Cleaning W/c System?, solution found! Options

[VeeHexx]

i found a good w/c system cleaner..... laundry detergent.

drain approx 1/4 of a jam jar or so of ur water out of your w/c rig, replace what you taken out with laundry detergent (i used fairy laundry liquid) and run w/c as normal for a while - i ran for a week.

drain & flush w/c system with fresh, clean water to remove the freed off debris & laundry liquid - possible you might need to desemble your w/c setup.

re-build w/c system, fill&bleed system as per normal and thats it! job done.

[carmatic]

its the 'rebuilding' part thats scaring me... my watercooler was put together in a semi-panicked state, with no consideration whatsoever for any future practical uses like cleaning...
radiator hangs on window, pump on the floor, computer at eye level, reservoir at pump level, those kinds of things...

i am relying on good component design (my innovatek tank o matic) , it has a convinient screwing cap on the top, no bleed/fillers, no fancy special effects... i'll just have to pour the water out with the pump running like a jug...
next year i'll definitely have a proper watercooler...

[dynamis_dk]

My setup was kinda the same. I just changing a few things so i think this time round am gonna think about it a little more...

[carmatic]

also a side problem if you will... the change in water temperature , along with the huge amounts of water, causes significant expansion and contraction, and the pipes bend and kink up with the temperatures... funky, and a safe way to have a strange watercooling system... now i leave abit of air in my reservoir to stop it happening, it appears that the res really is airtight...

as for the laundry detergent,wont the chemistry be abit ... risky? like it might eat at some materials or something...

[Boli]

Have to keep that in mind... mine never seems to get clean anymore. even with the "toilet duck additive" - though it does smell fresher than fresh monring breeze .

[dynamis_dk]

Just thought, sorry to hijack ur topic but its on subject...

I need to clean the dye thats still discoloring my dtek n maze gpu. The maze ain't so important but i'd like to have the dtek cleaned out. Am gonna go for the uv tubing so i don't need the dye anymore.

Whats everyones ideas for that?? I've been told ketchup or vinegar works well... true???

[VeeHexx]

chemistry boli - Ford recommend thats how to clean out their coolant system in cars. and they do have rubber (O-ring type) and gaskets etc that could be damaged.

i did notice than when i got some water+laundry liquid on my hands it was slightly lubracating so i thsould cause friction type damage.

not sure how ketchup would work, but vinegar would prolly work. coke might be another one. in the days of mini-onwership i read on forums that of your clutch has siezed up (long time standing) you should pour coke down the bell housing where the clutch is and it should give. coke must be some strong stuff todo that!

[dynamis_dk]

Well I think the thing with coke is the bubbling co2 maybe... the reason for ketchup is its full of vinigar.

I got another problem while am here.. I got a bay res whats got blue on the inside... if i can't clean it am gonna have to buy a new res, granted if i do i'll get a better one but i'd like to save on money if i can. What you think, maybe coke again and give it a swirl??

[carmatic]

blue... algae?

[VeeHexx]

i think algae is a light green.

dynamis - try coke, ketchup, vinegar and laundry liquid if you get that far and see what performs better. i`m well happy with laundry liquid so i`ll be using that in future.

i find it quite interesting that ketchup is full of vinegar - dont taste like it at all. learn something new every day

[dynamis_dk]

Ok maybe full was a slightly overkill but i think its got some in it!! I think i'll go for the laundry liquid first - sounds promising.

carmatic - its blue residue from the dye i've used..

[Boli]

chemistry boli - Ford recommend thats how to clean out their coolant system in cars. and they do have rubber (O-ring type) and gaskets etc that could be damaged.

I don't have/own/run a car... so I'm just happy with the news that I can try and clean the gunk out in another less-labourious way (kitchen roll on sticks)

[Silent]

kitchen rolls aint THAT bad. If you get algy in your tubing (white/green "spots" on the walls) it doesnt usually come off with additives, even bleach, though that does kill it, but doesnt get it off. The best way is to make a small ball of kitchen towel and oush it a few inches into the tube, turn your bath tap on full, and use your hands to seal the bath tap to the tube. Pressure from the water then forces it through cleaning the tube.

vinigar doesnt work too well. It might get rid of some crap, but I have tryed it a few times after soldering copper and it doesnt remove oxides much atall and acctually made it worse i think.

doubt liquids like that do the pump any good, esp if they cavitate (sp?) easyer..

[dynamis_dk]

I'm not expecting the vinegar to remove too much and am sure as hell not gonna sent it through my whole system!! I fort i'd just take the top off the water block and fill the water block with vinegar, leave it a while and give it a good rinse.

Am still not sure what to do with the res.. if i poured a little while spirit in there to dissolve the dye residue would it damage the seal on the bay res??

[VeeHexx]

could also soften then bayres plastic. not sure on how white spirit affects acrylic