Nice tip!  I will do this.
Thanks much!
TEMiller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike D." <md03@XOCHI.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 12:25 AM
Subject: Re: Another fridge question

> >Subject: Re: Another fridge question
>
> This is a "must-do" mod for anyone with a fridge:
> -mike
>
> I had an 85 with a Dometic that would barely get cold.  Turns out
> they have a common problem:  The radiator fin assembly inside is
> press fit onto a tube, with a layer of thermal paste between the two.
> The paste dries up and stops working (and I suspect there have also
> been improvements in thermal conductive paste technology in the past
> 20 years).
>
> Procedure is as follows (for an 85, YMMV):
>
> 1. But two 1/4 ounce tubes of thermal conductive paste (aka "heat
> sink paste" or "heat sink compound") from RadioShack.
> 2. Pull off the radiator fins.  It is press fit, can be tight, but
> should pull off with a little muscle.
> 3. You should see some old, dried up looking paste on the fins and
> the cold tube.  Clean this off.  I used hot water, my fingernails and
> a washcloth.
> 4. Liberally apply the thermal paste.  I used two full 1/4 ounce
> tubes and that seemed about the right amount.  Try to make sure the
> paste is spread evenly without bubbles.
> 5. Press the fins back on, taking care to put the thermocouple back
> in the groove in the fins.
>
> Total time : about 20 minutes
> Total cost : about $6
>
> After this mod, the fins now get nice & frosty, and it has no trouble
> keeping a reasonable temperature.
>
> I also added a 12v matchbook-size fan to circulate air inside the
> fridge, but rarely use it.   The biggest improvement came with
> replacing the heat sink paste.
>
> -mike
>