Cleaning Alphacool Radiators

[BenTan]

Hi,

 

I own a couple of Alphacool radiators. I've used them for about 6 months and now that I'm making the switch to hardline tubing, I've had to take apart the loop and clean the radiators.

 

So far, I've rinsed the radiators 3 times with a mix of white distilled vinegar, 4% acidity (1 part) and boiled tap water (9 parts). Now I'm rinsing them with tap water. There is still some flux and bits of paint/metal (black-colored) showing up when I drain the radiators. Keep in mind that before I used them for the first time, I rinsed them with boiled distilled water.

 

Is this considered normal? Should I do more rinses with vinegar and water, or should I try something else?

 

Another question I have is regarding bringing the pH back to neutral. I've read on a few sites that a bicarbonate flush is recommended. How exactly do I go about doing this?

 

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Josephdalepi]

Hi,

 

I own a couple of Alphacool radiators. I've used them for about 6 months and now that I'm making the switch to hardline tubing, I've had to take apart the loop and clean the radiators.

 

So far, I've rinsed the radiators 3 times with a mix of white distilled vinegar, 4% acidity (1 part) and boiled tap water (9 parts). Now I'm rinsing them with tap water. There is still some flux and bits of paint/metal (black-colored) showing up when I drain the radiators. Keep in mind that before I used them for the first time, I rinsed them with boiled distilled water.

 

Is this considered normal? Should I do more rinses with vinegar and water, or should I try something else?

 

Another question I have is regarding bringing the pH back to neutral. I've read on a few sites that a bicarbonate flush is recommended. How exactly do I go about doing this?

 

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

baking soda water to rebalance ph

id say keep rinsing til it runs clean

[BenTan]

baking soda water to rebalance ph

id say keep rinsing til it runs clean

How much baking soda and what volume of water?

 

Also, how do I test the pH using pH strips? Do I fill the radiator with water and dunk the end of the pH strip in the water?

[Josephdalepi]

How much baking soda and what volume of water?

 

Also, how do I test the pH using pH strips? Do I fill the radiator with water and dunk the end of the pH strip in the water?

i duno

i dont watercool man

i know the baking soda cause thats what bicarbonate is, but thats about it

id say very low amount of soda, probably a teaspoon for a few cups

for ph, im gonna say fill it, shake it, let it sit a bit, shake, then pour it out and test that

[BenTan]

i duno

i dont watercool man

i know the baking soda cause thats what bicarbonate is, but thats about it

id say very low amount of soda, probably a teaspoon for a few cups

for ph, im gonna say fill it, shake it, let it sit a bit, shake, then pour it out and test that

I'll keep that in mind but I'll wait for others with some water cooling experience to chime in, just to be sure. Appreciate your input anyway.

[Josephdalepi]

I'll keep that in mind but I'll wait for others with some water cooling experience to chime in, just to be sure. Appreciate your input anyway.

figured id see if i can help anyways

plus, not enough sleep and its almost 7 in the morning so im a bit

out of it?

i dunno

[Leonard]

The seemingly never ending amount of flux is due to the fact that the majority of flux is being trapped in the plenum chamber/s. You will just have to do it many times until the flux is out or try to flush it with a hose with warm water. Your blocks need to be dismantled and cleaned too as there is sure to be flux in the water channels in the block. 

[BenTan]

The seemingly never ending amount of flux is due to the fact that the majority of flux is being trapped in the plenum chamber/s. You will just have to do it many times until the flux is out or try to flush it with a hose with warm water. Your blocks need to be dismantled and cleaned too as there is sure to be flux in the water channels in the block. 

Do it many times with vinegar/water solution?

 

Regarding cleaning the blocks, is isopropyl alcohol with paper towels enough?

[W-L]

Do it many times with vinegar/water solution?

Regarding cleaning the blocks, is isopropyl alcohol with paper towels enough?

 

That sounds like it was cleaned our fairly well, I would run tap water through it by hooking it up to the tap on low to flush it out in both direction if you want to be 100% sure it's clean and afterwards give it a final rinse with distilled. As for blocks they are usually fairly clean, giving them a quick rinse with distilled water before assembly though wouldn't hurt. 

 

If you want to test the PH using distilled water to partially ill and vigorously shake the rad and testing with that water is your best bet but I don't think you will have issues once you flush it. 

[BenTan]

That sounds like it was cleaned our fairly well, I would run tap water through it by hooking it up to the tap on low to flush it out in both direction if you want to be 100% sure it's clean and afterwards give it a final rinse with distilled. As for blocks they are usually fairly clean, giving them a quick rinse with distilled water before assembly though wouldn't hurt. 

