bare copper, special-purpose automotive wire, insulated with chemically cross-linked polyethylene. The thin-walled insulation layer has a smooth surface and is available in a variety of bright colors. TXL wire is moisture-resistant , Resistant to most solvents, and can withstand extreme temperatures. These characteristics make TXL cross-linked wire an ideal choice for engine compartment applications that require higher heat resistance.

When the smallest diameter and weight are required, this special-purpose wire can be used in cars, boats, buses, tractors, and most other applications that include engines. Specifications range from 22 to 8 specifications, with various spool sizes. For applications or projects with heat-resistant requirements and minimum wiring space or capacity, the Cross-Link TXL cable is the perfect solution. "

Although some cheaper primary wires are still resistant to humidity and certain chemicals, they lack temperature ratings. TXL wires are rated at -59.8 degrees Fahrenheit to 257 degrees Fahrenheit. The high-quality primary wire is rated at -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 176 degrees Fahrenheit, which is far below the operating range of most engines. Although the low temperature grades between the two are quite close, the high temperature grades are not. 81 degrees may sound the same, but when the wires need to be routed around the exhaust pipe and the starter, it is needed.

Look at it this way, if General Motors or any other automaker can save money safely using cheaper wires, they will. However, since they all use TXL wires under the vehicle's hood, you probably should do the same. Next time you buy LS-swap harnesses in the market, please keep this in mind and remember that there is a reason why they are cheap.

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