what happens when you screw into the radiator?

[Jerombolo]

A common thing I think, the screws are too long but you fully tighten them and so you screw into the radiator. Does that reduce performance or could it leak?

[dadasmithywinkle]

A common thing I think, the screws are too long but you fully tighten them and so you screw into the radiator. Does that reduce performance or could it leak?

If it hits the zig-zag metal, it wont do anything. If it hits the metal "bars" between the zig-zags, it could cause a leak.

[Jerombolo]

If it hits the zig-zag metal, it wont do anything. If it hits the metal "bars" between the zig-zags, it could cause a leak.

These bars contain the coolant, don't they?

[dadasmithywinkle]

These bars contain the coolant, don't they?

Yeppers. Most radiators are set up so that the "zig-zags" are under the screw holes, but some have the pipes under the screw holes.

[W-L]

These bars contain the coolant, don't they?

 

The coolant runs through those tubes so never hit them with a screw if you do our rad is done, unless you want to try your hand at soldering the hole test the screw length and fan before just screwing everything in place.

[QueenDemetria]

These bars contain the coolant, don't they?

Yep, but the "zig zags" only dissipate the heat. Most Rads are designed for the screws to hit the zig zags, so its fine most of the time.

[Justin Meyer]

Yes, dont lose your coolant

[Jerombolo]

Yes, dont lose your coolant

But then you know what it means to "watercool"  your PC

[Enderman]

as long as the manufacturer of the radiator was smart and didnt put any of the pipes under the screws you should be fine

if it just bends the fins nothing will leak

[Shaqo_Wyn]

A common thing I think, the screws are too long but you fully tighten them and so you screw into the radiator. Does that reduce performance or could it leak?

 

The "zig-zags" are called fins. A few bent fins, no biggie. If you hit and perforate the water channels in between, yes biggie. 

 

If you're worried about this I think Alphacool and XS-PC rads have metal shrouds to protect against over-screwing.

[Justin Meyer]

But then you know what it means to "watercool"  your PC

Haha yea