Ok. I will try to answer as much as I know. I'm kind of a noob, so be easy on me. First, I applied a line across the cores for the Q6600. When I tried to install the fan, I said that isn't going to work, so I took it completely off and saw how the mx-2 looked like after it made contact with the bottom of the fan, and boy it was way too much. So I wiped it off with a piece of towel, and I reapplied, what I did this time was add a thinner strip, and then I got a baseball card and smeared it evenly on the cpu, then I also did the same for the Fan, I smeared mx-2 on the bottom of the fan and then I installed them, after I moved them around together, I got a few bubbles, but I smeared em out and put it back together. Let me tell you something, that fan was a PITA to get on, it took for a good 15-25 minutes, I didn't know if I did it wrong. You have to push down pretty dang HARD. I thought it was going to break something, but I guess I got lucky. As for taking off coolant, I heard rubbing alcohol and a cloth/towel are the best. This fan is huge, I didn't realize how big it was until I got in the mail, it's JI-NOR-MES. lol, also remember that the fins bend easily and not to put pressure on them.