Rads have just come in...how to 'initialize'

[wrenaudrey]

So my rads have come in, well couple hours ago :lol:
What shall i do with them, to 'initialize' them?

I took out some of the protective block heads and looked inside, they look...copperish like, just orange :S

Here are some pics of them/it:

 

[leathart123]

Run some water through them

 

[TheRamJam]

Rinse them throughly with water then rinse again with deionised water

 

[wrenaudrey]

Run some water through them

Rinse them throughly with water then rinse again with deionised water

Normal water? Warm? Boiled? then shake around?
And after deionised water, fully dry out?
Is that right?

 

[S_I_N]

hot water is fine I'd steer clear of boiling it just for safety sakes. but yes do the rad dance with them shaking them about do this several times then rinse with the DI water thoroughly several times as well then drain them completely dried out is up to you I'd let them sit a spell 1-2 hours with the barbed ends down to get most out so your not dripping onto your components while installing them. but completely dried can take hours if not a day to achieve lol

 

[wrenaudrey]

hot water is fine I'd steer clear of boiling it just for safety sakes. but yes do the rad dance with them shaking them about do this several times then rinse with the DI water thoroughly several times as well then drain them completely dried out is up to you I'd let them sit a spell 1-2 hours with the barbed ends down to get most out so your not dripping onto your components while installing them. but completely dried can take hours if not a day to achieve lol

I have probably a week until i my last piece arrives, good idea to 'initialize' them now?
And about the drying, its sunny and warm as hell here in England at the moment, would it be a good idea to let it sit outside in the sun for couple of hours?

 

[SuB]

I warm up (50degC or so) some clear white viniger and fill mine about 2/3rds full. Give a good shake and leave to stand for about 10 minutes. Shake some more and leave to stand the other way up.

Empty and rinse with de-ionised water thoroughly empty and fill 2 or three times.

If the viniger was not completly clear coming out, do it again . You'll see all crap that would otherwise have ended up in your loop once it warms up.

I know some people go ARGH VINIGER but honestly, it's fine. My loop hasn't had an issue at all doing this, and it will strip off any axidisation on your copper rads. Just make sure you thoroughly rinse it out afterwards and you're golden.

I'd do it maybe a day or two before you want to fill the loop personally. Drying isn't ultra essential so long as you make sure you rinse them properly.

Disclaimer: If you put hot viniger in a radiator, it's gonna get hot, because it's a radiator and that's what it should do, don't forget this like I did the first time and go "OH SHIT that's hot!" lol

 

[S_I_N]

I have probably a week until i my last piece arrives, good idea to 'initialize' them now?
And about the drying, its sunny and warm as hell here in England at the moment, would it be a good idea to let it sit outside in the sun for couple of hours?

no don't put them outside unless your 100% sure no bugs will crawl up inside them. As sub mentioned vinegar with the water I've used it before but for cleaning between changes.

I've also been known to use a pump and flush them first one way then the other way.

all your doing is giving them a proper internal cleaning. To make sure you get all the gunk manufacturing can leave behind.

 

[Bartacus]

I just boiled some distilled water, and let it cool down a bit. Fill up rads, plug holes, put on oven mitts, and shake em for several minutes, rotating the rad as I shake it. My Alphacool rads were pretty filthy. Empty the water into a large white bowl and you'd be surprised at the gunk that comes out!

 

[S_I_N]

my alphacool's weren't the worst I have seen but yeah i got a bit out of them as well. I'd have to say my Phoybia's were the worst