Would radiator fluid work?

[The Mailman]

topic question

would car radiator fluid work (better) for liquid pump cooling?

serious question seeing as how this technology was taken from cars, much like convection (fanless) cooling was taken from Volkswagon

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: The Mailman
topic question

would car radiator fluid work (better) for liquid pump cooling?

serious question seeing as how this technology was taken from cars, much like convection (fanless) cooling was taken from Volkswagon

Um... not following you...

Are you asking if liquid cooling works better than air?

 

[Talcite]

Car radiator fluid is what is normally used in watercooled computers 0.o

They don't use 100% radiator fluid, but they usually add a mixture of it. I would imagine that radiator fluid is designed for higher temps, like those of an engine? Your CPU doesn't hit 200 C. sorry =P.

Anyways, you should look into watercooling at www.ocau.com or www.procooling.com those guys are pretty intense about their watercooling.

 

[The Mailman]

ok nevermind then. ive always read watercooling to be straight up water and not a chemical fluid.

 

[essasin]

I am not sure if 100% radiator fluid would be safe for our waterblocks and pump.

 

[sjwaste]

I'm not a watercooling guy, but I know my way around my car. "Radiator fluid" is generally only in there to inhibit freezing (why some folks call it "antifreeze") and tends to have slightly worse cooling properties than distilled water. A lot of folks I know with performance engines will run pure water w/ a corrosion inhibiter (redline water wetter is one such product) during the summer, or all year round depending on their climate. Anyone tried the same w/ CPU watercooling?

I'm not sure if 100% antifreeze would do any damage, but the green stuff is usually just propylene glycol if someone wants to go look up its corrosive properties. The red stuff I'm not sure, as I've never bought or used any.

 

[JAG87]

radiator fluid will damage your pump. the only thing that should be used is distilled water, or better yet de-ionized water, and the only thing you can add to it is a colour die, to make your tubes pretty.

 

[Zepper]

If by radiator fluid you mean a solution of antifreeze and distilled water, then yes it will also work fine for water cooling. Zerex is very safe for all metals and plastics. A 10 or 20% solution would do fine. No need for the 33% or higher solution used in cars. But Zerex only comes in non-UV green. You can get specialty solutions all over the web that comes in different colors and UV sensitive too.

.bh.

 

[themusgrat]

I use a bit of antifreeze to make sure that no corrosion happens, then mostly distilled water. Mine has been running for likie 2 years with no water changes... though judging by rising temps, it needs a change. But the important thing is that it has had no corrosion that I can see, and distilled water with a bit of greenish antifreeze has been the normal mix for like forever.

 

[The Mailman]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
I'm not a watercooling guy, but I know my way around my car. "Radiator fluid" is generally only in there to inhibit freezing (why some folks call it "antifreeze") and tends to have slightly worse cooling properties than distilled water. A lot of folks I know with performance engines will run pure water w/ a corrosion inhibiter (redline water wetter is one such product) during the summer, or all year round depending on their climate. Anyone tried the same w/ CPU watercooling?

I'm not sure if 100% antifreeze would do any damage, but the green stuff is usually just propylene glycol if someone wants to go look up its corrosive properties. The red stuff I'm not sure, as I've never bought or used any.

friend at work whos good with cars but horrid with PC's told me about a product out there to add to the engine that allegedly takes 30*C off

would this be a godsent to overclockers?

 

[nealh]

part of the issue is too high of a concentration can impede flow and clog some restrictive blocks

Zerex racing coolant(not antifreeze) is a good addtiive at 5% mixture....Pentosin(red and blue) is nice as well

HydrX works well too

 

[tw33ter]

Originally posted by: Zepper
If by radiator fluid you mean a solution of antifreeze and distilled water, then yes it will also work fine for water cooling. Zerex is very safe for all metals and plastics. A 10 or 20% solution would do fine. No need for the 33% or higher solution used in cars. But Zerex only comes in non-UV green. You can get specialty solutions all over the web that comes in different colors and UV sensitive too.

.bh.

actually, the most widely used kind of zerex used in watercooling is pink lol Pentosin is also popular, and comes in blue, and red(looks more pink once diluted)

http://www.petrastechshop.com/wacoac.html

 

[markymoo]

u add 10% radiator fluid(antifreeze) and 90% distilled water done!

 

[Mark R]

Radiator fluid (anti-freeze) is excellent, and is normally what is used for water cooling.

Commercial auto anti-freeze contains a number of additives which are all important:
1) lubricants to protect the pump
2) corrosion preventers to limit corrosion (especially important if you're using different metals in your system, e.g. copper and aluminium)
3) Limescale inhibitors - prevent limescale particles from forming if impure water is used for dilution

You should use the manufacturer's recommendation of somewhere between 33-50% concentrate mixed with water to make the solution - diluting more than this reduces the amount of lubricant and corrosion preventer - using more than this, reduces heat transfer effectiveness. Alternatively, just get a pre-mixed solution.

