Thermal Grease
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Thermal Grease
I'm a little confused perhaps ya'll can straighten this out. I've seen references to thermal grease when installing an ignition coil module that the back plate is coated for cooling purposes.
Someone indicated that dielectric grease/silicone grease is not the same thing. I've looked at several electronics places and thermal grease such as used to cool cpu's is not so easy to get. Then I read in the service manual that "If a new bracket is installed, a package of silicone grease for cooling is provided. Spread grease on metal face of bracket before installation."
And there is a figure on the next page for the J models which shows application of dielectric grease in 4 .25 gram blobs before installation.
So my question is, isn't dielectric grease an equivalent use product for coating these brackets for cooling purposes? Sounds like it from the manuals.
thanks in advance.
Someone indicated that dielectric grease/silicone grease is not the same thing. I've looked at several electronics places and thermal grease such as used to cool cpu's is not so easy to get. Then I read in the service manual that "If a new bracket is installed, a package of silicone grease for cooling is provided. Spread grease on metal face of bracket before installation."
And there is a figure on the next page for the J models which shows application of dielectric grease in 4 .25 gram blobs before installation.
So my question is, isn't dielectric grease an equivalent use product for coating these brackets for cooling purposes? Sounds like it from the manuals.
thanks in advance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 5
From: Howard PA
I always throw that stuff away and use the regular white messy stuff you can't wipe off you hands.
I just feel more comfortable with regular heatsink compound. That dielectric stuff to me just seems like it would be a poor heat conductor.
I just feel more comfortable with regular heatsink compound. That dielectric stuff to me just seems like it would be a poor heat conductor.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Dielectric grease does not have powdered silica in it like the white heat sink grease does and therefore it does not conduct heat as well. Use the heat sink grease!!! Radio Shack sells it.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
Originally Posted by jfb
Dielectric grease does not have powdered silica in it like the white heat sink grease does and therefore it does not conduct heat as well. Use the heat sink grease!!! Radio Shack sells it.
Seems if one put a good heat conductor material on it, would that transfer heat from the block to the little bracket.
I'm trying to understand this better.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,923
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From: GA
Originally Posted by 93JetJocky
.
So my question is, isn't dielectric grease an equivalent use product for coating these brackets for cooling purposes? Sounds like it from the manuals.
So my question is, isn't dielectric grease an equivalent use product for coating these brackets for cooling purposes? Sounds like it from the manuals.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,137
Likes: 5
From: Howard PA
What are the engineers options? Use no heatsink at all and the switching device in the module will incinerate itself. Or heatsink it to an object whether it gets hot or not but will dissapate the heat from the module to a certain extent making it live.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
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From: Lake Mary Florida
Originally Posted by Morley
NO! They are not the same in any way, shape or form. The "grease" supplied with the ignition modules is not regular dielectric grease, it is a special grease that acts like heatsink compound. If you use regular dielectric grease you'll be buying a new module in a month or less.
Which explains why it says if your replacing the bracket with a new one then it will come with the special grease. But if your just removing the assembly to remove the coil and replace, then preserve the grease on the back and just re-install it.
[Edit] ...later well things aren't always they way the're suppose to be. Removed the assy and mine had no thermal grease. Dry as a bone and someone else had been in there before as the lower ps reservoir bracket bolts looked like they had been through abuse. So I did put a little dielectric on it temporarily until I can get to radio shack to pick up this thermal grease. Should be a 15 min job to pull it back off and clean - apply some of that. Mine sure was a dirty mess, and until removed you wouldn't have noticed it.
Thanks for the help.
Last edited by 93JetJocky; May 26, 2005 at 07:42 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,491
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From: prescott AZ
When rebuilding an alternator thermal grease is used between the alt. body and the finned heat sink to transfer heat to the sink. The best thermal grease and the only one you really should use is the copper colored grease (with powdered copper) that transfers heat the best. This type of grease is totally different than dielectric grease. You might find it in an aviation supply shop as these guys like to use the best for some strange reason ( like their anti-seize for spark plugs that transfers full current unlike regular anti-seize <which will work but not for max. effect>).
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Originally Posted by Morley
NO! They are not the same in any way, shape or form. The "grease" supplied with the ignition modules is not regular dielectric grease, it is a special grease that acts like heatsink compound. If you use regular dielectric grease you'll be buying a new module in a month or less.
Correctomundo.
Dielectric grease has one purpose; it is an electrical insulator.
HS compound has one purpose: it is a thermal conductor.
Use the right tool for the job, folks....and don't try to outsmart the engineers. Generally, they know what they are doing.
Larry
code5coupe
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 165
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From: Middleburg Florida
Originally Posted by 93JetJocky
Ok I've found two products at Radio Shack: Heat Sink Compound and Insulating grease.
Which one is thermal grease?
Which one is thermal grease?
You want the heatsink compound. I use the same Radio Shack product on DC-DC converters in some equipment that I maintain. Helps dissipate the heat to the chassis better than just dry contact between the two. Insulating grease would hold it in the converters and smoke-check the power supply board that they are mounted on.
