Radiator leak, time for maintenance (need help)

Alanreeves · 31 Oct 2023 at 14:43

I have a system with custom loop which has leaked from the top radiator.
Managed to drain and disassemble the loop and now need some help compiling a shopping list to get it back up and running.
I didn't build this system so forgive lack of knowledge but here are specs. .

Phanteks case
Ga-z270x-gaming mb
850 platinum psu
Full custom ek water cooling
Ek pump and reservoir d5pwm9 38
I 7700k ek water block
Gtx 1080ti full ek water block
Ek lc solution coolstream SE radiator
Ek lc solution coolstream PE radiator
Ek hose connection with flexi tubes
Ek ekoolant evo uv blue

top mount rad fans blowing out
front mount rad fans blowing in
Rear case fan blowing out

So the SE radiator was the top mounted one and leaked quite badly yesterday, I suspect it has been leaking a while as I needed to do little top ups every now and then previously.

Not sure if it's internal corrosion or what has caused this leak, pipework was good as were fittings and leak seems to be coming from the cooling fins of the rad.

Do I need 2 radiators?
If so which current one would replace the SE?

The loop never had a drain valve, this put me off maintaining the system and probably the cause of my problem now.

I'd like to replace the pipework to freshen the look as this has turned slightly opaque, currently is flexible hose but I do not know which size.

I always seemed to struggle with air in the system, how do i avoid this when rebuilding the system?

I plan to clean the water channels in the waterblocks while at this stage, especially the gpu looks quite some sediment in there, is there any precautions I should watch for?

Ideally i was headed to store today with this to get what I needed but as this is no longer an option I'd love to get some shopping list advice from you here and also some advice on reconfiguring as I'm not sure it was optimally designed in the 1st place.

Thanks for reading I appreciate it

Mcnumpty2323 · 31 Oct 2023 at 21:46

probably need 2 radiators yes
though would help if you can put what size they are
length is easy count how many fans on it
most likely they will be 120mm fans
thickness you may have to measure
not sure if those rads are only in one thickness
possible they punctured it
while putting the screws in
not all rads have a guard to prevent that
would look up your rads to see
but its been a tough day lol

no drain valve is terrible watercooling practice

most likely tube size would be either
10mm inner diameter
13mm outer
or 10mm inner and 16mm outer
though 3/4 inch is a possibility
measure the tubing with a tape measure/ruler i guess
ek zmt is great tubing
though its black not clear if you want
to see your coolant in the tubes

air in system
again would google your pump/res but too tired
a res with extra ports on top
you use those ports to release air

cleaning the blocks
just make sure 0 rings are properly seated
when re-assembling

Mcnumpty2323 · 31 Oct 2023 at 23:09

And which radiator to replace
The current one
That will depend on you measuring it
Length and thickness even width just in case as there's a few rads
That are wider than normal
Those can be awkward depending on the pc case being used

Other considerations
Ports
That is how many of them
And is it x flow/crossbow radiator?
Ie coolant goes in one end and out the other
Or standard radiator where coolant returns back to same end
Even the standard ones if you can get a multiport one
Those can be very useful for putting fill or drain ports onto

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 16:33

Thanks for your replies,

I had a look today in the case box as everything from the build is in there, the tubing is ek dura clear 11.1 x 15.9 lucky there is enough spare already I think.. fittings I should be able to remove from the old rad and fit to the new, (they are barb style)

Radiator is 280mm x 120mm x 30mm with 2 in/out together at one end.

The way the system was set up means this leaky rad was the highest point of the system, my logic for the rebuild is telling me I need to add a valve to release air somewhere up top and then drain valve at the low point, how is the standard way to neatly incorporate these?

