Is my watercooler leaking?

[TubsAlwaysWins]

So theres some sort of liquid below the VRM heatsink on my motherboard and i have a liquid cooler, but when i remove the cooler theres no water near the socket. How did it get there?

[Clear17Mud]

You sure it wasn't a thermal compound?

[TubsAlwaysWins]

You sure it wasn't a thermal compound?

Why would it be thermal compound?

[TubsAlwaysWins]

@Clear17Mud

[GeekJump]

@Clear17Mud

 

Is that a picture for ANTS!?!? Put a bit of tissue by the block/joints and watch for wet spots. Maybe you somehow managed to nick the tubing and there is a tiny pin-sized hole?

 

Full disclosure: I have zero hands-on experience with water cooling. I'm afraid of situations like yours happening to me

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Is that a picture for ANTS!?!? Put a bit of tissue by the block/joints and watch for wet spots. Maybe you somehow managed to nick the tubing and there is a tiny pin-sized hole?

 

Full disclosure: I have zero hands-on experience with water cooling. I'm afraid of situations like yours happening to me

ok ill try it. for your full disclosure thing its been like this for about 2 weeks and nothing has happened

[Benji_w]

@Clear17Mud

 

I'd be more worried that the liquid is near your VRM that convert high voltage or amperage into lower ones for safe operation...

[Clear17Mud]

-snip-

More likely the hole only leaks when its warm, but that liquid still looks wet, and if it was in a liquid cooler it would evaporate and leave residue(mainly copper sulfate...)

[TubsAlwaysWins]

More likely the hole only leaks when its warm, but that liquid still looks wet, and if it was in a liquid cooler it would evaporate and leave residue(mainly copper sulfate...)

That's why I'm not sure what it was. I want to say grease form food but I was able to run alot of it off yesterday and now it's back

[TubsAlwaysWins]

I'd be more worried that the liquid is near your VRM that convert high voltage or amperage into lower ones for safe operation...

I unplugged my CPU and gpu so I can run my pump without it screwed in and when I tilt it upside-down there was a bunch of foam that sorta formed

[Clear17Mud]

That's why I'm not sure what it was. I want to say grease form food but I was able to run alot of it off yesterday and now it's back

well place paper towel in the system and turn it own see what/were leaking

 

Why would it be thermal compound?

oh I read this as its not thermal compound the first time... well thermal compound can be greasy, but its not right seems to clear...

[TubsAlwaysWins]

well place paper towel in the system and turn it own see what/were leaking

oh I read this as its not thermal compound the first time... well thermal compound can be greasy, but its not right seems to clear...

I'm using Antec Formula 7 Nano Diamond

[TubsAlwaysWins]

well place paper towel in the system and turn it own see what/were leaking

oh I read this as its not thermal compound the first time... well thermal compound can be greasy, but its not right seems to clear...

Will I void my warranty removing my VRM heatsink to see what happened underneath it?

[Clear17Mud]

I'm using Antec Formula 7 Nano Diamond

I was more saying the thermal pads that are on the VRMs, but I think it is your loop leaking, because I cant think of what else it could be...

 

 

-1000th post

[W-L]

Will I void my warranty removing my VRM heatsink to see what happened underneath it?

 

That'a not a cooler leak it's the oil or heat transfer substance inside the thermal pads wicking out due to heat, it's very common on GPU's. Using some isopropyl alcohol to wipe it off is fine. 

[Clear17Mud]

Will I void my warranty removing my VRM heatsink to see what happened underneath it?

well if there's no stickers on the underside of the board how will they ever know... I think water on a board voids your warranty anyways, but they'll probably never know that either....

[Clear17Mud]

That'a not a cooler leak it's the oil or heat transfer substance inside the thermal pads wicking out due to heat, it's very common on GPU's. Using some isopropyl alcohol to wipe it off is fine. 

I already suggested that but not as well as you... but I suggested that when I couldn't really see the picture (go full websites on mobile)

[Benji_w]

I unplugged my CPU and gpu so I can run my pump without it screwed in and when I tilt it upside-down there was a bunch of foam that sorta formed

 

Formed where?

 

That'a not a cooler leak it's the oil or heat transfer substance inside the thermal pads wicking out due to heat, it's very common on GPU's. Using some isopropyl alcohol to wipe it off is fine. 

 

I've never had this issue even when pumping 1.6v into my cpu 24/7.

[TubsAlwaysWins]

Formed where?

I've never had this issue even when pumping 1.6v into my cpu 24/7.

Ok thanks because I overclock the crap out of my CPU (1.5+V)

[W-L]

Formed where?

I've never had this issue even when pumping 1.6v into my cpu 24/7.

 

It mainly depends on the thermal pads it's usually only on GPU's I see it get really bad at times, sometimes it's solder flux but most times it's the oil from the thermal pads:

http://imgur.com/a/jih8m

[Benji_w]

Ok thanks because I overclock the crap out of my CPU (1.5+V)

 

1.5v on an AIO will be pushing it especially if you have no airflow over your VRM heatsink, with this in mind @W-L could be correct but I certainly have never ran into this issue before.

 

It mainly depends on the thermal pads it's usually only on GPU's I see it get really bad at times, sometimes it's solder flux but most times it's the oil from the thermal pads:

http://imgur.com/a/jih8m

 

Honestly never seen this before, I've taken many a GPU apart for routine maintenance. Very interesting, what model GPU is that?

[W-L]

1.5v on an AIO will be pushing it especially if you have no airflow over your VRM heatsink, with this in mind @W-L could be correct but I certainly have never ran into this issue before.

Honestly never seen this before, I've taken many a GPU apart for routine maintenance. Very interesting, what model GPU is that?

 

That was from a Gtx 770, and seems to be somewhat common:

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/417420-oil-substance-stained-heat-plate/

 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/26114-noticed-my-gpu-seemed-like-it-had-an-oil-spot-on-the-backplate/

[TubsAlwaysWins]

It mainly depends on the thermal pads it's usually only on GPU's I see it get really bad at times, sometimes it's solder flux but most times it's the oil from the thermal pads:

http://imgur.com/a/jih8m

Ok well that's probably what it is. Thank you so much. I was so scared

[TubsAlwaysWins]

1.5v on an AIO will be pushing it especially if you have no airflow over your VRM heatsink, with this in mind @W-L could be correct but I certainly have never ran into this issue before.

Honestly never seen this before, I've taken many a GPU apart for routine maintenance. Very interesting, what model GPU is that?

It can handle 1.5V with my fans at about 60% at no more that like 60 degrees

[Benji_w]

It can handle 1.5V with my fans at about 60% at no more that like 60 degrees

 

I used to have a fan over my VRM heatsink but I got bored of the noise, now my rig looks like this (will add a new pic soon)