[Solved]** URGENT ** Water pump problems

[Dalkamyr]

Hi guys. Yesterday evening I came back home to find my PC had shut down. It must have hit tj max because when I started the pc again my pump wasn't pulling any water...

I knocked it on the side a little bit with a hammer (gently) and after a few hits it started working again... But every now and then. I want to say about once or twice per hour, the pump stops pulling water again until I knock a little again.

What should I do at this point?

A) drain all the liquid out, clean the different components including the radiator, to free the loop from any debris hindering the pump...?

B) change the pump right now?

OR

C) other things you guys think I should do BEFORE buying a new pump

 

[dgianstefani]

B

 

[the54thvoid]

I'd replace the pump AND stop hitting it with a hammer, no matter how gently you're doing it.

 

[Dalkamyr]

I'd replace the pump AND stop hitting it with a hammer, no matter how gently you're doing it.

Haha

I was asking because I did hear about people managing to Fix their pumps. By cleaning them. Although I'm not sure how to clean it...

 

[dorsetknob]

Always A before B

AND stop hitting it with a hammer, no matter how gently you're doing it.

^^^ Even if its a Satisfying feeling it ^^^

C >> go back to air cooling ( suggested before others chime in )

 

[cucker tarlson]

is it out of warranty ?

 

[Grog6]

Haha

I was asking because I did hear about people managing to Fix their pumps. By cleaning them. Although I'm not sure how to clean it...

If it is a design that doesn't use bearings, a magnetic drive type of pump, you might take it apart, clean it, and use it for another period.

But, if it's a design that uses bearings and a feed-thru shaft, it's probably corroded at the shaft, binding up, and isn't generally fixable. Trash and replace.

To find out, you have to open up everything; you especially want to look for goo in the jet plates in the waterblocks.

As far as cleaning; it's an inside out fishtank(, without fish, hopefully).

It will be coated with various grunge and spooge; "Captain Obvious voice: "Remove all that, and it's clean!"



Separate everything that will separate, run brushes thru tubes.

I use one wash of vinegar and Dawn in a thick solution, while scrubbing with brushes, then rinse with Baking soda and water; so it foams like crazy, pulling crap out of all the crevices.

Soak the water blocks in a solution of vinegar and water, then baking soda and water.

Use a magnifier to make sure you got all the crap out of the micro-channels; the water blocks are important.

Make VERY sure to get all the vinegar and soda out at the end.

Soda eats Aluminum very badly.
Tide laundry detergent is worse, lol.

At the end of the day, If you wouldn't use the pump and system to make drinks with, it's not clean enough; do it again!
(any matter left will breed fast)

 

[xtreemchaos]

what type of pump ? and what coolant are you using ?

 

[Dalkamyr]

what type of pump ? and what coolant are you using ?

It's a Thermaltake p500 pump (cheap pump apparently, came with the pc, bought the pc used)

Coolant is ek ekoolant EVO blood red...

I did disassemble everything. Tried fixing the pump. It seems to be both magnetic and a shaft as well (maybe, if my eyes aren't tricking me)

Ever since I cleaned it today, it spins much better and pumps water really well although it now makes a rather loud grinding noise which it didn't do before...

Will probably change it for a d5 tomorrow

So yeah, the grinding noise I hear is probably the "bearings" which are probably done right?

Is this just a natural phenomenon of the aging of the pump (when bearings give) or is it rather caused by debris or gunk "clogging" the pump?

In my case when I cleaned it up I didn't notice gunk or debris. Although the radiator did have some debris when I cleaned it up

 

[xtreemchaos]

theres your problem ekoolant EVO blood red. take the pump to bits clean it replace the blood sludge with distilled water it will work fine bro honist. theres a good chance the noise will go once you have cleaned the ceramic impeller shaft and bobin. if after all done yes get a D5 but try to not use pre mix colours because in time it will kill a d5 too.

 

[Assimilator]

At this point you need to drain the entire loop AND replace the pump.

 

[maxfly]

If your pump is making a grinding noise something is definitely not right with it. Make sure the housing screws arent overtightened. Honestly i would plan on getting a solid d5 replacement for it at this point. I cant see trusting it.

 

[Dalkamyr]

theres your problem ekoolant EVO blood red. take the pump to bits clean it replace the blood sludge with distilled water it will work fine bro honist. theres a good chance the noise will go once you have cleaned the ceramic impeller shaft and bobin. if after all done yes get a D5 but try to not use pre mix colours because in time it will kill a d5 too.

