Plasticiser, Corrosion, or both? - Cause? Solution?

[eTanium]

About three weeks ago, I updated my BlueIvy build with a 1080, and XSPC 1080 block. At the time, I couldn't find any blue tubing that I liked, and I didn't want to use dyes this time, so I settled for some PrimoFlex Advanced LRT RED tubing.

I didn't like the way the red looked, plus I needed to break down the loop to install some new fans on my radiator, so I took the loop apart last night. To my surprise, I had a lot of discoloration on the tubing, and the fittings (as well as within my blocks/rads, I'm sure).

At first look, the tubing's white discoloration seems like it's Plasticizer, but then there are the fittings, which seem to display a rust color. I knew there would be some Plasticizer leakage, but this much after only a few weeks of running? I'm more concerned with possible corrosion on the fittings, and other components.

Before running the new loop (with the PrimoFlex), I prepped it with the provided SysPrep–Cooling Loop Pre-Treatment. Then I treated the distilled water with PrimoChill Liquid Utopia.

I'm running all Swiftech Lok-Seal Compression Fitting (Chrome).

I have a silver kill coil in the system, as well as the silver fittings that came with the Monsoon reservoir.

I didn't want any downtime on my rig, so I went ahead and scrubbed some of the worse fittings, and then installed new Masterkleer blue tubing. I'm currently flushing the system with vinegar/water solution to try and clean out some of that gunk.


A - So, what is causing this discoloration?

B - How can I fix it?

C - Will running the system with vinegar/distilled water clean this gunk out, or does the system need a full breakdown and scrubbing of components?

D - Has anyone run antifreeze in there systems, without issue? Helps with corrosion, no?

 

[tolagarf]

If I recall, using silver in a loop can interact with copper in negative ways, like corrosion. Can't say I'm an expert on this, but honestly I would just run pre-mixed coolant with biocide and corrosion inhibitor, like the ones from Mayhems or EKWB. But plasticsier usually look like tiny black/green'ish particles, so I'm not sure that's actually what you're experiencing. Anyway Primochill PrimoFlex Advanced LRT hoses just don't do that anyway, I think that's been proven again and again.

 

[SuB]

That looks like rust or electrolysis or some kind of reaction with the kill coil to me. Have any of your chrome fittings worn away?

I know some people swear by killcoils but I've seen a lot of systems cloud up with them, but this kind of brown deposit is worrying.. Can you check the inside of your copper blocks?

Saying that, it's brown.. so would suggest more like something else is being eaten.


Might be worth warm-vinegar'ing your radiators as well.

Doesn't feel like a plasticiser issue, LRT stuff isn't known for doing that (at least not from my research) that looks more like metal / metal salt deposits, especially with the brown colour.

 

[AlienALX]

Can't help too much with this as I don't know what caused it either but recently I bought a EK block from some stig on Ebay and it was full of orange powder. I have no idea what it was or what caused it but it looked just like yours !

It may be pigments of copper? it sure looked like steel rust to me though !

I wonder how long it will be before water cooling becomes completely water free like some car coolants now?

 

[Drider]

Did you happen to check your PH level of the coolant before getting rid of all of it?

I'm running my loop with Mayhem's H2O Pure and 2 drops of PT Nuke. I have a Monsoon silver bullet, and absolutely no issues over a month running now.

I only ask about PH, cause I had quite a shock when I first set my system up with Distilled only to find the PH was at 4 and started eating up my Radiator.

 

[eTanium]

I can't comment on the PH level, no. I figured that the Primo Chill additive would take care of all of that.

I flushed the rads, and the whole system, for that matter, with vinegar, inside, and outside of the case.

I broke the loop down before installing this tubing, and washed everything out, rinsed with distilled water, and assembled the loop with new tubing. I then did the Primo Pre-Loop conditioner with distilled water, flushed that out, and added in the distilled water and Primo Loop Utopia.

There has to be some corrosion going on in there...

I've done dyes in the past, but it's a pain if the system leeks - that stuff gets everywhere and stains.

Also, I've used LRT twice now, and it plasticised both times, heavily.

I'm planning to use PETG tubing for upcoming 2018 build.