Radiator fins...

[TechtonicPC]

Couple questions...

I made a booboo and grabbed the wrong screw to fit to my radiator. Long story short, I was not paying attention and screwed down into the fins.

Is this a major deal? I am not sure exactly how these things work. I mean water dosnt run through there right? They just transfer heat fromt he water running on the end of the radiator?

I have the MCR220-QP.

I have a BIX-II I can use instead, I was just gonna try out the MCR220 because I hear it is better at it's job!

[Conumdrum]

As long as you didn't punch a hole in a tube, it's fine. Consider yourself lucky!

[atomic ferret]

Yeah, a few bent fins don't really matter, but I would run water through it to make sure you didn't hit a tube.

[TechtonicPC]

As long as you didn't punch a hole in a tube, it's fine. Consider yourself lucky!

And just to clarify...sorry for my ignorance...the tubes are the very thin flat metal running horizontally between the fins?

[TechtonicPC]

Yea it didn't come with screws, and I was doing three things at once with multiple size screws laying around...:bang head ... not so smart on my part!


Also while im on the subject, what additive are most of you using in your WC setup nowadays? Been a while since I have had to buy any, and I was mixing distilled with mct-20...not sure exact number.

And I still use a T-Line instead of a res...that still okay to do?

[jr1]

just destilled and ptnuke or some kind of antialgae
i got mine at a local petstore

[phil178821]

Yea it didn't come with screws, and I was doing three things at once with multiple size screws laying around...:bang head ... not so smart on my part!


Also while im on the subject, what additive are most of you using in your WC setup nowadays? Been a while since I have had to buy any, and I was mixing distilled with mct-20...not sure exact number.

And I still use a T-Line instead of a res...that still okay to do?

i picture rads as crazy network of thin tubing, with many fins coming off of the tubes. so yeah, as long as you didnt puncture the tubes you are fin. bent fins can decrease efficiency and increase noise, however, one or so isnt bad. plus, you can normally bend them right back.

i currently use distilled and pt-nuke, which is sold at petra's. i have used swiftech hydrx. most dont like it but i enjoyed the green color :).

i hate my t-line. i just purchased a new case, a full tower. but in my mid tower, with my rad mounted of the back, it was such a pain to bleed the system. i dont know if it was because of how cramped the case is or poor loop arrangement, but it was so annoying. in the new case, i will be adding a swiftech mcres.

[QuietIce]

Yea it didn't come with screws, and I was doing three things at once with multiple size screws laying around...:bang head ... not so smart on my part!


Also while im on the subject, what additive are most of you using in your WC setup nowadays? Been a while since I have had to buy any, and I was mixing distilled with mct-20...not sure exact number.

And I still use a T-Line instead of a res...that still okay to do? Crimping a few fins won't hurt. I do it all the time with my heater cores because I have few other choices short of building a full-blown cover for the things. :)

For additive I use 1 gallon of distilled water mixed with 8 drops of common iodine (just make sure it's labeled iodine) and a little algaecide from the local aquarium store. (see label for amount - they're all a little different. And don't worry about having to re-apply it as some labels recommend. Once the loop is cleaned out I've never seen it grow things.)

T-lines are still great to use! I've never used a res and doubt I ever will. If you do decide to go with a res the Swiftech MicroRes is the best - small footprint and all the INs and OUTs you need for convenience. It's the only one I've ever considered.


Good luck on your project and keep us posted ...! :)

[KosAMD]

You can actually put a hole in the tubes and be ok. So long as you seal off each end, you radiator will still work. Will most likely be a little less effective and more prone to leaking after this however.