Need advice, no flow in loop

[cbc02009]

Hey guys,

 

I finally planned out my new loop, got all my stuff in and assembled and leak tested, but I'm having some performance issues. Turning on the pump causes the water level to rise in the pipes, but there's no actual flow. Curious to see if the pump isn't powerful enough, or if there's an issue with my loop. Last time I watercooled a pc we were still using automotive heater cores and aquarium pumps, so it's been a while. Here's a picture of the loop, then I'll give a parts list and loop order. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, I rinsed out my radiators three times each, but the liquid in my system is this weird white color.

 

 

 

Parts list

EK spc-60 pump

EK GPU block

EK supremecy EVO cpu block

EK 280mm radiator

Black Ice Nemesis 280gtx radiator

Phobia Balancer 150 resivoir

 

Loop goes pump > res > nemesis > ek rad > cpu > gpu > pump

 

Thanks!

 

[xentropa]

I think bubbles and hydrophobic surface of tubing and increased surface tension (for better leak prevention) is causing some pressure and preventing the flow.  I think you need to prime it somehow or bleed out the bubble first.

 

Try turning the case upside down first to see if you can get that bubble into the pump/reservoir area.

 

Some people like to put in a drop of dish soap to break the surface tension of the coolant water and make it flow easier and prevent mold.  While that is true, reducing water surface tension could potentially make leaks more likely.  I advise against this.

[SquintyG33Rs]

you should really have the rez before the pump. so it has fluid to grab and push forward i think that might be the source of your problem. it's only pushing air right now

[jared404]

Reverse your pump direction pump > gpu > cpu > ekrad > nemesis > res > pump 

That way it is pulling water from the res

[cbc02009]

4 hours ago, SquintyG33Rs said:

you should really have the rez before the pump. so it has fluid to grab and push forward i think that might be the source of your problem. it's only pushing air right now

 

4 hours ago, crashahotrod said:

Reverse your pump direction pump > gpu > cpu > ekrad > nemesis > res > pump 

That way it is pulling water from the res

Thanks, I thought that might be it. unfortunately, the front radiator is the nemesis, which is unidirectional,so it has to be set up a specific way. The input is the opening closest to the camera, and the outlet is the one farthest from the camera. I could redo the loop and put the pump directly under the rez if I took out the pull fans. Any idea how much performance I'd lose by just going push in the front instead of push/pull?

 

EDIT: Also, I'm going to flush the loop to get rid of the nasty stuff. Anyone have an opinion on what brand and color dye would go well with my setup? Color coordination is not my strong suite, which is why its pretty much all black.

[SquintyG33Rs]

2 minutes ago, cbc02009 said:

 

Thanks, I thought that might be it. unfortunately, the front radiator is the nemesis, which is unidirectional,so it has to be set up a specific way. The input is the opening closest to the camera, and the outlet is the one farthest from the camera. I could redo the loop and put the pump directly under the rez if I took out the pull fans. Any idea how much performance I'd lose by just going push in the front instead of push/pull?

push pull gains you 5C for double the noise and cost.... not worth it imo

[cbc02009]

Thanks for the advice, I think that's what I'll do. I did eventually manage to get it filled but it was way too much work to have to do that every time.

 

Again, if anyone has any recommendations for additive company and color, I would appreciate any suggestions!

[THFourteen]

Did you run your pump when it was dry?

 

 

[Mick Naughty]

I'd rebuild it. In the mean time, gotta spend some time tilting the case as those rads prolly have a lot of air left in them. 

[cbc02009]

2 hours ago, THFourteen said:

Did you run your pump when it was dry?

 

 

No, the pump was lower than the reservoir, so there was always water some water in it. Though after I posted I realized I could  use a funnel in the top inlet of the pump to keep the pump primed. When I did that the system filled up all the way.

 

2 hours ago, Mick Naughty said:

I'd rebuild it. In the mean time, gotta spend some time tilting the case as those rads prolly have a lot of air left in them. 

 

yeah, definitely going to have to flush it and try again with the liquid. Do you have an additive brand that you recommend? Should I just stick with the EK?

[Mick Naughty]

45 minutes ago, cbc02009 said:

yeah, definitely going to have to flush it and try again with the liquid. Do you have an additive brand that you recommend? Should I just stick with the EK?

I likes using utopia with distilled water. Recently switched to ek blood red premix. I used the red pastel concentrate prior and I think I had mixing issues. Gonna stick with premix as I'm too lazy to mix concentrate correctly between my two rigs. 

 

Ek premix gets my vote. 

[PPCs-Matt]

Never had any issues with Mayhems myself.