automotive coolant for PC watercooling that mixes copper, aluminum, nickel, brass and silicone tubing

[pokazene_maslo]

Hi. I need an advice which automotive coolant is good for PC water cooling loop that consists of aluminum, copper, nickel, brass, silicone tubing, acetal and plastic pump. Getting rid of aluminum is not an option for me. I don't want to use coolants that are made by PC watercooling companies because of high price and weak anti-corrosive properties (and I need 3 liters (0.66 gallons) of coolant for my loop). I'm in Europe, so it has to be something that's available on EU market. For example VW group has several coolant standards: G11, G12, G12+, G12++, G13, Mercedes has their own standard and so on. So I don't know which should i choose. For example on wikipedia is written that sodium or potassium 2-ethylhexanoate act as plasticizer for silicone rubber so such coolants are not an option.

Thanks!

 

[erocker]

GM Dex-Cool equivilent is meant for mixed metals and is probably the cheapest option.

 

[pokazene_maslo]

I looked into the Dex-cool and here is written that it contains potassium 2-ethylhexanoate (no more than 5%). Is it safe?

 

[Steevo]

I have used standard glycol at 25% solution level in distilled water with an additional surfactant in my loop for 10 + years and it’s only been changed twice and never had any sign of corrosion.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

So i guess it is ok to use car stuff in my loop. Would this be ok? tempted to try it.
https://prestone.com/
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/259578725

 

[looniam]

I looked into the Dex-cool and here is written that it contains potassium 2-ethylhexanoate (no more than 5%). Is it safe?

get that "inferior green stuff" mentioned. though i've heard a few ppl swear by the Honda pink.

fwiw, don't climb too far down the rabbit hole. wannabe chemists will come out of the woodwork to argue.

 

[Shrek]

3 liters (0.66 gallons)

Don't forget the US gallon is smaller than the Imperial gallon you are using.

 

[seth1911]

Ni isnt the Problem, the main Problem about watercoolers is Ai and Cu

But yeah every one is a youtube profi, im a stupid guy who work as metalworker

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Would be fine, but where is the aluminium in your loop? Pretty sure mine is copper, nickel, brass, silicone tubing, acetal and plastic pump rotor only

 

[looniam]

Would be fine, but where is the aluminium in your loop? Pretty sure mine is copper, nickel, brass, silicone tubing, acetal and plastic pump rotor only

maybe re-using EKWB fluid gaming crap or a CLC?
though aliexpress and even amazon sells AL blocks, let alone all the junk on ebay. not the first time of heard of "all the above."

i like crazy ppl.

 

[seth1911]

Some CPU coolers are made of Ai and some radiators are made of Ai.

 

[DR4G00N]

Any generic AF will work fine, I'd go for a propylene glycol based one though since it's much less toxic than ethylene glycol based.

 

[Vario]

Some CPU coolers are made of Ai and some radiators are made of Ai.

Al, aluminum. Ai, artificial intelligence.

 

[seth1911]

Yeah true story i forgott that Amis have no brain, thats the reason that they need foot, inch and gallones
They even not ready to use the metric system.

 

[pokazene_maslo]

Would be fine, but where is the aluminium in your loop? Pretty sure mine is copper, nickel, brass, silicone tubing, acetal and plastic pump rotor only

Aluminum is in my main radiator - Zalman Reserator 1. I bought that thing maybe 18 years ago.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Aluminum is in my main radiator - Zalman Reserator 1. I bought that thing maybe 18 years ago.

Get e cheap copper/brass one. That alu one is not good in a mixed loop

 

[pokazene_maslo]

Passive copper/brass radiators are very expensive - around 1000 euro. That's why getting rid of aluminum is not an option and I don't want active radiator.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

Passive copper/brass radiators are very expensive - around 1000 euro. That's why getting rid of aluminum is not an option and I don't want active radiator.

ok

 

[looniam]

Passive copper/brass radiators are very expensive - around 1000 euro. That's why getting rid of aluminum is not an option and I don't want active radiator.

i looked at hexus' review earlier, i'd want to try it out if i had it a box, really interesting set up. got the cpu block too?

Zalman Reserator 1

It all depends on what you want. Do you want to overclock? Look elsewhere. Do you mind a wee bit of fan noise? Look elsewhere. Do you want is-my-PC-even-switched-on silence? Give Zalman your money now, they thoroughly deserve it.

hexus.net

E; oops forgot the link

 

[Shrek]

Not sure this is relevant to computers, but I have always wondered what strength of anti-freeze no longer expands when it freezes.

 

[Deleted member 24505]

i looked at hexus' review earlier, i'd want to try it out if i had it a box, really interesting set up. got the cpu block too?

Zalman Reserator 1

It all depends on what you want. Do you want to overclock? Look elsewhere. Do you mind a wee bit of fan noise? Look elsewhere. Do you want is-my-PC-even-switched-on silence? Give Zalman your money now, they thoroughly deserve it.

hexus.net

E; oops forgot the link

The graph doesn't show it, but it took a full two hours to drop back to the 39°C idle temperature it posted. How the feck did it get a score of 10.

 

[xrobwx71]

Is it safe?

What do you mean by safe? When handling it, you'll need eye protection and gloves.

 

[Shrek]

I think he may mean safe with silicone rubber.

For example on wikipedia is written that sodium or potassium 2-ethylhexanoate act as plasticizer for silicone rubber so such coolants are not an option.

I looked into the Dex-cool and here is written that it contains potassium 2-ethylhexanoate (no more than 5%). Is it safe?

 

[Deleted member 24505]

I think he may mean safe with silicone rubber.

Is it ok for EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) ? It is what my EK tubing is made of

 

[Shrek]

Using the OPs reference
Antifreeze - Wikipedia
"One of the anti-corrosion components presented as sodium or potassium 2-ethylhexanoate and ethylhexanoic acid is incompatible with nylon 6,6 and silicone rubber, and is a known plasticizer."