Interchangability of Ignition Module
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Interchangability of Ignition Module
I have a spare TFI ignition module (heat sink mount) for a '92 Aerostar 3.0 V6. Will it work in an emergency for the '95 F150 4.9L I6?
The Ford part numbers are almost the same, just the last numeral is a 2 on the Aerostar part and a 1 on the F150.
I'd like to carry it in the pickup as a spare.
The Ford part numbers are almost the same, just the last numeral is a 2 on the Aerostar part and a 1 on the F150.
I'd like to carry it in the pickup as a spare.
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From: Virginia
Go to Online Auto Parts and Auto Accessories Store at PartsAmerica.com and look up a module for both models and see if they are the same part number.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Yeah, I looked it up at the Motorcraft site and they use a shorter part number. It is different.
I suppose it would work in a limp type fashion.
One way to find out is to change them out and try to drive it. Or would that mess something up possibly?
I suppose it would work in a limp type fashion.
One way to find out is to change them out and try to drive it. Or would that mess something up possibly?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Hmmmm, the Motorcraft may be different, but a universal may fit both. Or the Motorcraft may be the same an have different part numbers just because that's how they always did it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Well son of a gun if the F150 didn't puke it's ignition module this morning on the way to work. I threw in the old, good module from the Aerostar and was happily back on my way. Now ain't that a nice turn of events!
I didn't have the right tool so just plugged in the good used module and left it hang, drove home two miles to properly install. It got pretty warm in that two miles. I had no idea the heat sink was that important. ANyway apparentlly didn't ruin it as it is still working. I slathered silicon di-electric grease all over the back and screwed it down firmly. Did rehook the old F150 module and crank as I would it would not start, so pretty conclusive the module went.
I didn't have the right tool so just plugged in the good used module and left it hang, drove home two miles to properly install. It got pretty warm in that two miles. I had no idea the heat sink was that important. ANyway apparentlly didn't ruin it as it is still working. I slathered silicon di-electric grease all over the back and screwed it down firmly. Did rehook the old F150 module and crank as I would it would not start, so pretty conclusive the module went.
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From: Virginia
You may need to do some research on the grease. They have the grease that comes with sparkplug wires and wiring to keep moisture out, and then they have the grease that conducts heat. I am not sure they are interchangeable. Radio Shack may keep the heat sink grease in stock.
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Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Instructions said special silicon grease. The Di-electric says it is silicon. Should work, but your point is valid.
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MSEE
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From: Austin, TX
I am not 100% sure that dielectric grease can't conduct heat like heat sink grease, but I would assume that since dielectric grease is an insulator and can't pass electricity, that it can't pass heat effectively either. I'm not saying it won't work, but I'd agree that you should check into it. Dielectric grease may be lacking some other chemicals that the heat sink grease assumes. Although I must say they both look and feel similar.
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Post Fiend
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From: Metro Detroit (Redford)
Main purpose of di-elec grease in spark plug boot is so the boot won't bake onto the plug enamel, or so I understand it. The heat sink is making contact by force of the module being screwed down to it. The grease apparently is to fill any gaps caused by not pefectly flat surface. The old module on the Aerostar when I took it off had little grease, and what was there was all dried out and more like powder. I think one should re-grease every so often, maybe X years or YYY miles.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Washington
Napa has "heat sink compound" which is the best. It is white in color. I would not risk using the di-electric grease as it does NEED to have a good way to dissipate the heat. The old one most likey failed due to the lack of a good way to remove the heat from the module.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Washington
I have a spare TFI ignition module (heat sink mount) for a '92 Aerostar 3.0 V6. Will it work in an emergency for the '95 F150 4.9L I6?
The Ford part numbers are almost the same, just the last numeral is a 2 on the Aerostar part and a 1 on the F150.
I'd like to carry it in the pickup as a spare.
The Ford part numbers are almost the same, just the last numeral is a 2 on the Aerostar part and a 1 on the F150.
I'd like to carry it in the pickup as a spare.
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From: Virginia
For some reason that does not give me much confidence. I will see if I can find out anything.
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From: Virginia
I got this excerpt out of the following link. The Heatsink Guide - All about PC cooling The keyword I used in my search was "heat sink compound".
What does it consist of? Is it poisonous?
Most standard thermal compound consists of silicone. However, silicone doesn't have a high thermal conductivity, so they also contains zinc oxide to improve this. The zinc oxide also explains its white colour.
High-End thermal compounds are usually silicone-free, and use metal-based additives (e.g. aluminum oxide or nitride, or even pulverized silver!) instead of Zinc Oxide.
I have heard people saying that heat sink compound contained heavy metals and was poisonous. Neither silicone nor zinc oxide are poisonous However, especially with advanced thermal compounds, other ingredients may have been used, and are usually not declared. But despite strict laws on marking poisonous substances in Europe and the US, I have never seen a thermal compound that was marked as poisonous. Still, use common sense, and don't confuse it with tooth paste.
Where to buy it?
Standard (silicone based) compound can be bought at almost any electronics store, including Radio Shack (Cat. No.: 276-1372). The price is in the $2 range. Two grammes should suffice for installing many many heatsinks. High end thermal compounds, with even better thermal conductivities, are available from specialized heatsink retailers; see the "Links" section for details. In the overclocking scene, the ArcticSilver thermal compound is very popular; it is expensive, but provides excellent performance.
I did a search on "dielectric grease" and didn't find much except that it seems it's pure silicone, and used for insulating and waterproofing. I don't think it has any other compounds such as the zinc.
The white grease with the zinc in it is what I am familiar with when someone uses a grease on heat sinks.
What does it consist of? Is it poisonous?
Most standard thermal compound consists of silicone. However, silicone doesn't have a high thermal conductivity, so they also contains zinc oxide to improve this. The zinc oxide also explains its white colour.
High-End thermal compounds are usually silicone-free, and use metal-based additives (e.g. aluminum oxide or nitride, or even pulverized silver!) instead of Zinc Oxide.
I have heard people saying that heat sink compound contained heavy metals and was poisonous. Neither silicone nor zinc oxide are poisonous However, especially with advanced thermal compounds, other ingredients may have been used, and are usually not declared. But despite strict laws on marking poisonous substances in Europe and the US, I have never seen a thermal compound that was marked as poisonous. Still, use common sense, and don't confuse it with tooth paste.
Where to buy it?
Standard (silicone based) compound can be bought at almost any electronics store, including Radio Shack (Cat. No.: 276-1372). The price is in the $2 range. Two grammes should suffice for installing many many heatsinks. High end thermal compounds, with even better thermal conductivities, are available from specialized heatsink retailers; see the "Links" section for details. In the overclocking scene, the ArcticSilver thermal compound is very popular; it is expensive, but provides excellent performance.
I did a search on "dielectric grease" and didn't find much except that it seems it's pure silicone, and used for insulating and waterproofing. I don't think it has any other compounds such as the zinc.
The white grease with the zinc in it is what I am familiar with when someone uses a grease on heat sinks.