dialectic grease same as thermal grease?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
dialectic grease same as thermal grease?
Anybody here know if dialectic grease and thermal grease are the same? I'm pretty positive I need thermal grease for the ignition module. Guy at kragen says you can use dialectic grease on/for the ignition module. Is there a difference? I'm pretty sure thermal grease is for heat transfer and dialectic grease is for anti-corrosion. Guy at kragen recommends using dialectic grease though and it'll be fine. He says he's been working there for four years and he wouldn't tell me to use it if he knew it wouldn't work. He's probably right but I thought I would check here to be sure.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 1
From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
Yes, there is a big difference.
Dielectric grease is a non conductive coating intended to inhibit corrosion.
Thermal grease is generally non conductive, but it's real purpose is to conduct heat.
Dielectric grease is a non conductive coating intended to inhibit corrosion.
Thermal grease is generally non conductive, but it's real purpose is to conduct heat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
This was discussed here a while back and some interesting points came out. In the case of your ignition module any electrical engineer would recommend the heat sink thermally conductive white grease for reassembly to the coil. Here's the sticking point: we believe for whatever reason the factory originally used dialectric grease and this is what the factory service manual also recommends anytime the unit is disassembled and serviced.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
This was discussed here a while back and some interesting points came out. In the case of your ignition module any electrical engineer would recommend the heat sink thermally conductive white grease for reassembly to the coil. Here's the sticking point: we believe for whatever reason the factory originally used dialectric grease and this is what the factory service manual also recommends anytime the unit is disassembled and serviced.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
I have a extra LARGE tube of the thermal grease if you need some. I have a shop in the San Leandro area off Williams Street. Send me a PM or email and we can arrange for you to pick this up.
John
John
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 439
Likes: 0
From: I am the chick magnet. not the corvette.
Thanks John, I already picked some dialectic grease from kragen. Nice to hear that you have a shop, what kind of work do you guys do?
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
Likes: 25
From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
This was discussed here a while back and some interesting points came out. In the case of your ignition module any electrical engineer would recommend the heat sink thermally conductive white grease for reassembly to the coil. Here's the sticking point: we believe for whatever reason the factory originally used dialectric grease and this is what the factory service manual also recommends anytime the unit is disassembled and serviced.
I think on my Ford the ignition module came with some sort of white lithium grease. Is that thermal or just dielectric?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,097
Likes: 1,724
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I just replaced mine, it comes with some white thermal grease in the box. I thought about the need for dielectric too...but put that stuff all over it anyway.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 19
From: CLT, North Carolina
New GM part or aftermarket replacement? Maybe they come with the right stuff now or perhaps at least other brands of replacement parts do. I had my 96 apart recently and it looked like dialectric grease under the module to me. You want to conduct heat away from the module and into the aluminum heat sink and thermal grease would be the right stuff for this application. Save the dialectric grease for your plug wire connectors and your weatherstrips.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
You really want the thermal grease. 
with Greg.
I do special precast concrete and steel fab work. I built my own "test pipe" and 2-1/2" cat back exhaust w/mufflers. I also made my own camber brace that easily bolts in and out to give easy access to front of the engine if needed.
With the test pipe and under drive pulleys I ran a 13.6 on street tires in February down from 14.1 last year. I will be adding the cat back, test pipe and drag radials this weekend and trailer the car to Corvette Magic in Sacramento on the 3rd to see what the car will do currently.
with Greg.I do special precast concrete and steel fab work. I built my own "test pipe" and 2-1/2" cat back exhaust w/mufflers. I also made my own camber brace that easily bolts in and out to give easy access to front of the engine if needed.
With the test pipe and under drive pulleys I ran a 13.6 on street tires in February down from 14.1 last year. I will be adding the cat back, test pipe and drag radials this weekend and trailer the car to Corvette Magic in Sacramento on the 3rd to see what the car will do currently.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Larry
code5coupe
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 1
From: Cuyahoga Falls Ohio
