Question How to prepare a new and a used radiator for use in a Custom Loop

[Imacflier]

Hi, All,

I find myself preparing to build two systems with custom loops (gee, does that prove I am a masochist??) One system will use a new all copper 200mm x 200mm x 85mm NexXxos Monsta radiator in a combined CPU/GPU loop. The other system will employ a used all copper NexXxos 200mm x 200mm x 30mm radiator for a GPU only loop. The radiators and associated fans will be mounted in external cooling towers.

Please review the following proposed flushing/cleaning process for overkill, just plain wrongness, or a 'better way'.

I plan on creating a soft tubing cleaning loop consisting of a submersible acquarium pump feeding the used radiator feeding the new radiator through a coffee filter to catch debris and back to the pump.

I plan on making four cleaning passes.

Pass I: hot tap water with a few drops of Dawn dishwashing soap. Run for 1 hour.

Pass II: White vinegar plus tap water in 1 to 4 ratio. Run for 1 hour.

Pass III: A neutralizing solution of baking soda and tap water, such that the combination of equal volumes of the vinegar solution and the baking soda solution result in a Ph of 7. Run for 1 hour.

Pass IV: Final rinse. Distilled water. Run for 1 hour.

And there you have it. I believe that will both adequately remove any oils or particulate matter from the rads as well as remove any internal corrosion and expose any radiator leakage!

So, what do Y'all think? Good, Bad, Wrong Headed, there is a better way, or "You had best see a professional about your OCD"?

TIA

Larry

 

[Eximo]

I don't see why that wouldn't work. Thorough at least.

Not certain I would run them together. The new one won't have any scale or buildup or anything to remove exactly (just manufacturing debris/flux), so the harsher steps might just prematurely cause a little wear. Probably nothing to worry about though.

 

[Lutfij]

Look into this article;
https://www.titanrig.com/blog/post/...qy8qsAjyYQWpe3MwzwRkqsD_lUvP0KCVIHjnuKy8PAr_F
and subsequently this listing;
https://mayhems.store/mayhems-blitz-complete-radiator-and-system-cleaning-kit.html

I can't seem to find a video from 2012 by WestCoastMods titled XSPC Rad - How To Efficiently Flush A Rad probably got lost in the algorithm(I saved it onto my HDD from way back when) but he shows using a bucket from Home Depot as the res and a garden pond with lengths of tubing to flush any radiator considering that all rads are with G 1/4" fittings. His rig was setup for multiple radiators since those guys built multiple watercooling builds.

 

[Imacflier]

Thanks, Guys,

I am flushing in series just to halve the time I expect to spend doing the flushing. Given the volume and rate the acquarium pump puts out, I am pretty sure any debris from the first (used) radiator will have time to work its way through and out of the new one.

I have the Mayhem's Blitz Radiator Kit in transit, but it does not explicitly deal with neutralizing the cleaning solution, which concerns me. This time I think my process and chemistry will be a more thorough and effective process to use. I will make a final decision about which direction to proceed once I get the kit.

Thank you both, very much, for your inputs (and links) and I will let you know which way I go and what results I obtain.

Larry

 

[Imacflier]

I can't seem to find a video from 2012 by WestCoastMods titled XSPC Rad - How To Efficiently Flush A Rad

Here it is...and it was well worth reading: https://www.google.com/search?q=xsp...AH_gKyBwMwLjG4B3DCBwMyLTHIBwM&sclient=gws-wiz

Larry