water is better...i think?!?

[yoink]

Hey all, I am in the process of watercooling right now, an inline system and here are my cooling specs...

Via Aqua 1300 pump
'87 Chevette heater core w/ 120 mm (i think) fan pushing thru.
black edge BeCooling waterblock
homemade lexan hold-down

My temp right now is 42 while just typing on my 850 duron running at stock. This is about the same temp i would get using my old volcano 2. My questions is, what could be wrong? I don't see any air bubbles, could any be trapped in my wb maybe? Here are some pics of my setup as it is right now. bear in mind....work in progress.

Thanks in advance for any help offered.

[yoink]

[IMG]wb.jpg[IMG]

[cack01]

My first guess would be that you have air in the heater core as opposed to the water block. Shake your heater core around a little while the pump is off. I did this about 2 week ago, and I must have had enough air come out to fill a foot of tubing. (I'm not exagerating.) Also what mixture are you using for your coolant. If you can get that a pic up of your heater core, so we can see the air flow though it.

[yoink]

here it is....a shroud and second fan is in the works, i just need $$ and time...im gonna turn my pc off now and shake some heater core ;) I hope the pic works.

[yoink]

btw, i just have distilled water and a small amount of blue food coloring...I didn't have any anti-freeze on me...Like i said, its a work in progress:beer:

[SkiFletch]

well, i'd also be somewhat suspect of that waterblock. although BECooling is a great store, do you know what the flowpath is through it? just curious...

[cack01]

try putting the shroud you have on there and the fan on the same side. Also I can't really tell from the pic if thats a120mm or not looks a little small to me, but wait for a second opinion.

EDIT: my fault I though that was a shroud, but I guess it duct tape :rolleyes: . A shroud will drop the temps about 2 degrees I suspect. Also the lower the heater core is, the cooler the air it will get.

[yoink]

why will putting the heater core low, help its temp? becuase hot air rises? Oh, btw, i measured the fan and it is 120 mm on the dot...sorry for the confusion, but i got it at a surplus store, and there are no labels i don't think. it seems to be pushing some considerable air. On yet another note, i don't happen to know the flow path of my wb. Is it just me or is there something seriously wrong when watercooling gives you no better cooling than air. As far as i can guess it is either bad cpu contact(which it isn't, i re-did it just incase) or air in the system. On the other hand, since the temp seems to rise slowly until it hits 42 or so even when i am just typing, i think it also could just be that my heatercore/fan is not cooling off the water enough. Keep the ideas coming please?

Watercooling Newb,
Yoink

[Diggrr]

That's actually pretty darned good temps considering how the fan is mounted.
Without the use of a fan shroud, you're only using about 1/5 or less of the cooling capacity of that heatercore. Sure the heatercore has lots of surface, but the fan is only blowing on a tiny portion of it.

Got some cardboard to make a box to mount that fan about an inch away from the heatercore's surface, and enclose the fin area? Try it for testing if you want something spiffier, you can replace it later.

[Lt. Max]

also, mab u need more pressure on the wblock. ?

[cack01]

if your temps are slowly rising, then I suspect your heater core. In many cases air and water cooling have the same idle temps, b/c abient temp is usually the limiting factor. your load temp is usually where you will see a big difference between water and air.

I am still suspecting there is air in your heater core b/c its at the highest point, and the barbs are also at the lowest point on the core; which means air probably isn't going to want to leave very easily. Try flipping it up sidedown alittle.

[SkiFletch]

well, i took a look at that waterblock from the outside and it seems to have side inlets and outlets. you're most likely dealing with an S configuration in your waterblock. such a configuration is similar to the one used on a Koolance waterblock wich everyone around here will tell you is sufficient, but not that good (just like your temps). most will remind you that a block wich utilizes an inlet directly atop the die will be much better (such as a gemini, Dtek Spir@l, or a Maze type waterblock). that being said, i'd be more wary of your waterblock or your flowrate. heatercores are proven to work well, so unless it is air trapped in there, that is not your problem. good luck finding the solution

[JFettig]

nothing rong with the block, its a good one, the air in the core is the problem, not having a shroud is a problem

[yoink]

hey all, i added a shroud and a second 120 mm fan....guess what the temps are worse!! I don't get it...here's a pick of my shroud.

[cack01]

Are the fans pointed in the same direction??? Thats really wierd that the temps got worse.

[BlackLight1880]

I had a similar problem (same temps as before watercool) earlier this week and through some advice of these guys I helped my temps drop a little.

My main #1 problem was (like someone just said a few posts up) was the pressure on the block. I really thought It was fine when I mounted it. I was careful about tightening the nuts evenly and in a pattern. Someone noticed I still had some slack left on my springs and suggested that I take them all the way down to a full compression. I did.

Just by tightening down on the block, a lost 2 deg C.

My #2 prob was the setup of my tubing. I had way too much and as a result, my flow wasn't as good as it could have been. So I shortened it and as a result I achieved a higher flow rate and my temps dropped another deg C.

Like you, i'm still experimenting with the shrouding and I haven't noticed a difference yet but I think the key work is "experimenting".

You'll eventually find a nice balance of flow and air and it seems that it falls into place from there.

Good Luck!

[cack01]

Make sure the fan that pushes the air towards the core is faster or same speed as the other speed. This way it doesn't hurts the other fan's air flow.

[yoink]

yeah the fans are definately going in the same direction.....south to be exact:D
What i don't get is, the only variables that changed were the extra fan, and the shroud...weird....maybe its a little hotter in the room right now but still.