How to flush a Rad?

Shayper

Shayper

Shayper

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Hi guys, just ordered the XSPC RS240 kit, and was just wondering, how do you go about flushing the radiator? Never done this before so am an absolute noob at watercooling :D
 
In short, you fill it with warm water and shake it vigorously, empty and repeat several times. Tap water is okay.

You're going to need to plug the holes to prevent water coming out though! Either your rad will come with plugs or just put a couple of barbs on the radiator and stick a piece of tubing on each barb and that should be fine
 
Taken from the Advanced Guide To Overclocking & Cooling sticky. All credit goes to W3bbo.

weescott said:
Radiator cleaning guide

From W3bbo:

1. rinse the rad with distilled water.
2. Fill the rad with di-ionised, shaking the radiator when it is half full of water will help a little and will start to loosen the crap inside.
3. Do the same as above but this time with white vinegar(I used white malt).
4. Fill the radiator with vinegar but this time let it sit for 6-8 hours, I left mine overnight - 8hrs.
5.Flush out the vinegar with water.
6.Repeat Step 4.
7.Repeat Step 2.
8. Keep repating until you get clear vinegar. Took me four repeats, see below:

cooking.jpg
Click to expand...
 
There should be no need to use vinegar anymore. The whole point of vinegar was because the flux in radiators was not water soluble. However these days it's water soluble so vinegar isn't needed :)
 
Don't use vinegar, that was only needed for old thermochill rads. They use water soluble flux these days. I did mine like this.

Heat up enough DI water to fill the rad, I heated mine in Pyrex in the microwave until it was hot enough for me not to be able to put my finger in. Fill the rad and leave for a few minutes then half drain it. Plug the inlet and outlet and wrap the rad in a towel as it will be hot. Now shaky shaky for a couple of minutes and drain. Empty the water into a bowl and inspect it for flux. Repeat this process until the drained water is clear :)
 
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The problem that I found with my rad (black ice sr-1) was that I was using quite hot water. This meant that the fins were getting pretty hot and a couple started bending slightly. Also the hot water appeared to make the paint peel off slightly. Both of these tended to be aesthetic issues though. So I'd just advise caution when using hot water. If you do it like Jeffy B says, until it's just hot enough not to touch, you should be fine
 
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