1. What's the difference between pre mixed colors and not "pre mixed"

2. I read on many guides that distilled water by itself isn't good. Apparently I need some "biocides". Is that correct?

 

[kayjay010101]

1. What's the difference between pre mixed colors and not "pre mixed"

2. I read on many guides that distilled water by itself isn't good. Apparently I need some "biocides". Is that correct?

Pre mixed means ready to be used, it's been mixed prior to you using it. The other option would be concentrate which you would then use in a solution with some parts (usually 9 parts to 1 part concentrate) distilled water. So 100ml concentrate and 900ml distilled water makes 1L coolant. Or you get clear coolant, which is the safest option but might not please aesthetically.

Distilled water isn't good for long term use as you'll get algae growth and such. That's why coolant are used which have growth inhibitors (prevents life from forming in your loop) and corrosion prohibitors (prevents waterblocks from degrading, galvanic corrosion and such)

 

[xtreemchaos]

anything you add to distilled water makes it thicker making it harder to pump, the particles in the colour breaks down after a short while and get stuck to bits in your loop ie pump shaft ect forcing it to stop working "the stronger the pump the longer it holds off" now with adding your self the colour con you get a idea of how much your putting in with pre mix you have no way of telling. i use nothing but distilled water i get nothing growing or clogging in the loop anywhere but id dont mix metals everything is copper but if you have like a alloy rad you may need a inhib .

 

[Assimilator]

anything you add to distilled water makes it thicker making it harder to pump, the particles in the colour breaks down after a short while and get stuck to bits in your loop ie pump shaft ect forcing it to stop working "the stronger the pump the longer it holds off" now with adding your self the colour con you get a idea of how much your putting in with pre mix you have no way of telling. i use nothing but distilled water i get no thing growing or clogging in the loop anywhere but id dont mix metals everything is copper but if you have like a alloy rad you may need a inhib .

You must flush your loop pretty often then.

 

[xtreemchaos]

no this one been running a good while, to get stuff growing it needs to be put in the system, spores ect if you have good distilled water theres nothing in it to grow.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Mayhems x1 clear fluid
If you want color get their nonstaining dies additive drops
Use mayhems part 1 on the rads and part 2 on the entire system for cleaning.

If in the USA modmymods.com has some mods coolant 9.us per liter and one free with discount code coolant
I switched to mods clear coolant seems just fine and made in US easy to get.
They also sell mayhems stuff too.

 

[Vayra86]

Disassemble, go C and never look back.

Thank me later.

 

[Grog6]

I'd use Distilled water, with Antifreeze or water wetter at ~10%.

Use food coloring if you want it colored.

 

[Dalkamyr]

Alright guys, I've got a new pump everything works great. I noticed I have a bit of foam in the reservoir.

Is this a sign im running the pump too fast? It's got 5 different speeds. Mine is at 3 but the loop is a small loop (only cpu cooled for now)

I'll add the GPU to the loop when I upgrade the gracphics card

 

[Grog6]

Hopefully, It's surficants from all the new stuff; it should go away in a few hours; if not...

Rinse repeat, is all I can say.
Maybe soap was still in there somewhere.

 

[Dalkamyr]

Hopefully, It's surficants from all the new stuff; it should go away in a few hours; if not...

Rinse repeat, is all I can say.
Maybe soap was still in there somewhere.

Hmm ok. I doubt there were leftovers, I filled and drained the loop 5 times to get everything out. Is it possible that the coolant I used might be expired. My friend gave me a bottle to use but I'm not sure whether it's too old. The liquid looks great and clear. It's a "en ekoolant clear" solution. So no colors added

 

[fullinfusion]

Hi guys. Yesterday evening I came back home to find my PC had shut down. It must have hit tj max because when I started the pc again my pump wasn't pulling any water...

I knocked it on the side a little bit with a hammer (gently) and after a few hits it started working again... But every now and then. I want to say about once or twice per hour, the pump stops pulling water again until I knock a little again.

What should I do at this point?

A) drain all the liquid out, clean the different components including the radiator, to free the loop from any debris hindering the pump...?

B) change the pump right now?

OR

C) other things you guys think I should do BEFORE buying a new pump

Have you checked the main crucial part of the system? Have you looked and plugged in the pumps power connector tight beit Molex or what have you? That was the case in my system a few years ago

edit: @Dalkamyr what is the make and model of your pump?

Also from years, and I mean many years the best solution to use in your loop is new tubing, distilled water and half an oz of liquid colidial silver that you can buy at most healt food stores.. It'll saturate the loop with silver and you will never get anything growing in the loop at all.. This comes from a guy that hasn't opened his loop in 5 or more years and is still crystal clear as day one

 

[Grog6]

How much foam?

Pix?

A Lot of things can cause a bit of foam, which should go away quickly.

A lot of foam that is constant is not normal.