It's very important that if you are changing from one type of additive to another that you flush the system thoroughly with water - as different brands of additive (especially radically different formulas) can interact to produce undesirable chemicals.

 

[nealh]

NO...33-50% is too high

Pentosin recommendation is 10%
Zerex 5% mixture..

 

[tw33ter]

For watercooling a loop that has nothing but copper in it, pure distilled water will give you the best performance. We only add antifreeze to the water in order to :

1) prevent corrosion in which different metals are used

2) kill any algae or anything other nasties that might be growing in the water

Lately some people have just been using distilled water + 10 or so drops of iodine (make sure it's not the kind that has alcohol in it)

 

[imported_OrSin]

Remember the other reason for distilled water only is it not conductive.
If you have a leak distilled water will not short your systems. If you mix anything with distilled water it becomes highly conductive. I think for the small increase in colling you might get its just not worth it. Just a word of warning.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: tw33ter
For watercooling a loop that has nothing but copper in it, pure distilled water will give you the best performance. We only add antifreeze to the water in order to :

1) prevent corrosion in which different metals are used

2) kill any algae or anything other nasties that might be growing in the water

Lately some people have just been using distilled water + 10 or so drops of iodine (make sure it's not the kind that has alcohol in it)

This question comes up so many times.
1. Antifreeze is not all the same. The person i quoted from is correct. It doesnt serve any cooling benifits. Think about it, It would say SUPERCOOLANT and not ANTIFREEZE if it cooled better. The principles in cars is to prevent the engine from freezing over and to keep your radiator free from rust and algae.

2. The pumps on cars are built differently from pumps like D5 or the liang DDC. These pumps are highly sensitive to phosphates so you need to use a phosphate free antifreeze. Only a few company even offers this, one is zerex, but not regular zerex, its a high performance zerex used on race cars and other exotic cars. PEPBoys and Autozone will not carry this line as its too rediculously expensive. The only local place to obtain a phosphate free antifreeze would a porsche dealer.

3. DI water alone is fine, and will cool the beset, BUT, be prepared to see green hair crap growing in your tubes and possibly even cloging your radiator. IM TALKING ABOUT ALGAE! the thing is worse then a infestation of cockaroachs. They can grow in almost anything and even in your coolant if you dont periodically flush your system every 6-8 months. RESPECT THE ALGAE! they been around since the dawn of time and they will most likely out live our entire species.

 

[0roo0roo]

better to use the less toxic stuff. fumes..not good.

 

[0roo0roo]

http://www.overclockers.com/articles993/
http://www.overclockers.com/tips1153/

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: aigomorla

Originally posted by: tw33ter
For watercooling a loop that has nothing but copper in it, pure distilled water will give you the best performance. We only add antifreeze to the water in order to :

1) prevent corrosion in which different metals are used

2) kill any algae or anything other nasties that might be growing in the water

Lately some people have just been using distilled water + 10 or so drops of iodine (make sure it's not the kind that has alcohol in it)

This question comes up so many times.
1. Antifreeze is not all the same. The person i quoted from is correct. It doesnt serve any cooling benifits. Think about it, It would say SUPERCOOLANT and not ANTIFREEZE if it cooled better. The principles in cars is to prevent the engine from freezing over and to keep your radiator free from rust and algae.

2. The pumps on cars are built differently from pumps like D5 or the liang DDC. These pumps are highly sensitive to phosphates so you need to use a phosphate free antifreeze. Only a few company even offers this, one is zerex, but not regular zerex, its a high performance zerex used on race cars and other exotic cars. PEPBoys and Autozone will not carry this line as its too rediculously expensive. The only local place to obtain a phosphate free antifreeze would a porsche dealer.

3. DI water alone is fine, and will cool the beset, BUT, be prepared to see green hair crap growing in your tubes and possibly even cloging your radiator. IM TALKING ABOUT ALGAE! the thing is worse then a infestation of cockaroachs. They can grow in almost anything and even in your coolant if you dont periodically flush your system every 6-8 months. RESPECT THE ALGAE! they been around since the dawn of time and they will most likely out live our entire species.

Supposedly NAPA auto parts sells Zerex racing coolant..under a different name..like valvoline product..wish I could remember

Any idea if about BMW antifreeze...I had to buy this for my car..$20

 

[aigomorla]

i heard maybe BMW might be acceptable as well. You should call the service desk if in doubt and ask them directly if there antifreeze contains phosphates. If they say no, your good to throw it in.

 

[XJustMeX21]

 

[nealh]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
i heard maybe BMW might be acceptable as well. You should call the service desk if in doubt and ask them directly if there antifreeze contains phosphates. If they say no, your good to throw it in.

Thanks

I am using Zerex racing coolant right now but I will check on phosphates