How can I be sure I've removed the old thermal grease thoroughly?

1

How can you be sure that you've removed the old thermal grease thoroughly?

I've been rubbing old thermal grease from the heat sink for a day now with isopropyl, and still a black residue appears on the cotton balls.

Does this mean I have removed all of the thermal grease from the heatsink?

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user593483

Posted 2016-05-26T14:03:35.780

Reputation: 17

Ahh, thermal grease thoroughly - that's what OP mean! OK, I see ... – duDE – 2016-05-26T14:15:51.373

1The black marks may actually be aluminium oxidation from the rubbing alcohol, you're rubbing off aluminum. ;) If you can't see any thermal compound on the heatsink, then you've pretty much removed it all. – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2016-05-26T14:15:53.893

Have I done too much harm this way? – user593483 – 2016-05-26T14:18:17.073

Most likely not, you'd have to rub for quite awhile to remove enough aluminum to make a noticeable difference. Can you post a picture of the bottom of your heat sink? – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2016-05-26T14:19:12.127

Answers

1

Black is the aluminum coming off, it will do that forever as long as you want to rub on it. Stop cleaning and put some thermal paste on it.

Moab

Posted 2016-05-26T14:03:35.780

Reputation: 54 203

Asked: 2016-05-26T14:03:35.780

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Active: 2016-05-27T20:03:01.900