Cleaning second hand watercooling gear.

[corban]

Ive recent purchased from different sources some watercooling gear , its all second hand but in good condition and working order. I want to clean it completely as some of it i can see residue from previous coloured fluids in etc.

What is the best way to clean this ? can i leave it soaking in warm soapy water overnight ? as that would be my first thought as to how to clean it.

Many thanks

 

[daniSAUR]

Get some cheap deionised water from halfords, pop it in an emptied kettle and boil it. Pour it into your blocks and such. Don't use normal water as it'll erode the parts.

 

[S_I_N]

you can flush it with normal water no prob just make sure you flush it good with distilled as well. Thats why most just say di water to start with, saves the second flush.

 

[corban]

My link

This is what im finding on closer inspection , should i be concerned ?

 

[Ralm]

you can flush it with normal water no prob just make sure you flush it good with distilled as well. Thats why most just say di water to start with, saves the second flush.

Sorry to bring this thread up, but my question is similar and I though would be better then creating a new one.

So I just got my new watercooling parts and I was wondering if I should clean them first although they are new. I know that most of the people recommend DI water but I made the mistake of not ordering some from specialtech and now I cant seem to get it anywhere here.

Can I use normal distilled water only then? Should I take the CPU block apart? For a beginner maybe its not recommended no?

Thanks.

 

[Bowerz]

Also interested in the above question

 

[Perturabo]

Distilled doesn't remove the ions that are really the problem in a loop. So I would say you should probably try and find some DI. Taking the block apart usually isnt too difficult, just a few bolts and making sure the seal is in place. It is good to have a quick look inside anyway just incase.

If you are struggling to find DI try some garages, I think DI is used to top up car batteries so they should sell it.

 

[Timeless]

You don't remove ions with flushing.
The ions come from the metals in your loop and will keep coming no matter what you use to clean or what cooling liquid you use.
DI water will become ionized pretty quickly and you can't stop that.

The reason you use DI or distilled water as a final flush after using normal tap water has more to do with the possibility of algae in your loop.

The new parts you really need to clean out first are rads. It won't hurt to clean everything but it's not necessary to open up new blocks cause you can make them leak if you don't close them perfectly again.

 

[Perturabo]

I was talking about the ions in the water, as in what you add, not the ions in the loop. The ones in the loop dont matter its other things you add that do as they can react.

 

[Ralm]

Hi there back guys.

For some reason the forun didnt notify me about the new replies so I didnt manage to see them before I mount my loop.

Anyway, I decided to my self to just use distilled water since it was what I have super handy around here and it very cheap. And here in portugal people use mostly distilled water to fill up old car batteries.

In the process I contacted Mayhems to get they opinion and this was thier response:

Question:
Hi there, I bought a bottle of pastel blue berry and you recommended to clean the parts before filling the system. All the parts are new but we never know right? The problem is that I dont have DI water. Will Distilled water do a good job too? Or should I get something else? Thanks, Ralms.

Answer:
Distilled is better than DI so yes you can use that J.

Michael L Wood
Partner / Support

So I seem to have done a good thing. I clean up the parts, set it up. I was crying I didnt had 45 and a 90 (no money lol) but everything is working in place.

With my processor Im getting Max temps: 42,44,36,35,40,37 Cº on a 10min Prime in-Large FFTs (its still running as I write this.) with the CPU at 4GHz with 1.26v.

Time to overclock this bad boy =)

thanks

 

[SuB]

Okay a few questions in here Firstly new kit, I always flush with heated clear vineger (especially radiators) you'll see why after your first flush, it'l probably be blue! (both mine were)

I usually do this twice, Heat a pan of said vinegar so it's hot to the touch (don't boil it) pour in. Seal radiator shake and allow it to move around quite a bit. and leave it for 15 minutes laid down.

empty and repeat above but lay on other side.

Pickup some DI water from halfords (it's cheap enough in a 5L tub) and flush through the rads with this. TBH there really isn't a practical difference between DI and Distilled water (nothing that won't be 'contaminated' the moment it touched metals inside your loop/you/plastics/tubing anyway).

Flush the components thoroughly with your water and empty, don't worry about getting every last drop out.

Mayhems Pastel is made using DI water anyway I believe (at least that's what it says on my conc. bottle here).

But I see you've pretty much sorted it So good for you!

 

[Ralm]

Okay a few questions in here Firstly new kit, I always flush with heated clear vineger (especially radiators) you'll see why after your first flush, it'l probably be blue! ...

WoW that is interesting, I would love to know that before so I could give it a try =(

But yea its working and hopefully will do a good job for a while.

xD

 

[Timeless]

Don't use pure vinegar, that's way too strong.
It will take off the oxidized top layer of the copper and the fresh surface will oxidize again very quickly. You can use vinegar to clean copper cooking pans or coins but remember that the copper tubes in a rad are really thin so you don't want to remove any copper.
In the past vinegar was also ok to remove oil based residue flux from the welding but nowadays they use water based flux so if you clean your rads use boiling water. Fill it, shake it and repeat till the water that comes out is clean.
You can add a splash of vinegar in the beginning if you really want to but never use it pure.

 

[SuB]

Yeah my xspc flush came out a very icky cloudy blue for at least 3 flushes...

 

[Bowerz]

Just flushes my EX240 rad, not much came out. First was with 1/5 white vinigar and boiling water. Shook for on minute then left for 20 minutes. Then flushed with just boiling water, then flushed with DI water twice to get rid of any nasties left from the plane tap water.

 

[SuB]

Sounds good to me

Perhaps mine was luck of the draw? (or it took a yicky oxidized layer off)