Fouled Block

stock · 10 Feb 2012 at 17:19

Afternoon all

This is only my second loop, but I've come across a rather nice cube case and decided to re-do my loop - new fittings, pump, tube, rads etc

Anyway, I decided to take my blocks apart as there was some slight growth on the inside of my ResTop (binned).

This is what I found once inside the GPU block (EK 580, feb '11)

CPU was much the same (HK LT v3), but I'm having a job cleaning whatever is in there out of the micro channels. It is currently submerged in a cereal bowl with white vinegar and tommy sauce. So far no amount of rubbing with a toothbrush seems to dislodge whatever it is that is in there. I'm guessing that this is Algae?

Would someone mind confirming please?

Cleeecooo · 10 Feb 2012 at 17:42

Looks like the corrosion issues. Need to RMA it i'm afraid

Get a second opinion before you do. Might be worth contacting EK via their CS section

Also, you're sig is a line too big, maybe remove the space?

terminator2k2 · 10 Feb 2012 at 17:50

agree with cleeecooo definately doesnt look like algae.......looks like its been getting really hot though where it sits on the gpu......or do they all look like this over time?

if it wasnt a water block i would say there seems to be a lot of soot in there lol......

Cleeecooo · 10 Feb 2012 at 17:55

Here's what corrosion looks like:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18328944&highlight=startername_Cleeecooo

Mayhems · 10 Feb 2012 at 18:02

a good way of removing oxidation layer is to use Sodium bisulfate. How ever ive have never tested it on such blocks. Its a good way all so of reducing PH level in you liquid if they are above Ph 7.8 you can all so try real Lemon juice.

Normally the dosage of Sodium bisulfate id 100 Grams per 1 Ltr of water (to make a concentrate) and add just a few drops at a time to a submerged block.

Please remember though Sodium bisulfate is a Irritant.

stock · 10 Feb 2012 at 19:56

Cleeecooo said:
Looks like the corrosion issues. Need to RMA it i'm afraid

Get a second opinion before you do. Might be worth contacting EK via their CS section

Also, you're sig is a line too big, maybe remove the space?

I'm positive it isn't the flaking/corrosion issue, I did wonder whether the areas just below the GPU and the one just to the left (top pic) looked like that from the photo but it's just where I have rubbed it with my finger

terminator2k2 said:
agree with cleeecooo definately doesnt look like algae.......looks like its been getting really hot though where it sits on the gpu......or do they all look like this over time?

if it wasnt a water block i would say there seems to be a lot of soot in there lol......

Funny that as when I rub it off with my finger it does look like a sooty deposit, thing is that any monitoring program I have used has never reported the card go over 42°c

Cleeecooo said:
Here's what corrosion looks like:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18328944&highlight=startername_Cleeecooo

This now makes me think twice about my reply to cleeecooo, the center screw from the block looks a little rusted from the point where it screws into the block to the bottom, it also needed a touch extra to get it undone.

From the pic you can clearly see the area of the screw affected, and that it's the only one

This is the inside of the Acetal top, for reference if nothing else...

The dark area around the center screw looks like it explains the rusted screw...

Cleeecooo · 10 Feb 2012 at 20:41

That's what appened with mine, the corrosion was mainly around the screw

stock · 10 Feb 2012 at 21:13

The thing is though that the thread of that center screw looks fine...wouldn't it be fouled if corrosion of some kind was the problem?

Cleeecooo · 10 Feb 2012 at 21:21

stock said:
The thing is though that the thread of that center screw looks fine...wouldn't it be fouled if corrosion of some kind was the problem?

no, it hisn't nickel plated

stock · 10 Feb 2012 at 21:27

So I can only assume the o ring around that screw has failed to do its job?

Also, I'm fairly sure that if I cleaned the block that all the nickel exposed to water would be fine, it doesn't look to have suffered any corrosion

stock said:
The thing is though that the thread of that center screw hole looks fine...wouldn't it be fouled if corrosion of some kind was the problem?

I meant the thread of the hole, not the screw - my error

koooowweeee · 10 Feb 2012 at 21:28

all this is going to kill off EK me thinks.......

stock · 10 Feb 2012 at 21:37

And talking of RMA, didn't the deadline pass last July 31st? That's what a Eddy was saying on a thread on XS :confused:

mjones1 · 10 Feb 2012 at 22:38

You shouldn't leave nickel plated blocks in 100% vinegar for a long time since it starts eating away at the plating.

stock · 10 Feb 2012 at 22:52

It's the CPU plate in a vinegar/tommy sauce mix. Been in there for a few hours now

stock · 11 Feb 2012 at 13:54

RMA has been issued (not OcUK) and I'm going on the theory that the whole system has been fouled due to the center o ring failing and thus the screw coming in to contact with the water. This is the first time the block has been apart, so it wasn't user error in not fitting the Acetal back properly.

The CPU block looks borked, the plate spent the night in a white vinegar/tommy sauce mix (before that it had been in some mouth wash) but a good scrubbing this morning hasn't made a blind bit of difference

The build up is in the lowest part (center) of the micro channel; would it be right to assume that the heat from the contact with the CPU has baked this stuff and that I'm not likely to shift it?

If so then I suppose that means a new CPU block... :mad:

or would I be able to source a new plate?