Strange Leak on custom water cooling loop.

LJAC95 · February 2

I recently drained and refilled my custom look to carry out a CPU and motherboard change. The loop consists of a 240mm and 360mm radiator. After reassembling and refilling the loop I have noticed that every now and again the 360mm radiator (EK Cool stream SE) at the front of the loop will randomly leak out an amount of coolant for seemingly no reason. It has done this when the system is running and switched off. What is even stranger is that it is not like the loop is actively leaking, it will release a small puddle of coolant which will appear at the front right corner of the system and then stop. I have isolated the leak to the bottom corner of the radiator. I have also checked that all fittings are not leaking. I seems be leaking through the actual casing of the radiator. What I can't understand is why it is doing all of a sudden as this radiator wasn't touched during the maintenance and also why is not leaking all the time but just letting out a small amount of coolant randomly. The leak is not near any actual components of the PC so there is no immediate risk to the system itself. Just wanted some insight to try and understand the cause of this.

ChrisLoudon · February 3

On 2/2/2024 at 11:35 AM, LJAC95 said:

Just wanted some insight to try and understand the cause of this.

Hi buddy,

Have you checked to see if you've punctured a coolant run on the rads fin stack with the screws the secure the fans?

This happened to me a few years ago. I must have used fans that were a smidge too thin so when I screwed them into place, the screws went through too far.

When the system was cold a little coolant would leak but as the loop warmed a little thermal expansion must have done its trick and sealed the tiniest of holes.

Other than that you could try and disassemble the rad to see if you can see any signs of damage. Never done it before myself but shouldn't be too hard

https://www.xtremerigs.net/2015/05/31/ek-coolstream-xe-360mm-radiator-review/ek-pe-disassembled-lr-bw-1-2/