Thanks

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 16:36

Oh and the case is phanteks enthoo evolve atx

Mcnumpty2323 · 1 Nov 2023 at 16:46

Not a standard way as such
Since every build can be different
I always try to use multiport radiators
That allows putting a fill port at very top of the loop
And a drain port on bottom radiator
Ie very lowest point of the loop
Without multiport radiators
You have to add a T or Y piece or some kind of splitter block
Then you add your fill point
And a ball valve for draining to those
Fill port sometimes means drilling a hole at the top
Depending on the case
Phanteks it might already have holes
For both fill and draining

Again without multiport radiators
You may be forced to use a spare port
On top of the reservoir for filling
And the drain port on the pump
Not ideal as will be above bottom radiator then
Possibly even above gpu in some cases

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 18:57

I think it is probably best i treat it as a new install with using some old parts, forget how it was configured before, I think that is the best way to approach this now
I have room to use a 3 fan rad up top so I'll upgrade that, i have what i need to connect it back in a loop as it was then I just need the new fittings to make the drain and fill points, I made a shopping list if possible I'd appreciate a once over and maybe any revisions that can save some money before I hit purchase.
Thanks again

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cart/restore/d91145c88b61dba8c68d5356e3fe248a

Mcnumpty2323 · 1 Nov 2023 at 19:14

Looks reasonable
I have thicker white versions
Of the quantum Surface radiators
I like them
There are cheaper rads
But if you ever fancy spray painting
Or putting vinyl on them
The quantum Surface disassembles making
Life easier
Not tried the ek drain valve though have seen them
Could maybe save a couple of quid
By getting a cheap ball valve
And a male to male extension
But you're talking a small amount
And the ek valve does require less space which can be
An advantage
I just like my ball valves as can shove a blank on end
Of them in case you accidentally open the valve
But those ek ones may be more difficult
To accidentally open anyway

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 19:18

Cool thanks, the rad won't really be seen so I don't really care for how it looks, as long as it is water tight I'm happy lol

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:09

I had to get the tape out and there is room for a 44mm rad same as the front radiator, now instead of the y peices i found the xflow rad with the extra ports so little bit more money but bigger rad and neater finish

Less one of the extenders I'll only need one ..final edit I hope now lol

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cart/restore/b214c59a2b36db6109467dfbfe519e26

Mcnumpty2323 · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:16

One of mine is the 44mm
The other 58mm
And I love x flow/crossflow
When looking to use less tubing runs
They're really useful

Female to female extension?
Should that be male on one end?
Though you may already have parts
I don't know about
So you may be correct

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:20

The female to female in my method is to join the fill port to one of the tubing connectors, both seem to have male thread so this was my work around.

Mcnumpty2323 · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:21

Yeah sounds right

Alanreeves · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:21

And I agree now I've seen it regards the xflow, definitely more future proof as well because at some point I plan to upgrade this system to amd

Parsley · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:31

Alanreeves said:
I had to get the tape out and there is room for a 44mm rad same as the front radiator, now instead of the y peices i found the xflow rad with the extra ports so little bit more money but bigger rad and neater finish

Less one of the extenders I'll only need one ..final edit I hope now lol

https://www.overclockers.co.uk/cart/restore/b214c59a2b36db6109467dfbfe519e26

You'll lose a little bit of performance with an xflow, but I use 3 of them as inputting on one side and outputting on another for shorter tube runs does make things neater in my current setup.

Gavster · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:34

I have one of those EK drain valves and they`re pretty neat and you can`t accidently open them

Parsley · 1 Nov 2023 at 20:37

Gavster said:
I have one of those EK drain valves and they`re pretty neat and you can`t accidently open them

And you can put a cap on the end to make double sure

.

Mcnumpty2323 · 1 Nov 2023 at 21:06

Nice to know you can put a
Blank on them
Protection against accidents
And my own stupidity sometimes :cry:

SpudMaster · 2 Nov 2023 at 10:06

I'm just gonna say it.....situations like this is why IMO you shouldn't buy a custom loop in a prebuild and instead always build it yourself. That way you learn as you prep and build and don't end up in an situation of not knowing when something goes wrong

Alanreeves · 2 Nov 2023 at 12:56

SpudMaster said:
I'm just gonna say it.....situations like this is why IMO you shouldn't buy a custom loop in a prebuild and instead always build it yourself. That way you learn as you prep and build and don't end up in an situation of not knowing when something goes wrong

I can agree in principle with what you're saying, but at the same time I came away with a £3k plus build for less than half of that and have used it daily for a good 5 years before it leaked, I think it was a bargain honestly.