What's the best way to clean the inside of a block?

BS Dave · 22 Sep 2015 at 23:47

I've managed to get hold of an old block to cool my x79 mosfets but it's got some residue of old coolant in it. I owned it up and brushed it out with an old toothbrush, but is there any thing I could clean it with? It's a copper base. Mayhems recommend sodium bicarbonate then to flush with di water.

Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks

hyperseven · 22 Sep 2015 at 23:49

lemon juice?

BS Dave · 23 Sep 2015 at 08:55

I do have some lemon Tim cleaner...

Glanza · 23 Sep 2015 at 10:09

Mayhems blitz kit run for a few hours?

EXxx · 23 Sep 2015 at 11:23

lemon juice or vinegar.
i personally did a 1 part vinegar, 2 parts warm water shake. Just to be sure i get anything out that is barely "hanging" and then left over night (4-6 hours). Rinse and done.

Rustyone · 23 Sep 2015 at 13:38

+1 Vinegar

Drangueos · 23 Sep 2015 at 13:40

I clean with vinegar and warm water, than rinse with filtered water a couple of times than rinse with di water a couple more times.

Uncle Petey · 23 Sep 2015 at 14:13

Ketchup works well apparently.

hyperseven · 24 Sep 2015 at 12:46

oh, don't use the brown malt stuff make sure the vinegar is the clear distilled type.

BS Dave · 26 Sep 2015 at 21:38

Guys that's all really helpful. Spirit vinegar it is then. Can I now ask when putting a loop together for the first time would you just fill it with DI water and let it drain out of the bottom of my bay res, then refill with the actual coolant? I'm unsure as to how to flush the various rads without putting them in a loop...

Rustyone · 26 Sep 2015 at 23:04

If you are using new rads it's best to flush them out, even used rads a flush is always worthwhile, you can give it another flush when built if you like.

DI water and a drop of PT Nuke is all you need really, all the fancy coolents are just glorified tapwater with some super wonder

additives.

Water Cooling is more Hype than anything else, companies charging a fortune for a few cheap chemicals, your not going to get strange beasts or seaweed growing in your system

ErikN · 27 Sep 2015 at 20:27

Uncle Petey said:
Ketchup works well apparently.

I tried ketchup, didnt do anything.

Vinegar+water works well, just remember that nickel/nickel plating will dissolve if left too long and leave the surface matte. So make use you don't soak any outside parts.

pastymuncher · 28 Sep 2015 at 10:48

Cillit Bang Lime and Grime is excellent for cleaning the inside of blocks. Just fill the base plate with it and leave it for 30-60 mins then agitate it with a old toothbrush and you have a nice shiny baseplate. Just remember to rinse it out thoroughly after.

BS Dave · 28 Sep 2015 at 19:00

But how do you do the actual flushing in the complete loop or separately somehow??

whyscotty · 28 Sep 2015 at 19:22

ErikN said:
I tried ketchup, didnt do anything.

Bet it wasn't Heinz

ErikN · 28 Sep 2015 at 21:48

whyscotty said:
Bet it wasn't Heinz

ErikN · 28 Sep 2015 at 21:51

BS Dave said:
But how do you do the actual flushing in the complete loop or separately somehow??

I disassembled the blocks and poured some vinegar+water solution in the "insides" and let it work its magic for a few hours.

If it was a piece without outside nickel plating (like an Acetal pump top for example) I soak the entire piece in a vinegar+water bath.

pastymuncher · 29 Sep 2015 at 19:16

BS Dave said:
But how do you do the actual flushing in the complete loop or separately somehow??

After my cillit bang treatment I rinse the baseplate out under the tap while agitating with a old toothbrush then dry it thoroughly and put it back together again.

I have tried cleaning the whole loop before with the Mayhems Blitz Pro treatment (part 1 only for the rads then part 2 for the whole loop) and didn't find it to be particularly good.

Jokester · 29 Sep 2015 at 19:20

I've used Cillit Bang as well, the big canister of foam for cleaning showers, probably the same stuff. Was the most effective thing I've used for removing tarnish off the copper parts.