 

If you want to test the PH using distilled water to partially ill and vigorously shake the rad and testing with that water is your best bet but I don't think you will have issues once you flush it. 

Actually the blocks have been used once in my previous loop. Taking it apart to do a hardline build. I did not plan on cleaning them but since someone has mentioned it, I'm not sure if I'm gonna do it, since it's been used less than 6 months.

 

I'm worried about pH because I'll be using Mayhems Pastel fluid and I heard it's sensitive to pH. Not sure if you're aware but Jayztwocents had this issue where the Pastel fluids in his loop kept changing colour.

[W-L]

Actually the blocks have been used once in my previous loop. Taking it apart to do a hardline build. I did not plan on cleaning them but since someone has mentioned it, I'm not sure if I'm gonna do it, since it's been used less than 6 months.

I'm worried about pH because I'll be using Mayhems Pastel fluid and I heard it's sensitive to pH. Not sure if you're aware but Jayztwocents had this issue where the Pastel fluids in his loop kept changing colour.

 

If they have used before taking it apart to clean them isn't a bad idea, Mayhems pastel is fairly sensitive to PH and contaminates mainly in the loop since it likes to stick to the colored nanofluid so thoroughly rinsing and cleaning the rads and parts from the loop will help. 

 

For PH I've seen some try using a baking soda wash to try and neutralize anything that is in the rads which can help if it's overly acidic or basic.  

[Leonard]

Do it many times with vinegar/water solution?

 

Regarding cleaning the blocks, is isopropyl alcohol with paper towels enough?

You used more than enough vinegar/water solution IMO, you now need to ger then flux out which is kind of hard. I usually use a garden hose and cover one hole/port of the radiator and let the warm water come through the other hole/port and just keep turning the radiator up and down for the flux to be dislodged and then the force of the water will just carry it out the radiator. 

 

I use a new clean firm tooth brush and gently pass it through the fins of the cold plate and use a bunch of qtips to clean the acetal of the block while it is still wet then just rinse it with the hose. You can use paper towels but the qtips get in the corners and grooves better.

[BenTan]

If they have used before taking it apart to clean them isn't a bad idea, Mayhems pastel is fairly sensitive to PH and contaminates mainly in the loop since it likes to stick to the colored nanofluid so thoroughly rinsing and cleaning the rads and parts from the loop will help. 

 

For PH I've seen some try using a baking soda wash to try and neutralize anything that is in the rads which can help if it's overly acidic or basic.  

I plan on making a baking soda/water solution. Any idea how much baking soda and water to use?

[BenTan]

You used more than enough vinegar/water solution IMO, you now need to ger then flux out which is kind of hard. I usually use a garden hose and cover one hole/port of the radiator and let the warm water come through the other hole/port and just keep turning the radiator up and down for the flux to be dislodged and then the force of the water will just carry it out the radiator. 

 

I use a new clean firm tooth brush and gently pass it through the fins of the cold plate and use a bunch of qtips to clean the acetal of the block while it is still wet then just rinse it with the hose. You can use paper towels but the qtips get in the corners and grooves better.

For cleaning the blocks, you don't use isopropyl alcohol? Just water?

[BenTan]

Update: One of the radiators shows some white particles/gunk present after rinsing with water. Also forgot to mention, most of the fittings and the pump which I have already cleaned show some white powdery stuff present.

[BenTan]

Sorry for bombarding this post with questions but about cleaning water cooling parts like fittings, reservoir, pump top, etc. Is it okay to clean with dish washing fluid and tap water, then rinsing it with distilled water?

 

Also the white distilled vinegar I have shows 4% acidity on the bottle. Is this something important to consider?

[W-L]

I plan on making a baking soda/water solution. Any idea how much baking soda and water to use?

 

I don't believe there isn't really a set ratio but maybe a table spoon or so within a cup of hot water sounds reasonable, just be sure to shake vigorously and to rinse it out very heavily to ensure no particles of baking soda are still left within the rad. Just wondering what was your fluid step setup previously?

 

As for cleaning the res if you can take it apart to clean it dish soap if you want, just ensure everything is rinsed clean and 4% is pretty standard for vinegar. 

Edited January 28, 2016 by W-L

[BenTan]

I don't believe there isn't really a set ratio but maybe a table spoon or so within a cup of hot water sounds reasonable, just be sure to shake vigorously and to rinse it out very heavily to ensure no particles of baking soda are still left within the rad. Just wondering what was your fluid step previously?

 

As for cleaning the res if you can take it apart to clean it dish soap if you want, just ensure everything is rinsed clean and 4% is pretty standard for vinegar. 

