What goes under the HEI module?

[vandelay industries]

i'm trying to figure out what goes underneath the HEI module?

i'm not concerned about what "should" go underneath----i've heard "white thermal compound"/silicone heat sink/dielectric grease etc.

i want to know what GM put underneath there, from the factory. And, if so, what is the part # if available. If not, what is an aftermarket equivalent

If you can determine what GM used, from the factory, and can prove it i will make a "sizeable donation" to the site.

Thank you.

 

[sreidmx]

Go to radio shack or best buy and look for thermal compound its for processors in pcs, they have the stuff in a syringe. It's purpose is to pull heat from electronics.

 

[Kain]

http://www.radioshack.com/heat-sink-grease-6g/2761372.html#.VHuihzHF9J0

http://www.amazon.com/Startech-Heatsink-Thermal-Transfer-Compound/dp/B0000512R7?tag=dogpile-20

 

[Fordum]

No idea what GM used, but I would not want to use it today. With the computer and electronic industry's fight with heat, I assure you that the stuff they use under CPUs is many times more efficient that what they used in the 1980s.

DO NOT use dielectric grease. It is not heatsink compound, and might actually make things worse.
Many heatsink compound contain dielectric grease, but they also have the necessary additives to help conduct the heat from the module to the heat sink.

Also, in most cases the thinner the better. Heatsink compound is not as good as solid metal to metal contact for transferring heat.
Its purpose is to fill the always present gaps that are there because neither surface is perfectly flat.
So, where ever the high spots touch, you don't want the compound getting in the way.

Most any good brand name heat sink compound will work. I tend to use Arctic Silver for most of my more critical applications in electronics work.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/#

But good old zinc oxide from Radio Shack will probably do just as good in this application.
And will probably be closest to what was under there originally.

 

[4xcrazy]

Every time I've pulled a factory module out, it had the white thermal grease under it.

Odd that all of the newer replacements use dielectric grease though.

I still hunt down the thermal stuff though, don't use the stuff that comes in the package with a new module, unless it's actual white thermal stuff.

Can't absolutely prove it, as it's not something I've thought about taking a picture of when removing it.

 

[vandelay industries]

Based on the logic of the need to transfer heat, i think i can accept everyone's answer as sufficient.

Please give me time to become a "real" member and to also make a contribution to the site as i'm real busy these days for some reason(?) Maybe this is what happens when you work full time?