Air bubble

adamant415 · 09-24-2006, 11:55 AM

I keep on getting an air bubble in the same spot at the plug on my pump. I have been running for about a week and cannot find any leaks. I have bled the radiator and have bled the loop. It takes about 8 hours for an air bubble like this to show up. I usually tilt the case to make the air bubble go away but it always comes back.

Is this normal for this pump? If not where is the air bubble most likely coming from? Right at that plug or somewhere else in the loop?

I hope you can see what I am talking about in the pic. It is right at what would be the pumps inlet but I have a plug in that hole and am using the top inlet.

tw33ter · 09-24-2006, 12:54 PM

if it keeps forming in that same spot, then that means your plug isn't making a complete seal somehow

adamant415 · 09-24-2006, 03:20 PM

I loosened up the plug till the point that water started to leak out and then tightened it a little trying to not overtighten and deform the o-ring and I'm still getting air bubbles there. I guess I'll end up having to drain the loop and maybe using another o-ring there and using something else for the threads.

SiGfever · 09-24-2006, 03:30 PM

I don't think that your o-ring is allowing air into your system. It is just a good place for air to pocket as it passes through the pump. Shim the pump so that the oultlet is slightly down and see if that cures your problem.

~~KaptCrunch~~ · 09-24-2006, 04:37 PM

Toss the "T" an remove plug from pump an add hose barb for the remaining T-line tube. for column of water @ inlet is lower then pumps output.
Question is the pump on the bottom or top of case ? hard to tell from avitar

nealh · 09-24-2006, 04:48 PM

why is this air bubble even a concern...it is not part of the loop seems to be a good place for trapped air, so long as no leak is present I cant see this is much of an issue

But if I am wrong, which is likely please correct me

adamant415 · 09-24-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaptCrunch

Toss the "T" an remove plug from pump an add hose barb for the remaining T-line tube. for column of water @ inlet is lower then pumps output.
Question is the pump on the bottom or top of case ? hard to tell from avitar

Are you saying to get rid of my "T" and use one of the two inlets for fill tube?

Yes the pump is at the bottom of the case. Here is a pic to show how everything is set up.

~~septim~~ · 09-24-2006, 04:55 PM

i agree with Sig, put a wedge on one side to tilt pump.
maybe on a new revision of said alphacool top, they'd just remove the side inlet to avoid these air pockets...

adamant415 · 09-24-2006, 04:58 PM

I may redo my loop like that if it will work. Instead of having the "T" I can have the fillport going straight to the top inlet of the pump and the outlet of the water block going to the inlet that has the plug in it correct? Please let me know if I can set it up like that. Thanks.

tw33ter · 09-24-2006, 05:00 PM

What about putting a Y connector after the T, so you can feed both inlets of the alphacool top instead of just the one?

adamant415 · 09-24-2006, 05:06 PM

If I set it up with the top inlet going straight to the fill port and the side inlet coming from the water block both inlets would be fed. without the need of a "Y" or a "T".

tw33ter · 09-24-2006, 06:17 PM

That'd work but I'd do it the other way around, so the incoming water won't be affected by that 90 degree angle by using the side inlet. It might take longer to bleed that way though.

SiGfever · 09-24-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamant415

I may redo my loop like that if it will work. Instead of having the "T" I can have the fillport going straight to the top inlet of the pump and the outlet of the water block going to the inlet that has the plug in it correct? Please let me know if I can set it up like that. Thanks.

No, it will be too restrictive. Just shim the bottom left side of the pump and leave your loop intact. JMO

Stigma · 09-25-2006, 04:54 AM

I have to agree with the person who said its no problem. As long as there is only a small airbubble like this in a place where it does not affect the cooling of the block even, then it dosn't matter at all.

-Stigma

adamant415 · 09-25-2006, 01:31 PM

I figured I would try sitting my case up at an angle to simulate shimming the pump. Air bubbles are still forming in the same location so it has to be sucking air in thru that plug. I guess the good news is petra is coming out with his own top that dosen't have that second inlet on it. Soon it will be time to break out the credit card again.