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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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  • Ahh, thermal grease thoroughly - that's what OP mean! OK, I see ... May 26, 2016 at 14:15
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    The 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. May 26, 2016 at 14:15
  • Have I done too much harm this way?
    – user593483
    May 26, 2016 at 14:18
  • 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? May 26, 2016 at 14:19

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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.

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