Previously, I used EK Clear Premix (https://shop.ekwb.com/ek-ekoolant-clear-premix-1000ml).

 

As mentioned earlier, radiators are Alphacool. CPU and GPU blocks are from EK, both acetal, not nickel plated. Fittings were Bitspower with a mix of BP and EK  angled adapters which I think are made of brass.

[BenTan]

I don't believe there isn't really a set ratio but maybe a table spoon or so within a cup of hot water sounds reasonable, just be sure to shake vigorously and to rinse it out very heavily to ensure no particles of baking soda are still left within the rad. Just wondering what was your fluid step previously?

 

As for cleaning the res if you can take it apart to clean it dish soap if you want, just ensure everything is rinsed clean and 4% is pretty standard for vinegar. 

Wait did you say 'fluid step'? I read it as fluid setup. Is that what you meant?

[W-L]

Wait did you say 'fluid step'? I read it as fluid setup. Is that what you meant?

 

Yeah I meant setup 

 

With clear premix previously it's not too bad to clean out the loop unless it gunked up, usually it's a real pain with colored fluids since they tend to stain everything, I'm pretty sure with all the vingear rinses and flushes you've done everything should be fairly clean. 

[BenTan]

Yeah I meant setup 

 

With clear premix previously it's not too bad to clean out the loop unless it gunked up, usually it's a real pain with colored fluids since they tend to stain everything, I'm pretty sure with all the vingear rinses and flushes you've done everything should be fairly clean. 

A lot less gunk seems to be showing up now. I'll probably just keep rinsing with boiled tap water.

 

I'm not sure if this counts as being gunked up but as I previously mentioned, there was some white powdery build up in most of the fittings almost exactly like what JayzTwoCents had in his loop just before switching to an orange themed build. In my case, it was also present in the tubing especially at the ends of the tubes. It's kinda like a very, very thin layer. Doesn't seem to block anything but I dunno.

[W-L]

A lot less gunk seems to be showing up now. I'll probably just keep rinsing with boiled tap water.

I'm not sure if this counts as being gunked up but as I previously mentioned, there was some white powdery build up in most of the fittings almost exactly like what JayzTwoCents had in his loop just before switching to an orange themed build. In my case, it was also present in the tubing especially at the ends of the tubes. It's kinda like a very, very thin layer. Doesn't seem to block anything but I dunno.

 

Not exactly sure what the powder would be exactly be, but it could be the tubing slightly degrading but since your going over to hardline it shouldn't have a problem like that anymore. 

[BenTan]

Not exactly sure what the powder would be exactly be, but it could be the tubing slightly degrading but since your going over to hardline it shouldn't have a problem like that anymore. 

I see. Thanks a lot for your help and for bearing with all my questions btw. Greatly appreciate it.

[BenTan]

Not exactly sure what the powder would be exactly be, but it could be the tubing slightly degrading but since your going over to hardline it shouldn't have a problem like that anymore. 

Speaking of that 'white powdery' gunk. It looks something like at around 9:20 of the video. Except the effects are nowhere near as severe and in my case, the particles are much finer, less solid and easy to clean off.

[Leonard]

For cleaning the blocks, you don't use isopropyl alcohol? Just water?

I only use isopropyl alcohol to clean the TIM on the outside of the blocks, i was talking about the inside of the block. The flux builds up on the water channels on the inside of the blocks and that must be cleaned too.

 

Update: One of the radiators shows some white particles/gunk present after rinsing with water. Also forgot to mention, most of the fittings and the pump which I have already cleaned show some white powdery stuff present.

That "white powdery stuff" is why i use the qtips, to get that off. It is from the flux and just the nature of water cooling on the different materials.

 

You can use sysPrep do help get rid of that too. You just make a loop and put the sysPrep in some distilled water and run it for a while. It works well but IMO you don't need it if you have no problem in braking down your system and cleaning it your self.

 

Sorry for bombarding this post with questions but about cleaning water cooling parts like fittings, reservoir, pump top, etc. Is it okay to clean with dish washing fluid and tap water, then rinsing it with distilled water?

 

Also the white distilled vinegar I have shows 4% acidity on the bottle. Is this something important to consider?

It depends on the type of dish-washing liquid, some can leave residue and etch the acetal and create another problem. The acidity will just react with the copper in the radiator, it will be fine once you dilute it with distilled water to flush the radiator and not leave it to soak for a long period.

 

I haven't seen you say anything about any green flakes in the reservoir, so i am assuming you never used any PTnuke in your system. 

 

I also would advise you get some Monsoon silver bullets if you don't have them already and put them in any extra ports you have in the loop be it on the reservoir or radiator/s.