Choosing Oil for PC

[Jay123]

I want to too build an low end oil cooled PC, mostly just for show. Baby oil is at least half the price of mineral oil.

Can I use baby oil and what are the differences between baby and mineral?

[MatadorZA]

I would not use oil to cool a pc. Distilled water is by far better. Mineral oil for example is a very bad heat conductor compared to water and it has a high specific heat capacity which basically means to say that that it holds onto the heat and does not let the rad dissipate it quickly. All in all, I highly advise against an oil cooled rig.

[Jay123]

I would not use oil to cool a pc. Distilled water is by far better. Mineral oil for example is a very bad heat conductor compared to water and it has a high specific heat capacity which basically means to say that that it holds onto the heat and does not let the rad dissipate it quickly. All in all, I highly advise against an oil cooled rig.

This is not for a loop, I will be submerging the motherboard etc in a fish tank full of oil.

[BCMods]

I would not use oil to cool a pc. Distilled water is by far better. Mineral oil for example is a very bad heat conductor compared to water and it has a high specific heat capacity which basically means to say that that it holds onto the heat and does not let the rad dissipate it quickly. All in all, I highly advise against an oil cooled rig.

You will still need a rad otherwise the system will get too hot if left on for long periods of time.

[Ghost]

I would not use oil to cool a pc. Distilled water is by far better. Mineral oil for example is a very bad heat conductor compared to water and it has a high specific heat capacity which basically means to say that that it holds onto the heat and does not let the rad dissipate it quickly. All in all, I highly advise against an oil cooled rig.

If its a low powered system then it should be fine just to passively cool.

[Jay123]

I would not use oil to cool a pc. Distilled water is by far better. Mineral oil for example is a very bad heat conductor compared to water and it has a high specific heat capacity which basically means to say that that it holds onto the heat and does not let the rad dissipate it quickly. All in all, I highly advise against an oil cooled rig.

So can I use baby oil?

[Whaler_99]

I believe a lot of baby oils have additives, like skin conditioner, fragrances, etc. Mineral oil is typically more pure...

[Jay123]

I believe a lot of baby oils have additives, like skin conditioner, fragrances, etc. Mineral oil is typically more pure...

I take it that these additives have negative effects?

[StuS]

I believe a lot of baby oils have additives, like skin conditioner, fragrances, etc. Mineral oil is typically more pure...

They could possibly cause issues with component depending on what is added. Anything added to the oil would also reduce its heat conduction.

[StuS]

Linus talks a bit about oil cooling your pc in this video.

He says water erodes metal surfaces on computer components.

[Dark_Nemesis]

Just to calrify: 1) If you intend to submerge the entire system, water, destilled or not will KILL your components

2) If you intend to run a cooling loop, like regular custom watercoling loop, you will not benefit from running it with oil instead of custom coolant, for reason mentioned above.

3) There is a reson you need to use mineral oil, it has specific properties that makes it ideal for for this kind of application. Using baby oil or any other oil (partly, but not entirely, becuse of the additives) may cause the components to corrode, thus killing your rig.

[hiyayhi]

If anything in the baby oil is conductive... bad things can happen. mineral oil is non conductive which is why a system can be submerged into it.

[Art Vandelay]

I would not use oil to cool a pc. Distilled water is by far better. Mineral oil for example is a very bad heat conductor compared to water and it has a high specific heat capacity which basically means to say that that it holds onto the heat and does not let the rad dissipate it quickly. All in all, I highly advise against an oil cooled rig.

High heat capacity is a good thing for a coolant, like water. It does not allow it to heat up in the loop as much as a coolant with a lower heat capacity.

Also, water has the highest heat capacity of any liquid that I know of.

[Manofchalk]

For cheap mineral oil, go to your local veterinarian. Apparently they use the stuff as a... horse laxative...

Would be cheaper to buy in bulk from them than it would be to buy in small bottles from the local supermarket.