XSPC Dual Bay Reservoir for Laing DDC - leaking

[rambler358]

So I've had the res installed for about 1.5 weeks now. It offered an improvement over my previous single loop setup. But after 3 days of 24/7 folding, I come home last night to find red coolant at the bottom of my case.

So I shut everything down, and determine that the leak is coming from the res itself. Pumps were mounted correctly, and there was no leakage coming from the fittings.

So I washed out the res and after doing so, I still saw red coolant where the walls are attached, and also behind the front plate:





Is it possible that pump vibration could have caused this? After sending XSPC an email they responded back requesting pictures, and I'm still waiting to hear back from P-PCs where I bought it.

[NaeKuh]

seems like it was improperly sealed.

Return to vendor, ask for RMA.

The resin didnt seal the acrylic properly.

the one time where a DYE is actually helpful. :P

[rambler358]

Thanks NaeKuh. Still waiting to hear back from both.

What's DYE?

[NaeKuh]

the reason why your water is red and u can see where your resin didnt seal.

[rambler358]

But why would an overnight leak check pass, and then only after 3 days of 24/7 folding did this occur? That's what lead me to believe it was from possible pump vibration. Could it be because the res expanded from the coolant's heat?

[mlwood37]

There could be a problem there when the heat expands but i don't think a 24/7 run over just 3 days would cause that to happen it looks like a manufacturing fault.

Dont forget some systems do go beyond recommend temps. If this is a one off fault your in the right place to find out, as im sure there will be more posts appearing if its common problem.

Your the first from what i can see. But give it time.

Its a very rare event to see a Res fracture at the points of contact but not beyond the realms of possibility.

[rambler358]

It looks like P-PCs is going to do the right thing and send me out a replacement XSPC res. P-PCs contacted XSPC and XSPC authorized the replacement. I hope the new one doesn't have the same issue...

[NaeKuh]

its just probably a bad expoxy resin'd one.

As i said, it looks like the resin didnt settle in, and made a poor seal. Thats why it leaked like that, and you can see the red dye from your coolant staining the parts where the resin didnt hold, because it stained your resin.

This is one and only reason why i love dyes... but the staining part outweighs it..

UGH....

[TopFuel1471]

Are you using a glycol-based coolant? Any anti-freeze or watter wetter in the loop? I've heard that they will eat through the bonding material.

[rambler358]

I've been using various colors of this Koolance coolant for quite some time. Never had any staining issues thus far. I've heard reports of the Feser coolant staining acrylic though.

[NaeKuh]

if it has color it will stain period.

Anyone that tells u that this coolant wont stain, its cuz its clear, or there smoking something really nice that i want.

[TopFuel1471]

Koolance uses: Distilled water (70% by volume), propylene glycol (27% by volume), and additvies (3% by volume).

Looks like the glycol ate the glue.

[rambler358]

Koolance uses: Propylene glycol (70% by volume), Distilled water (27% by volume), and Additvies (3% by volume).

You got that mixed around a bit. From the online manual:

• Distilled Water: 70 wt%
• Propylene Glycol: 27 wt% (CAS #:57-55-6)
• Additives: 3 wt%

[TopFuel1471]

That ugly bonding strip on the Typhoon III is there so you can use glycol-based coolants without worrying about it splitting in half. This XSPC one does not appear to have been glycol-proofed. I'm fairly certain that the coolant dissolved the glue and caused the leak. The seams probably bubbled as it was dissolving and trapped some dyed-water inside, which is why it looks stained.

[rambler358]

I really doubt that coolant with 27% glycol was the problem. But to be on the safe side, I emailed XSPC to get their official take on it. I should hopefully have a response back in the morning.

[Arthur]

Is it possible that pump vibration could have caused this?

I do not think so mate. You had a dual loop out there, that reservoir made by acrylic and the company should already considered and calculated what pump vibration could harm reservoir itself. So why they built it with adding pump feature?

You did nothing wrong and go for RMA. I suppose your reservoir will be back as new one.

PS: I do not recommend any of bay reservoirs to anyone. They are cheap but users cannot clean them well thats why I do not recommend it.

Cheers,
Arthur

[JackOfAll]

I do not recommend any of bay reservoirs to anyone. They are cheap but users cannot clean them well thats why I do not recommend it.

What do you recommend? A bucket? (Easy to clean but can be a bit tricky to fit in a computer case.)

[Waterlogged]

XSPC has a reputation of stuff like this happening with their acrylic products, there are more than a few threads here. Also, it is a possiblity that the seems were made poorly and the glycol took advantage of it.

[JackOfAll]

XSPC has a reputation of stuff like this happening with their acrylic products, there are more than a few threads here. Also, it is a possiblity that the seems were made poorly and the glycol took advantage of it.

Well, maybe I am lucky (and have a well constructed instance of this res), or maybe not using additives, just distilled water and a couple of drops of PT Nuke has something to do with it. Anyway, XSPC should replace it.

[rambler358]

Dazhong from XSPC replied back to me and stated there should be no issues with glycol additives in coolant harming the res. Alcohol is another matter however. It appears I just got a bad res.

[JackOfAll]

Dazhong from XSPC replied back to me and stated there should be no issues with glycol additives in coolant harming the res. Alcohol is another matter however. It appears I just got a bad res.

Fingers crossed that the replacement will not have any issues. Seems like you were just unlucky. There is always one that slips through the cracks, but you would've hoped that any leaks would be picked up by a pressure test during QA. But then again, if the leak didn't start until several days after you started using it ........

Anyway, hoping that mine never leaks - there is a fan controller in the bay below it.

[rambler358]

Fingers crossed that the replacement will not have any issues. Seems like you were just unlucky. There is always one that slips through the cracks

Thanks - I guess I'll find out soon enough. P-PCs is shipping out the replacment res (along with a few other parts I ordered) today, and I should have it Wed of next week.

Anyway, hoping that mine never leaks - there is a fan controller in the bay below it.

Uh yeah - that would suck big time! If you really wanted to feel safe, you could always cover the top of the fan controller in some manner.

EDIT: Did you have to do anything special to get the LEDs to stay in your res? I had to use scotch tape to get them to hold in.

[Arthur]

What do you recommend? A bucket? (Easy to clean but can be a bit tricky to fit in a computer case.)

My friend, I did not say what I recommend a bucket to him so you can keep your precious jokes to yourself.

[Zigosity]

Happened to my XSPC Res Top too, exact same problem:



I e-mailed the pics to XSPC and they shipped me a new one right away. So far it's doing well, no leaks.

-Zigosity

[3Z3VH]

That reservoir isn't leaking... it is crying