Bubbles develop when machine off for weeks/months?

panyan · 16 Feb 2015 at 20:53

I have a watercooled machine that is properly bled, I have been using it for years.

If I dont happen to use it for a few weeks/months, bubbles start to form in the blocks and then i have to re-bleed the loop.

Does anybody know why this happens?

The only thing i could think of is that the tubing is slightly porous and lets in air over time which accumulates at the high points in the loop?

panyan · 18 Feb 2015 at 17:55

Dog said:
What fluid are you using?

My guess would be something organic is trying to grow in your loop. Have you drained it down flushed and refilled?

Im not sure thats it... I drain, clean and fill with new fluid every summer.

Im using mayhems pastel:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=WC-011-MH&groupid=962&catid=1531&subcat=2415

panyan · 18 Feb 2015 at 18:05

Dog said:
to me the only thing that could generate gas in a closed loop would be a biological of some variety.

I guess its possible - id be interested to hear if someone else has had a similar issue

panyan · 19 Feb 2015 at 09:59

OLDPHART said:
Hi, l had a rotary 90'd fitting that would just weep slightly every so often giving the same problem, took me a while to find it.

Double check your fittings got to be a air leek or system is not fully bled.

As he use's Mayhems Pastel coolant, **biocides** and inhibitors included in the mixture should kill any aliens in loop.

I dont think it is the fittings as the bubbles that generate are quite evenly spread across the loop.

And yes, there shouldnt be any bacterial growth as Mayhems should contain all the stuff to nuke them.

andybird123 said:
All fluids will take up air when being agitated and then slowly off gas when stationary, it is normal, they will even do it with temperature changes, so if you are leaving your pc off for weeks at a time and your res isnt the highest point in the loop, some air will slowly migrate around the loop

Ah - this sounds like the issue. My res isnt the highest point in the loop and the air that comes out is quite even across the loop (which is why i thought it might be to do with the tubing).

As soon as I turn my rig back on those bubbles dissapear - presumably the aggitated fluid re-absorbs the bubbles.

I wonder what would happen if i slightly opened the fittings to let out the air bubble and restarted the loop? I guess there would be a decrease in volume and it could create a slight vacuum in the loop.