EK: No RMA if you use PTNuke

Biffa

Biffa

Biffa

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From the EK Web site

News
Additives in water loop! - 14/12/2010

We formally inform all customers using PT NUKE (or any other similar aggressive additives) in their water cooling loop that no RMA will be admitted.

Please note that damage to acrylic reservoirs caused by aggressive liquid has distinctive pattern therefor it is easily recognisable.
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like it only affects the reservoirs, so I guess it's the material used for the tube itself, rather than the acetal ends.

Those with the clear tops on blocks better be careful then - they're acrylic too...
 
Good to know, would be interesting to find out what the reasoning is behind it.

Surely this can only apply items bought after 14th though? I used PT Nuke because no silver kill coil was in stock at the time but then there was no 'no rma' as far as I am aware. Might drain my loop and switch to kill coil over christmas then.
 
I recently stripped down my system which had de-ionized and PT Nuke in it and after 18 months my EK 150 reservoirs are totally unmarked. My blocks on the other hand are are all tarnished black, cleaned up nicely with sauce though, and for this reason alone I'm changing to kill coils this time on the off chance that pt nuke accelerated the oxidation.

However, I find it hard to see how EK can actually enforce this no rma line, surely the onus is on them to prove that PT nuke has been used, just saying it leaves a distinctive mark on a res seems a bit nebulous to me. If you ask me the comment about the distinctive pattern is just a scare line to put people off just saying they've never used PT Nuke when they have. They would still have to prove that PT Nuke was to blame surely, by some kind of chemical test or other.
 
Interesting, I wonder if the guys who make PT nuke will respond to this, or if other watercooling manufacturers will follow the no RMA rule as well.

I always assumed PT nuke was fine and can't say I've noticed any "distinctive patterns" in my acrylic res.

I'd like to see what evidence of this they have to back it up.
 
They're not alone in this. Swiftech refused calims against them for galvanic corrosion in GTX blocks unless the coolant used had been Swiftech HydrX. Any other coolant invalidated their warranty.
 
surely this can only be for products they sell after this date?

i use pt nuke in my system (purely as i couldn't source any kill coils at the time of sorting the loops out) and it's been fine - this is in 10 months of usage. i've got plexi blocks on everything in my system and they're all in top condition, so i can only presume this is a 'cover our ass' thing they're doing.
 
I've just striped down my loop, had a ek waterblock and xspc laing reservoir, to my naked eye - I can't see any damage or 'distinctive' patterns etched into the acrylic...

I've had pt nuke in the current loop for the last 6 months, probably will switch to a coil, doesn't cost much.
 
well, the fact that PT are a competitor to EK suggests a few things to me

1. ek dont like Petras

2. ek have a biocide/killcoil range due soon
 
Competitor? AFAIK Petras is just a shop that has a tiny selection of PTS branded products, such as biocide, tiny heatsinks and dye, oh and that awesome anti-vibration gel that you guys really should sell here :)

But its a strange one for sure, the XS guys are all up in arms about it of course :)
 
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My guess is they changed the glue that sticks the acrylic together as of that date.
Like all the issues with the typhoon 3 res.

Edit: But I can't find a EK product that has acrylic / acrylic joints
Most are acrylic / POM with EPDM rubber washers or a water tight thread.
May be it's Nuke in consentration - like a splash when adding it into a res?
Or they are now using a cheaper acrylic that less resistant to sulpate's

Edit2: As another more likely guess, maybe the copper solphate is attacking the stainless steel in the advanced res.
As this was not present in earlier models inc the one I have that has no metal parts.

The most important property/advantage of the Advanced Multioption X2 reservoir is the exchangeable insert in the bottom part. The stock delivery comes with Insert #1 which is rotatable for additional options for routing the water flow. Advanced version also comes with an anticyclone which can be replaced with Insert #1. All inserts are fastened with stainless steel M3 screws.
Click to expand...

This would also explain why other ek products with acrylic parts are not effected. It's not the acrylic thats the issue.
 
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Biffa said:
But its a strange one for sure, the XS guys are all up in arms about it of course :)
Click to expand...


Interesting read that, good to see the Petra guy on there giving his point of view, shame EK haven't turned up with any explanations yet.
 
Thanks for the link Shadowscotland.

Until we get confirmation on why ek have done this hard to speculate. It would suprise me to find out it is something in the res/blocks as a lot of them are made of the same or similar materials. I can't think of it being anything else though than it degrading something. Does seem to throw even more confusion on the subject that even Petra is confused by this.

I have already go pt nuke in my loop so maybe 'damage' is already done but it would be a PITA to drain and flush loop just to switch to silver coil.

The time I think it could become interesting is if someone tries to RMA res or block and gets denied on the use of PT Nuke and the person says they didn't (either through honesty or deceit) as it may be the first chance we get to know the full truth of the situation.
 
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