Oil Cooled PC Question

[Cubular_]

Hi there!

 

I am doing a school science experiment, in which I am to create an immersion cooling pc. From what I have read, it is obviously not safe to use cooking oil instead of mineral oil for long periods of time. But, am I good to use cooking oil if I am only going to be using it for at most 3 hours before getting rid of it?

 

Thanks.

 

BTW I am using an old pc as my test system for this, so I'm open to taking the risk

[FloRolf]

Wasting over 10 Liters of Oil just for 3 hours is stupid and your school is even more so when they think it's a good idea. 

 

[Canada EH]

Why not just cool down specific area's then immersing the pc in mineral oil.

Like mill up some alum and get some tubing going

 

It is not the schools idea. its a science fair show i bet

1 minute ago, FloRolf said:

Wasting over 10 Liters of Oil just for 3 hours is stupid and your school is even more so when they think it's a good idea. 

 

[H20Burner]

3 minutes ago, Cubular_ said:

Hi there!

 

I am doing a school science experiment, in which I am to create an immersion cooling pc. From what I have read, it is obviously not safe to use cooking oil instead of mineral oil for long periods of time. But, am I good to use cooking oil if I am only going to be using it for at most 3 hours before getting rid of it?

 

Thanks.

  

BTW I am using an old pc as my test system for this, so I'm open to taking the risk

Thats just stupid. I think cooking oil is priced higher than mineral oil?

[Cubular_]

k sorry 

[Ridska]

I would recommend usage of mineral oil rather than cooking oil, even if the components are old. 

4 minutes ago, Cubular_ said:

I am using an old pc as my test system for this, so I'm open to taking the risk

 

[martward]

If you are able to get mineral oil I would use that, it shouldn't actually be that more expensive. Other oils are not as pure and may destroy your components and be more conductive. Also apparently cleaning you hardware afterwards is next to impossible.

 

11 minutes ago, H20Burner said:

Thats just stupid.

There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. If you don't know much about oils in general and submerged PCs in particular (like I do for instance) I can see why this would be a sensible thing to ask.

[Neo-revo]

11 hours ago, FloRolf said:

Wasting over 10 Liters of Oil just for 3 hours is stupid and your school is even more so when they think it's a good idea. 

 

 

 

11 hours ago, H20Burner said:

Thats just stupid

 

 

This is not the right way to react to a new user's post.  Especially,  its not a great idea but you don't need to berate a clearly uninformed individual who is asking for help. Computers were immersion cooled when they were invented, and took up entire rooms....

 

@Cubular_  Cooking oil is not a recommended oil medium since it degrades over time with heat exposure.  will go racid and change consistency and also has a higher ability to mix with water under the right conditions.

 

Mineral oil is the preferred oil since it lack the ability to conduct, and capacitance electricity.   and also doesn't racidify or go gummy.   and as martward mentioned. Mineral oil is a pain to clean up, cooking oil only makes that task harder.  OH yea and mineral oil is LUBE  so you fan will never die since they live in lube that wont degrade in its life time.

 

if you want to try this once, and probably never use any of it ever again, you could certainly try it.  although it is highly unlikely to provide any significant improvements for old outdated hardware (assuming as much from your post)

[Canada EH]

2 hours ago, Neo-revo said:

right

I was nice, and being polite in trying to get clear info.

[Neo-revo]

3 minutes ago, Canada EH said:

I was nice, and being polite in trying to get clear info.

pardon me,   over read that, suppose though its unlikely some one doing it for school experiment  would know how to/ have equipment for what you suggest. or lack the other knowledge.   Hope you enjoy the rest of your day, making some soup before i head off to work later myself