Water level in reservoir dropping quickly

Odai · 11-16-2009, 01:37 PM

hello,

I recently finished assembling a core i7 watercooled rig. I'm water cooling a CPU (OC'ed to 4.4GHz, about 45C idle, 70C max) and the NB (45C idle, 52C max). I'm using an EK multioption (50mm diameter, mounted vertically) reservoir and a laing D5 pump.

I've had the system running about 10 hours a day for 10 days so far. Problem is, I've seen the water level in the reservoir drop about 1cm max since I started using it. I know it's normal for the level to drop over time, but isn't 1cm in 10 days too fast?

The level also drops a further 2-3mm when running, but it returns after a while. So I'm guessing this further drop is due only to the action of the pump (low setting - 2).

Thanks for any advice!

Odai.

EDIT: I've checked for leaks at all the joints/fittings etc, cannot see any. I've tried feeling around them too, to see if they are damp at all.

Boulard83 · 11-16-2009, 01:41 PM

This is a normal situation. You dont notice it, but lots of lil air bubble are stuck in the block and go out slowly during the first weeks of use.

Just be sure there is no water spilling on your hardware but its normal. When i build/rebuild my loop i alwais touch every parts, every day to be sure there is no water on it. After about 2 weeks i start feeling safe about my loop

jim0ne · 11-16-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boulard83

This is a normal situation. You dont notice it, but lots of lil air bubble are stuck in the block and go out slowly during the first weeks of use.

Just be sure there is no water spilling on your hardware but its normal. When i build/rebuild my loop i alwais touch every parts, every day to be sure there is no water on it. After about 2 weeks i start feeling safe about my loop

+1... cant say it any better. There is usally small air bubbles within your tubing/block/rad and slowly work it's way out.

Odai · 11-16-2009, 03:30 PM

Excellent, thanks guys.

Odai · 11-22-2009, 11:09 AM

Sorry to bring this up again, but my water level is still dropping, a little faster even.

It's down 2cm now over two weeks of use. Still normal?

I did have corrosion issues with my blocks before building. I got rid of the problem, but there were still some grooves on the blocks where the corrosion had taken place (see http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=237988). Could is be it has corroded right through, and there is now water leaking through there?

I also had a small issue with the radiator fins. A few are a little bent. Is there any chance they could have broken and are now leaking?

Thanks again!

Bojamijams · 11-22-2009, 03:42 PM

Definetly possible that your rad is leaking. pad with a paper towel and see if its leaking

Hondacity · 11-22-2009, 03:46 PM

put water

Humminn55 · 11-22-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odai

I also had a small issue with the radiator fins. A few are a little bent. Is there any chance they could have broken and are now leaking?

Thanks again!

The fins on a rad don't carry water....only the tubes do. You can bend fins and have no problem unless you've ripped holes in the tubes themselves.

DavyBoy · 11-22-2009, 04:30 PM

I was worried about this to, as I have just setup a custom loop in my system as well, and the water in my res has dropped about 1 1/2cm since I set it up about 2 weeks ago, but I figured that because there weren't any signs of leaks anywhere, that this must just be normal.

Bojamijams · 11-22-2009, 07:00 PM

At first when you fill it you'll lose a lot of level as air slowly makes its way out.. up to a month of 'large drops' is okay. After that, it should be minimal reduction

eth0s · 11-23-2009, 10:47 AM

Sounds like a very tiny leak to me, somewhere in your loop. Especially since you cannot see any obvious leaks. Do you have any Feser 45 angle fittings? I had one of those leak, but it was a tiny, almost imperceptible leak. What a pain in the @ss it was to find. And that tiny leak caused water level to drop in a similar way to what have. Now, you also mentioned corrosion in your blocks, but this will not cause leaks, it will cause less effective heat transfer, and could possibly cause a pressure drop, but will not cause a leak, unless by corrosion you mean an actual hole has been eaten through in the copper block, which would be an incredible amount of galvanic corrosion, and would be astonishing to see. So if that is the case, please post pics.

