Clean/Wash Liquid Coolent system with Alcohol?

2007-12-02 15:24:28

#1

tittles: Member; +1|6470

Okay, so im wondering if theres a huge risk/benefit to washing out a liquid coolent system

What I was thinking about doing (because I have this green shit, probably algae growing in my tubes and probably my system) is filling the system with rubbing alcohol (the shit u buy at the store) and running it for 5-10 minutes. Then shutting the system down, draining the alcohol, rinsing it out with boiled water (or tap, but room temp) and then filling with my regular liquid coolent.

Before I wreck my system... Any flaws in this idea?

Im not looking for an algae preventative, im looking for something to eradicate the algae... I just left my case open in the sun with little coolent before I moved, and I believe that is the reason for this growth, I also have LED lights, which probably *fed the algae.

/thanks all

2007-12-02 15:25:29

#2

_NL_Lt.EngineerFox: Big Mouth Prick; +219|7008|Golf 1.8 GTI Wolfsburg Edition

I would just replace the tubes, they dont cost much and it saves a lot of hassling.

2007-12-02 15:30:39

#3

GC_PaNzerFIN: Work and study @ Technical Uni; +528|6891|Finland

didn't you use some anti-algae stuff like glycol?

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2007-12-02 15:33:14

#4

{HMS}_Sir_Del_Boy: Member; +69|7186|th3 unkn0wn

Alcohol = potential fire hazard?

2007-12-02 16:02:36

#5

rubber.sex: Banned; +32|6589|London UK

Honestly buy just buy some more tubes, alcohol will clean them but it will ruin your pump, it would be best to buy some new tube and a pre-mixed coolant.

2007-12-02 16:06:25

#6

tittles: Member; +1|6470

_NL_Lt.EngineerFox wrote:
I would just replace the tubes, they dont cost much and it saves a lot of hassling.

what about internal growth? If the shit was inside the copper I wouldnt be surprised that it would just re-grows on the new tubes

and Fire-Hazzard....
Shit... But for 10 minutes? Maybe not worth the risk - but you need an open flame to ignite alcohol, or just a spark? But it is an internal system I dont know if it would be exposed

Glycol? that works on algae? where would I get some and what would be the procedure?

2007-12-02 16:39:33

#7

FatherTed: xD; +3,936|6977|so randum

Could i be mental and suggest just putting something safe through them? You know, something actually designed for this problem.

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2007-12-02 16:51:57

#8

tittles: Member; +1|6470

FatherTed wrote:
Could i be mental and suggest just putting something safe through them? You know, something actually designed for this problem.

haha someone suggested the Alcohol before

and what do you recommend that is "designed for this problem" ?

2007-12-02 16:54:06

#9

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6630|what

Acid?

Replace the tubes. It's the safe option.

2007-12-02 19:36:30

#10

tittles: Member; +1|6470

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … bsensitive

this is the stuff im using...

but you guys think its only growing on the tubes? what if this shit builds up in the radiator?

2007-12-02 19:41:32

#11

Reciprocity: Member; +721|7058|the dank(super) side of Oregon

tittles wrote:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835106060&Tpk=big%2bwater%2bthermaltake%2buv%2bsensitive

this is the stuff im using...

but you guys think its only growing on the tubes? what if this shit builds up in the radiator?

do you cut that stuff with distilled water?

2007-12-02 21:47:32

#12

tittles: Member; +1|6470

no.

dont add anything to it

but it never gave me any problems until I emptied the system and left it in the sun (well I didnt, but it was left there)

Last edited by tittles (2007-12-02 21:50:03)

2007-12-02 23:39:42

#13

kylef: Gone; +1,352|6970|N. Ireland

tittles wrote:
but it never gave me any problems until I emptied the system and left it in the sun (well I didnt, but it was left there)

You left an open, somewhat moist case in the sun? No wonder algae got in! There are special fluids to clean this sort of problem, but I would go with new tubing all together, and then test the system again.

2007-12-02 23:52:06

#14

-=]NS[=-G.I.Doh: MMMmmmmmm Dooonutz!; +13|6681|Out for donutz!

I wouldn't be surprised if some bleach and water would do the trick. The bleach would kill the fungus faster and clean it out then the alcohol.
We put a few teaspoons of it in emergency drinking water, it kills the algae and other bugs but in small doses safe to drink.

2007-12-03 08:16:54

#15

Strngs012: Could I have 10,000 marbles please; +40|6895|Florida

I'm no expert, but what does the manufacturer of your cooling system suggest?

2007-12-03 08:43:37

#16

Stormscythe: Aiming for the head; +88|7026|EUtopia | Austria

Erhm, seriously, if there's algae within your system, you have two options:

1.) Dump your whole LCS.

2.) Buy new tubes (cleaning them is way too much work) and open each and every cooler, clean them with a toothbrush (and some alcohol, if you wish so) and put them together again - but be sure you've tightened the screws well enough! For the radiator... well... You could forsure try to fill it with alcohol, but there might be some problem getting all that stuff out again.
So the easiest, but probably most risky part is the cleaning of your cooling components. Oh, by the way - what about the pump? No idea how to clean it.

By the way! I would recommend NOT to full everything up with some solvant and then turn it on. If there's really some particles inside the tubes, they could possibly get caught in your water blocks even more. Wouldn't want to see that happen.

Conclusion: Man, your system is pretty screwed, I say.

2007-12-03 09:45:36

#17

cian1500ww: Member; +8|6476|Ireland

If I was you I'd mix a small amount of something like Fairy Liquid in water and put that through first. Shouldn't do any harm.

2007-12-04 18:41:59

#18

tittles: Member; +1|6470

its not chunky algae...

https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/3747/dsc01689yt5.jpg

AFTER RINSING WITH HOT WATER

https://img229.imageshack.us/img229/9347/dsc01699bq6.jpg

and a small amount of liquid bleach? hrm...

any ideas on the bleach? Seems solid to me unless it does hard core corrosion

and Im aware of the reason, the system wasnt open to air though... just my brother left it out for a week sometimes in the sun (depending on TOD)

Last edited by tittles (2007-12-04 18:43:00)

BF2S Forums Clean/Wash Liquid Coolent system with Alcohol?

_NL_Lt.EngineerFox wrote:

FatherTed wrote:

tittles wrote:

tittles wrote:

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