Water cooling loop is getting diluted?

[ringmany]

Hi everyone,

I installed a CPU water cooling block a few months ago with:

Raijintek Triton 280mm AIO Water Cooling Solution

It has a red dye to it, which is regular red coolant. It's been working perfectly normal the first few months. A few days ago I noticed that the colour had turned from a dark red to a light brown, then almost transparent. As though it was dirty water.

Here's a photo of what it looked liked when the colour faded:

http://i.imgur.com/dDG39X9.jpg

I've added some more red dye to the loop which has resolved the issue. Here's a photo of the added dye:

http://i.imgur.com/qfJV3aE.jpg

However, it's been a few days and it's slowly started to dilute again. I'm uncertain why it's been perfectly fine for several months but only this past week it's suddenly started doing this. The loop is closed so it isn't leaking. It isn't in direct sunlight.

Does anybody know what may be causing this?

Thank you.

 

[toolmaker_03]

ok think of it more like the solid partials that made the coolant colored, where somewhat liquefied and moving around the water loop, now they have dried out in a way, and are now collecting in the loop on the walls of everything so it appears like the coolant has lost its color.
when I first built the water loop I am on now, I used a clear glow in the dark coolant, and after about 6 months it no longer would glow under a black light.
https://imageshack.com/i/mjwa36j
when I took my loop apart after 8 months, I had this gray goo all over the inside of my loop, I cleaned it all out and have not used any more I use antifreeze in my loops but I wanted to try this stuff out, it looked cool, but what I am getting at is Dye will do the same thing in a water loop.

 

[4Ryan6]

Did the instructions say anything about periodically having to add more dye?

I don't know 100% for sure why it is happening, unless you had also added biocide to it, but you did not say anything about that.

Toolmaker_03s explanation sounds logical and if he is correct I would be getting concerned if any goo is beginning to build up, inside the water block and radiator, like what happened to his setup?

If it is beginning to build up in the water block you should see your load temperatures increasing.

 

[toolmaker_03]

yes, I did see my load temps increase, it was not by much, but a 1C to 2C increase in my load temps, so I knew something had to be causing it.

 

[rubix_1011]

One of the main reasons I don't like coolants or dyes - all the crap that potentially can settle out. I did like the old Swiftech 'green' coolant additive they had years ago. I think it was just similar to automotive coolant, just more diluted, which you then diluted more by adding it to a filled loop. I never had any issues with it and never saw anything inside the pins of my CPU blocks.

 

[4Ryan6]

I've always stayed away from dyes or colored premix, simply because of some of the issues some have experienced. Granted some of those situations came from not reading the fine print, like do not additionally add this, or that to the premix. Dyes could be the safest additive just for looks as they have no other use and certain biocides can tend to fade out the dye if too much biocide is used.

Unfortunately dye can cover a gestating problem inside the coolant that is in most cases obvious in a clear coolant, like distilled water. I keep my loop running all copper so I can run 100% pure steam distilled water and biocide IE: Copper Sulfate, and running it clear if any discoloration even begins to show I know I have a problem to deal with.

If you do not run dissimilar metals you do not need to run any type of anti-freeze, if there is anyone at these forums that probably should be running anti-freeze for the chilled water cooling I run, it's me, and I don't, because it is not needed.

I run a copper loop.

 

[rubix_1011]

The biggest thing to remember is that the more components in the solution, there is higher possibility for them to precipitate out under certain conditions whether that be time, temperature, mixing of additional chemicals, etc.

 

[ringmany]

The biggest thing to remember is that the more components in the solution, there is higher possibility for them to precipitate out under certain conditions whether that be time, temperature, mixing of additional chemicals, etc.

Thanks for the reply,

Sorry for taking so long to response. Unfortunately it appears to be getting worse. It's remained the same colour, got diluted a lot quicker and the temp seems to be rising a little bit. There's also a little bit of condensation on the CPU block itself which is slightly concerning. Not sure if it's supposed to do that.

My CPU is currently at 45 degrees, It's quite hot when hovering my hand above the top vent. Something is building up inside, most likely the solidified particules toolmaker_03 mentioned.

http://i.imgur.com/hBG0BnQ.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/15LYUCC.jpg

This is a closed water loop. Am I supposed to be able to replace the liquid that's inside of them? I read into custom water loops, where you could replace the liquid and fill it up using a pump. Would that be able to work using a closed loop?

 

[ccampy]

If its a closed loop how have you added more dye

 

[ringmany]

If its a closed loop how have you added more dye

There's a small screw in the CPU block itself around 2cm that is used to place a few drops of the dye inside. Shown in this image with the little sticker on the top:

http://goo.gl/N6TeY8

Sorry if I've got my words wrong. I assumed closed meant that it's just a CPU block attached to a radiator that isn't modifiable like a custom water loop.

 

[toolmaker_03]

that system looks like it can be disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, refilled, and reinstalled.

 

[ringmany]

that system looks like it can be disassembled, cleaned, reassembled, refilled, and reinstalled.

I've found a maintenance guide on their channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x76JbLfCSfQ

Do you have a recommendation for any particular kind of coolant to use? I would ideally still prefer a red dye.

 

[toolmaker_03]

well I use antifreeze in all my systems, it is a mix of 60% distilled water, 20% wetter water, and 20% antifreeze.
antifreeze comes in lots of different colors, green, blue, orange, pink, and red.
https://imageshack.com/i/ipfs287aj

 

[ringmany]

well I use antifreeze in all my systems, it is a mix of 60% distilled water, 20% wetter water, and 20% antifreeze.
antifreeze comes in lots of different colors, green, blue, orange, pink, and red.
https://imageshack.com/i/ipfs287aj

Thanks for the reply,

I will have a look at some of the various coolants. So it looks like I can drain my loop, clear with distilled water, then add coolant.

According to the video I then need to use an external PSU as a pump for refill. The CPU loop itself was only £70. It would probably be easier just to buy a new loop. But then I'd miss the satisfaction of re-assembling a fixed loop.

 

[ringmany]

I've purchase 1 Litre of Mayhems Coolant and 500ml of Distilled water.

Originally the distilled water was going to be for cleaning out the old coolant, but I may have a shortage of coolant.

http://www.watercoolinguk.co.uk/p/RAIJINTEK-Triton-Complete-Water-Cooling-Kit-V3-240mm_48514.html?gclid=CjwKEAiAh560BRDu-aD93r-J_zoSJACrxZG2DYbmanAxn6gDjKuzfmfBnDNMEZS4Qq3IsNaUlTdAxRoCCCDw_wcB

In the specifications I thought 350ml volume was how much coolant was in the loop. But I don't believe 1 litre will be enough. Although I can't accurately say as I can't see inside the radiator. Or tell without first pouring the coolant out. Which I'd rather than pour out then realise I don't have enough.

Is it possible to mix my red coolant with distilled water?

 

[toolmaker_03]

yes, you can mix them, but I do not suggest using coolants like mayhems, it will clog the system up like the last coolant did.
if you must use a coolant solution, swiftech makes one I would trust not to clog the system up.
otherwise I suggest using antifreeze from autozone or a place like that.