Draining a vertically mounted rad

RyanF · 24 Oct 2016 at 14:19

So I've got 2 rads in my loop and two of my EK 45deg fittings have started leaking over the weekend. Not an issue and I've got replacements on order already so replacing them is a non-issue. The two fittings themselves that are faulty are one going from my GPU down to the drain QDC and the one from the drain QDC going into my vertically mounted front rad.

Is tipping the case backwards a wise idea or am I missing a trick somewhere?

Undesirable · 24 Oct 2016 at 15:15

Are the ports on the vertically mounted rad at the top or bottom?

Aberfala · 24 Oct 2016 at 15:38

I have 3 rads in my PC (top, front and bottom) and I find the best way to empty each one is just rotate the case so that each rad in turn has it's port at the lowest point so your suggestion of tipping the case backwards will work fine.

FWIW I had a few problems myself with EK angled fittings so now won't use them, I just use straight connectors even if it means more tubing is needed to get the bend right.

RyanF · 24 Oct 2016 at 16:36

Undesirable said:
Are the ports on the vertically mounted rad at the top or bottom?

At the bottom, so now thinking about it logically it will all literally just fall out cause you know... mavity

Mikey C said:
I have 3 rads in my PC (top, front and bottom) and I find the best way to empty each one is just rotate the case so that each rad in turn has it's port at the lowest point so your suggestion of tipping the case backwards will work fine.

FWIW I had a few problems myself with EK angled fittings so now won't use them, I just use straight connectors even if it means more tubing is needed to get the bend right.

It's my first loop so I was using them off recommendation, unfortunately I do need some form of angled fitting as the HDD bay blocks direct access into both ports of the rad. I could turn it around so the ports are at the top but that'd involve getting more tubing and redoing the whole thing. Will save that idea for when I eventually get an upgrade that I need to plumb in.

BriT · 24 Oct 2016 at 16:38

Is a pain. Nearly borked my mobo as crap load of liquid came out when i took the compression off lol

Smffy · 24 Oct 2016 at 16:52

If you have them mounted as I think, literally drain the case as far as possible then when you can see (hopefully, tough without pics) that there is no fluid in the tube remove it and stick a stop in the rad. Repeat and once done just remove the rads to drain and flush fully.

See here how i've got fluid still in the loop but things are disconnected... Just takes some care and attention - i was just fitting new GPUs to the loop and didnt even bother to cap the rads as the fluid wasn't going anywhere sat on my desk. You'll just have to plan out how to do it for your specific loop, mine has a 360mm in the top and the front.