AIO Coolant Recharging

[unsafesteagle]

Hi everyone throw dos n donts at recharging an AIO Cooler with coolant.

Heres real life example as this cooler was recently removed and tubing "accidently" popped out.





Thanks !

 

[EarthDog]

Do - Throw it away

Don't - Refill it

Being serious...if the tubes 'accidentally' popped out (or was that code for you pulled them out? lol), it's better off in the garbage.

 

[unsafesteagle]

(or was that code for you pulled them out? lol)

Tight fit through the pass through , alittle too much pressure and it unexpectedly popped out.
block passed through there before more than once actually , this time not so much.

 

[EarthDog]

I..............yikes. LOL. Are they supposed to pop out or are those broken? What AIO is that (doesn't look like the one in your sig?)?

 

[unsafesteagle]

That AIO Cooler is the Thermaltake Big Water 3.0
Its a 3 x 120mm radiator. Does not have any g 1/4" fittings.
The Tubing appears crimped onto the radiator and as you can see pressed into the waterblock.

Besides for not knowing how it was assembled theres no other visible damage

Post magically merged: Feb 20, 2024

Also at some point i considered and passed on modifying it to extend the tubing length.

 

[BugFreak]

Luckily they popped out not in your running pc! I would toss it and get another. Its just not worth the risk of it happening another time.

As for recharging an AIO. I did this to an old Swiftech AIO a few years back treating it like any other water cooled system. Drained it, ran Mayhems cleaner through it as instructed in the kit then refilled with a premix fluid. It ran fine for years after that but I wouldn't consider it with that kit.

 

[Nebulous]

Those fittings are supposed to be held in by some sort of U or C-Clip. If it popped out, best to just "Pop" in the garbage can. I'll bet the clip just dissolved itself since it's made of cheap plastic.

 

[unsafesteagle]

If it popped out, best to just "Pop" in the garbage can.

That is what i ended up doing , removing the fans and tossing the Rad n CPU Block/Pump


Thanks

 

[Flamethrower1972]

I have heard that some AIO'S can be refillable.

 

[EarthDog]

I have heard that some AIO'S can be refillable.

There are some, indeed. However, the either have a fill port, or the in/outlets are supposed to come out.

 

[67Elco]

I would have repaired it and kept it for at least a out of case bench/test rig.

 

[Railgun]

Those fittings are supposed to be held in by some sort of U or C-Clip. If it popped out, best to just "Pop" in the garbage can. I'll bet the clip just dissolved itself since it's made of cheap plastic.

Those look like press fit. I was literally just looking at something last week that also had press fittings, and I can’t for the life of me find it again.

Technically, with low pressure, it would work fine.

 

[67Elco]

Why not drill a hole in the radiator tank and epoxy a bung/plug in place?

 

[Flamethrower1972]

Why not drill a hole in the radiator tank and epoxy a bung/plug in place?

That might not be a good idea.

 

[67Elco]

That might not be a good idea.

Been done thousands of times successfully...same thing manufacturers do that offer the port.

 

[Flamethrower1972]

Been done thousands of times successfully...same thing manufacturers do that offer the port.

Oh, ok I just was not aware of that.