Run system with Mayhems Blitz?

[GilesGuthrie]

I've been running my custom loop system for a couple of years now. I'm planning to clean my loop, replace the discoloured soft tubing, and change the fluid. I've got the new fluid, and the Blitz Basic kit.

My plan is to drain the current fluid, run the Blitz Basic through it, then (if necessary) hand-clean the blocks before flushing with deionised water and loading in the new fluid. During this process, I'm also

The instructions say to circulate the fluid for 24hrs. Does the system need to be cold for this, or can it be running?

Do you have any other advice for a cleaning noob?

 

[pastymuncher]

I have had very little success with the Mayhems Blitz kits and personally think it is pointless unless you have a inline filter in the loop to catch and debris that is dislodged by it. Otherwise it's just going to collect back in the rads or blocks. What I normally do is strip the loop down and take all the blocks apart to clean by hand. Any debris in the fins is easily removed with a fine toothbrush and any stains can be made to vanish with a few drops of Cillit Bang Lime and Grime. Check the O-rings carfully and reassemble the blocks. If the hoses are clear I give them a run under the tap and put them aside. If they are no longer clear I bin them and buy fresh tubing. What flexible tubing I have in my loop is Mayhems tubing which is cheap and excellent stuff. I fail to see any point in paying stupid amount of money for what is essentially a throwaway item. I strip the pumps and their tops along with the reservoir and clean them by hand also then carefully check the O-rings before reassembling. I connect a short length of tubing to both the inlet and outlet of the radiators and using the outside tap pass water through them, one at a time, in the reverse direction of the normal flow. Once done I take them to the kitchen sink fill them with a warm deionised water and distilled vinegar mix and leave them for 20-30 minutes. This gets emptied into a jug and if the liquid is clear I give the rads a few rinses with deionised water. If it's not clear then I repeat the procedure until it is. Once all this is complete I reassemble and run the loop for 24 hours with the pc switched off to leak test.

It may seem like a long winded way of doing a cleanup but I have found it to be by far the most thorough way.

 

[Distracted]

I've been running my custom loop system for a couple of years now. I'm planning to clean my loop, replace the discoloured soft tubing, and change the fluid. I've got the new fluid, and the Blitz Basic kit.

My plan is to drain the current fluid, run the Blitz Basic through it, then (if necessary) hand-clean the blocks before flushing with deionised water and loading in the new fluid. During this process, I'm also

The instructions say to circulate the fluid for 24hrs. Does the system need to be cold for this, or can it be running?

Do you have any other advice for a cleaning noob?

Don’t use part one in anything but the radiators. I’ve just re-read the op and you’ve got the basic kit so this isn’t an issue.

The instructions say, or I’m sure they used to, that heat would help with cleaning for part 2. I’ve run my system while using part 2 without issues.

The most time consuming part I find, aside from stripping and cleaning the blocks, is the flushing. You really want to get the system clear before adding coolant or water etc, so take your time with it.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Thanks very much both for your counsel. @Distracted, what you say about temperature helping the cleaning makes a lot of sense. After all, heat helps with chemical reactions, which is what we're doing here.

@pastymuncher I wish I'd read your post before buying the Mayhems kit! Although, I have the EK nickel/plexi blocks, and their guidance is not to use acid.

I think my plan is sound then: flush the old coolant out, add the Blitz part 2, run the system for 24hrs, check the blocks for gunk & clean, then flush and add the new fluid. I'm off work next week, so it'll be a nice project for me.