Bojamijams · 11-23-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eth0s

Sounds like a very tiny leak to me, somewhere in your loop. Especially since you cannot see any obvious leaks. Do you have any Feser 45 angle fittings? I had one of those leak, but it was a tiny, almost imperceptible leak. What a pain in the @ss it was to find. And that tiny leak caused water level to drop in a similar way to what have. Now, you also mentioned corrosion in your blocks, but this will not cause leaks, it will cause less effective heat transfer, and could possibly cause a pressure drop, but will not cause a leak, unless by corrosion you mean an actual hole has been eaten through in the copper block, which would be an incredible amount of galvanic corrosion, and would be astonishing to see. So if that is the case, please post pics.

What did you use to find that leak ultimatelly? I don't use the Feser 45's but I do have BP 45's and 90's and am wondering if I also have a tiny leak somewhere as my level is dropping still and it cannot be air in radiator anymore. I've looked but cannot find anything so it seems to be a very tiny one that is evaporating very quickly

Serpentarius · 11-25-2009, 08:48 PM

some water seep through those nipple barbs ... i suppose
check every barb, if really needed, use worm drive

things like this happens when the tube/hose is too soft or too flexible, or the barb is not secured tight enough

washu9 · 11-26-2009, 01:55 AM

If I were you, I'd use a dyed water just to check where the missing water goes to. And if you got some UV reactive dye, makes it even easier to do so (turn off the lights and use a UV light to check like the CSI).

If you don't want the dye,... well,... need to flush the system and replace the water latter.

If there's still no sign of where the water went to...
is it possible that you're using a highly porous hose like silicone?

Bojamijams · 11-26-2009, 05:57 AM

I think I found it.. it looks to be leaking underneath my Frozen Q reservoir.. where the cable for the CCFL comes through the bottom... I guess some silicone would be best to seal that up?

washu9 · 11-26-2009, 07:52 AM

Either silicone or epoxy should do the trick.
Just don't try to apply em when it's still wet and make sure it's fully cured before you put water back in.
Even with waterproof stuff, it just wouldn't stick when it's wet.

I tried it before with some epoxy that's supposed to be to seal leaks on a boat.
Supposed to be applicable while the hole is submerged, but turns out doesn't work that well.

I'd recommend putting the compound inside and outside the leaking area if possible.
I'm not quite sure of the construction of your reservoir.

Bojamijams · 11-26-2009, 10:24 AM

nuts.. taking this thing out and redoing loop will be a pain... I think I'll try just doing with water in it (its a very slow leak) but drying before hand and applying and seeing if it works first.. thanks for the tips

Odai · 11-26-2009, 01:47 PM

That's interesting.

I've looked everywhere, but I can't find a leak. Nothing feels wet either. I have tightened my compression fittings (well, some of them) all the way down. See this link:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...d.php?t=237621

Could that be the cause?

Hondacity · 11-26-2009, 02:17 PM

is the water level dropping still?

Odai · 11-26-2009, 04:50 PM

Yup, about 3mm over 5 days.

washu9 · 11-27-2009, 11:01 PM

I'd do the UV dye check if I were you.
It's supposed to take months for that much drop in water level.

Conumdrum · 11-28-2009, 08:54 AM

I'd really really check your rad mounting screws. A teeny leak in the rad from a screw is impossible to see, the liquid drips down and evaporates so there is never a puddle.

Odai · 11-28-2009, 01:26 PM

All the screws are fine right now, but when I first installed the system, I did accidentally use a longer one than I should have. However, looking where it was, I couldn't see any bent fins. Is there no way I can check if there is a leak? If it was a big leak, would it leak towards the "outside" (where the fan is, rather to the other side of the rad through the middle)? I can't see anything...

Conumdrum · 11-28-2009, 02:45 PM

It can be such a small seep that you can't see the leak. It won't be a fin, it would be a tiny hole in the tube and they are very thin metal. The only way to be sure is strip the rad of fans, put it in a loop with just the pump/rad/block and be able to turn the rad in every direction to look. Using UV dye and a light would be handy.

Odai · 11-30-2009, 07:23 AM

Hmmmm...

Is it definitely possible for this to happen if there are no bent fins?