why leaks happen in water cooling ?
- Thread starter bp8401363
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ThatVietGuy
Titan
- Nov 6, 2007
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It's either a break in the line or a leak due to improperly fitted fittings.
Only way to prevent it is to install it properly.
Only way to prevent it is to install it properly.
4Ryan6
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- Apr 14, 2002
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This is in relation to a custom built traditional water cooling loop.
Leakage today is not a cooling hardware problem, because all the water cooling components are leak tested before they ever leave the factory, leaking is an installer problem!
Most causes are simply not tightening the seal of the O-Ring fittings some only finger tighten them but that is not enough to withstand normal expansion and contraction and counter clockwise tubing pressure.
What is needed is tighten the fitting as much as possible with your fingers then wrench tighten an additional 1/4 ~ 1/2 turn, but no more than 1/2 turn, you do not want to strip the G1/4 threads.
Tubing routing can sometimes put either counterclockwise (untightening) or clockwise (tightening) pressure on the fitting, make sure if that happens you control that by a slight twist of the tubing and only allow clockwise pressure against the fitting.
Then expansion and contraction won't matter because the tubing will always be applying slight tightening pressure to the fitting.
Other leak possibilities come from not tightening hose clamps enough when using flex tubing over barbed fittings, you do not want to Gorilla the clamp as you can strip out it's thread or cause it to cut into the tubing, but it has to be snug enough not to leak.
And the compression style fittings can be affected by expansion and contraction as well and occasionally a finger tightening check is a good maintenance habit, and regarding compression fittings for flexible tubing, they only work with certain types of tubing they will not work with plasticizer-free tubing, so only use barbed fittings for plasticizer-free tubing.
Before you put the system into the actual operation of cooling the computer you will leak test the entire loop for hours, with the pump powered individually with your power supply, this is to discover and fix any leaks in the loop before you actually energize the system and put the computer into operation.
So even if you have a leak from the installation the leak test will reveal where it is, and you will fix it, and once the loop is tested leak free and your installation errors are all resolved, then the system goes into operation leak free, and the possibilities of a leak ever developing after the leak testing are very, very, very, rare.
The leaking mumbo jumbo is just fear of the unknown, with today's water cooling hardware it is really a thing of the past.
synphul
Champion
- Mar 11, 2011
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It's true that leaking isn't really common but is still a possibility. Even with pre made aio's. With custom built cooling loops it's usually assembly error by the user, with aio's it would more likely be a manufacturing defect. Any number of things can happen from a weak spot in a hose, poorly seated factory fitting (aio), pinholes in radiators (quality control) etc. Nothing is failproof, especially these days.
Take it for what it's worth, but in my recent purchases over the past few months - I bought 3 sets of xmas lights, one set had a defect in the wiring insulation with a large section of exposed wire right out of the box. I've had 2 electric radiator style heaters that both overheat and melt the plugs on 'high' setting (the first one melted the plug, the second was an rma and does the same thing). Point being that parts are pumped out of factories at a fast rate with questionable quality control and things get missed, problems are normal anymore regardless what the item is. If it's something critical like a sealed system full of water it means potential failure would result in a leak which could end up in lost hardware. Not trying to scare people, just so long as they know the risks involved. Worked in automotive repair for years and can't even begin to compile a list of how many failed parts were sent back brand new out of the box. Just how it is.
Like Ryan mentioned, leak testing is a key step. I think it's important whether custom or aio. Never hurts to double check and verify rather than throw something into the pc under the assumption it's doing what it's supposed to. For the same reason a system builder shouldn't just slap thermal paste on a cpu, strap on a cooler and ship it out without verifying that everything is working properly. It's more or less about using common sense and double checking the work. That way you can say 'it's not leaking, I checked' rather than 'oh, it leaked? It wasn't supposed to..'
Take it for what it's worth, but in my recent purchases over the past few months - I bought 3 sets of xmas lights, one set had a defect in the wiring insulation with a large section of exposed wire right out of the box. I've had 2 electric radiator style heaters that both overheat and melt the plugs on 'high' setting (the first one melted the plug, the second was an rma and does the same thing). Point being that parts are pumped out of factories at a fast rate with questionable quality control and things get missed, problems are normal anymore regardless what the item is. If it's something critical like a sealed system full of water it means potential failure would result in a leak which could end up in lost hardware. Not trying to scare people, just so long as they know the risks involved. Worked in automotive repair for years and can't even begin to compile a list of how many failed parts were sent back brand new out of the box. Just how it is.
Like Ryan mentioned, leak testing is a key step. I think it's important whether custom or aio. Never hurts to double check and verify rather than throw something into the pc under the assumption it's doing what it's supposed to. For the same reason a system builder shouldn't just slap thermal paste on a cpu, strap on a cooler and ship it out without verifying that everything is working properly. It's more or less about using common sense and double checking the work. That way you can say 'it's not leaking, I checked' rather than 'oh, it leaked? It wasn't supposed to..'
Yes I forgot to mention, I am talking about Sealed Water Cooling Systems like Corsair H80i or H100i and some other Systems.
I cant afford Custom Water Cooling System.
I havent have those components yet.
I just want to know If the Sealed Water Cooling Systems have leakage problems.
and also Do I have to refill the Liquid inside the Sealed WC System at a certain point of time?
Please
I cant afford Custom Water Cooling System.
I havent have those components yet.
I just want to know If the Sealed Water Cooling Systems have leakage problems.
and also Do I have to refill the Liquid inside the Sealed WC System at a certain point of time?
Please
ThatVietGuy
Titan
- Nov 6, 2007
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Leaking from closed-loop coolers is very rare.
And no, you don't have to do any kind of maintenance with a closed-loop cooler - the most you'd have to do is remove dust occasionally but that's typical maintenance for any computer.
And no, you don't have to do any kind of maintenance with a closed-loop cooler - the most you'd have to do is remove dust occasionally but that's typical maintenance for any computer.
Ok I m looking for (FX 8350 and Overclock it to Extreme) or (FX 9590 and maybe Overclock it, Its and Overclocked 8350)
So Recommend me Closed Loop Coolers
Other questions are:
1) Pros and Cons of Air Cooler.
2)Can a High End Air Cooler keep up with Extereme Overclocking?
3)I have read in many reviews that Air cooler especially High End takes a lot of Space that It will Block Ram Slots too, Are there any Air Coolers that are Perfect in Overclocking as well as Comfortable with Ram Slots.
Sorry for so much Questioning.
Thank u in Advance.
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