Nasty white coating on evaporator line: Any concerns?

[Bmachine]

I am dismantling the heater and AC assembly and I need to disconnect the two evaporator lines in the passenger footwell. The lower one is coated with a nasty looking substance, presumably some sort of thermal protection. Is that stuff safe to rip off? In other world, it's not asbestos, is it?

Thank you

 

[Stevehose]

some foam stuff, not asbestos, that's for fire-proofing, cut away

 

[Bmachine]

Thank you Steve.

They used asbestos wrapping around heating ducts in our old house so it must be for thermal as well.

 

[HB Chris]

Be sure and cover with something on new lines or they will become ice cubes

 

[Bmachine]

Good point! Any suggestions on what to use?

 

[HB Chris]

I used a fiber tube that I bought at an auto hose shop. Slip it over lines before you connect them and then zip tie tightly, it came in two diameters. Or spray some of that snot, it was to prevent condensation and ice buildup.

 

[Stevehose]

Ac places sell that same stuff in tape form, it’s cork and tar i think. Wrap it around and it sticks and molds together.