How to maintain your liquid cooling system

[zer0]

I thought I might as well get this out of the way for everyone and ask.



How do you maintain your liquid cooling system to keep it running at top performance and looking good?


(possible sticky?)

[Pug]

There's not a lot to it, tbh. The most important step is the first one... :magic:

Build it right, using quality parts.
Top it up occasionally and blow dust out of the rad, as necessary.
Enjoy. ^^ has worked for me for years, anyway. :shrug:

[jaguarking11]

I totaly agree with pug. My loop ran for a year before I emptied it and took a look at the components. I mainly disasembled it to upgrade the cpu as well as being curious how the alu top on my cpu block has aged. Looks brand new and no corrosion.


As for toping it off, it depends on the components. I didnt need toping off at all, so thats a good sign.

Personaly the thing that can make or break a loop is the water used and aditives used. For example If I could I would have a 100% copper loop with a small porus bag of silver shavings in my res to provide anti alge reaction.

[CandyKid]

Question... how much can you top-off before it becomes a good idea to add more glycol?

i.e. every time you 'top off' aren't you diluting the solution since, if it lost water, it probably lost additives as well?

PLUR
CK

[ỒĊBłůē]

^ I top-up with a premix of distilled water and AC Fuid :thumb:

[Pug]

Question... how much can you top-off before it becomes a good idea to add more glycol?

i.e. every time you 'top off' aren't you diluting the solution since, if it lost water, it probably lost additives as well?

PLUR
CK
Not necessarily but, like Russ, I have a bottle of premixed fluid (well, several, depending on dye colour of whichever rig it's for...).

[AWACS]

I've had my loop into bits only twice and that was when a plexi cracked and later when swapping to another case and reintroducing the block that broke after I got the replacement parts for it. after that only giving it some pre mixed water and ac-fluid once in a while that I have in a bottle to counter the evaporative effect that every tube has... none of them are 100% sealed as the plastic material is as known slightly porous letting some water evaporate. else it has been running for a year soon. no bigger maintenace seems to be needed.

I use all AC stuff so I do have a mixed aluminium - copper loop.

[Broken]

I have a quick question. I already asked George from Alphacool and he gave me some good tips. I was using Alphacool TEC UV Red fluid and it kind of stained everything a redish color. I was planning on taking everything apart tomoroow to swap my EK block for the Alphacool OTC-Flat 8800GTX block and taking the blocks apart and cleaning them with a toothbruch. George recommended White vinnegar and a little salt for the copper parts, but what about the Acrylic? And is it really necessary to dissmantle everything? Couldn't I just run some White Vinnegar through my loop and fluch it a couple times or would this hurt the acrylic? I am replacing the fluid with the FesserView mixed with clear Alpha TEC, one loop will be UV Purple, the other UV Blue.


Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[Pug]

He gave good advice (well, we use bicarbonate of soda, rather than salt).
Vinegar attacks plastics and can give rise to cracks. :nono:

[jaguarking11]

If your after loop clenlines though I would recomend dark non translucent tubes. It keeps the bacteria growth at bay.

[Broken]

I don't really have a bacteria problem, it is just the Alphacool fluid stained everything a reddish color.....


Thanks for the heads up. I am just going to replace the tubing anyways, 20' for $6 at Home Depot. I think I can spring that.
:)

So basically, just used plain water and maybe a little non abrasive dish soap to clean the poly tops and the bullseye res.


Thanks.