What is this stuff on my GPU water block?

Angelwolf · 5 Apr 2021 at 16:16

I've noticed something building up on my GPU water block (Bykski Bykski A-DL58DEVIL-X) and I'm not sure what it is.

Is this galvanic corrosion? Or is it perhaps just some gunk?

Here's a photo. Note that the white specs are just a bit of dust on the exterior of the block.
Big photo

My belief is that my loop consists of no aluminium. I'm using Mayhems Blood Red liquid. The CPU water block (Corsair XC7) appears to be just fine.

Some notes:
My loop was put together in December 2020, so not really very old. I changed my processor and motherboard a couple of months ago and re-used the liquid I drained (maybe this was a bad idea?).

I suppose my main question is: Can anyone identify what this is and how I can get rid of it? Or have I killed the block? Temperatures and flow rate still seem to be fine.

Angelwolf · 5 Apr 2021 at 16:38

Given the age of the loop, the Mayhems liquid, and that my materials are all copper (bar one extension which is brass), is it likely to be corrosion?

Is there any way I can find out for sure?

Angelwolf · 5 Apr 2021 at 19:44

Drangueos said:
I would have not used the same coolant.

If you are talking about the "blocked" fins in the middle of the block, that could be flux from when they soldered the radiators, if you have a copper one, I had this problem before with XSPC radiators and coolant, had to take everything apart even the GPU block, clean and flush everything plenty of times.

After I had this problem I bought some filters, because it is easier to clean the filters than blocks and radiators.

this one: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/aqua...valves-and-mounting-plate-g1-4-wc-115-aq.html

Now I use mayhems pure water + xt-1 nuke, had them running for 2 years without a problem, cleaned everything 3 months ago and renewed with mayhems pure water + xt-1 nuke again

The fins aren't blocked, but there's a glob of something on the metal to the upper left, and also on one of the mount point things.

I'm going to be draining the system and installing a new gpu with new water block, but don't want to see this happening again. I've ordered more Mayhems blood red liquid this time. One of the reasons I bought this last time was because it has inhibitors to prevent corrosion, so I'm a bit puzzled. Maybe the build up is just any dust that managed to find it's way into the liquid when I reused it?

Should I be mixing my own liquid rather than using premixed?

Angelwolf · 5 Apr 2021 at 22:47

Thanks for the responses. If it's corrosion then I guess it's corrosion - just puzzled as to why . I didn't think it would be an issue if I was just using copper and brass with the liquid having inhibitors, or at least not for a year when the coolant would need replacing.

I've finally managed to get a 3070 (gave up trying to get a 3080!) and I've got a water block on the way. I wouldn't want the new block (or any other component in the loop) to succumb to the same problem. I'll also be adding an in-line filter to the loop when I install the new card just in case there's anything left floating about

Angelwolf · 8 Apr 2021 at 12:43

Thanks for the replies, all.
With the new card due to go into the machine at some time next week, I'll take the block apart and clean it at that point.

I was planning on selling the card with the block attached. In your opinion, is the water block now no longer fit for purpose? If so, I guess I'll just have to put the fans back on and sell it like that. I wouldn't want someone to buy it with the (cleaned) block attached and have the same issue down the line. Having asked that, I suppose we wouldn't really know until I can find out precisely what the stuff actually is, right?