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Problems Bleeding my Loop

T

thatguyX

n00b
Joined
Jun 7, 2004
Messages
52
I've had my WC loop setup for about 3 weeks now and I'm still having trouble with bubbles forming in the loop. It's a single loop: Res/Pump>RX120>RX240>CPU>GPU>Res/Pump

Components:
-HK 3.0 LT on an i7 920
-EK-FC285 GTX (no stand offs, card doesn't appear to be bending)
-Swiftech 350 +XSPC Res top
-XSPC RX120 + XSPC RX240
-Primochill 3/8"ID tubing and using Feser VSC fluid.
all connected with TFC Compression fittings and some Bitspower 90* Rotaries and 45* adapters

I've let the system run with the res top off for at least 48 hours, every now and then tapping the res and the GPU block to move some trapped bubbles. But after a day or so, the bubbles always come back. The Res looks about clear after bleeding, but the GPU block can be clear except for two pockets of bubbles that I can't seem to get rid of. One pocket just swirls around near the center of the block and tapping only breaks up the bubbles, but they don't go anywhere. Also overtime towards the back of the card, another pocket of mini bubbles seem to form again and again.

I've tried titling the whole computer and tapping while everything is on. I've even turned it upside down, while it's off, but the bubbles always come back.

Also if I bleed the system correctly and then seal the res, when the pump turns off and on, the fluid level shouldn't change right? It always seems to move about 1/4-1/2" when the system powers up or down. Are these bubbles affecting the efficiency of my loop or just something I need to get over and forget?
 
I don't know why you're having issues, I have the same pump/top and it only takes me a couple of hours tops of constant running to bleed all the air out.
 
The best way to start the bleeding process is by cycling the pump on and off when first bleeding.

I also suggest you cap off the XSPC reservoir top and tilt your machine while the pumps are running, that way the air pockets will be removed quicker.

The reason you are seeing the fluid level change is due to the fact, when the air bubbles are released, the void left is being filled by your liquid in the closed loop.:)
 
@RedRaider: I've tilted my rig and i've shaken it , hell if it was a small child it'd have shaken baby syndrome by now. I'll let it settle and see if I still get the same problems.

Would it be ok if I were to say... unplug and plug the pump while the system is running? Obviously I wouldn't leave the pump off for too long, but just enough to get a few jump starts and see if it clears the lines? I dont have an extra PSU to test just the loop, and while I could just unplug some stuff and Jump start the PSU, i'd rather not because its a bit of squeeze and annoying to have to unplug and then replug everything.
 
unplug everything from your power supply except the pump. then put a paper clip in the motherboard connector shorting out any black wire and the green wire. (i think this is right but search it or let someone confirm before you use that info.) and then you can turn on the psu and run the loop without any of the computer components on. remember that the air will always want to float either up, or with the current, so tilt your computer so that the current where the bubbles are faces up. the only thing that you cant fix is an eddy, where there is actually a whirlpool. this seems to be the case with your gpu block, which is weird because they should be designed to have clear flow through and avoid this. contact the manufacturer and ask if its possible to have an eddy in your block. you may be warping the block and not realize it.
 
thatguyX said:
@RedRaider: I've tilted my rig and i've shaken it , hell if it was a small child it'd have shaken baby syndrome by now. I'll let it settle and see if I still get the same problems.

Would it be ok if I were to say... unplug and plug the pump while the system is running? Obviously I wouldn't leave the pump off for too long, but just enough to get a few jump starts and see if it clears the lines? I dont have an extra PSU to test just the loop, and while I could just unplug some stuff and Jump start the PSU, i'd rather not because its a bit of squeeze and annoying to have to unplug and then replug everything.
Click to expand...


It will not hurt a thing, temps will not even rise very much if at all, run Coretemp while you are doing it for piece of mind if you like. As long as the pump has fluid no worries.

I wonder if you might have a small leak on the suction side of the pump that is pulling air in. Normally people notice it as a small stream of bubbles "appears" at a connection but if the leak was small enough you would just get a bubble every now and then. Very unlikely and with your res I an not sure - happens all the time in closed loops.

Anywho - while you are in there, I would wiggle all the fittings and look carefully for bubbles coming from connectors. I worry about those Rotaries, a prime candidate for having a small leak. Ensure your compression nuts are tight, as finger tight as you can get them and then an extra 1/8 turn (just a bit) with a pair of pliers etc. Going in and messing with the fittings like that would make the paper clip method mentioned above a very good idea, one drop of fluid on the motherboard of video card could be all it takes to ruin your day.

A wild shot in the dark but after a week at worst (unless the machine was only on for a couple hours a day) and the bubbles should have been gone. They gotta be coming from somewhere.

A few bubbles running around are not going to really hurt anything, but they are an indication that something is not quite right.

Thats my thoughts, just guessing, good luck.
 
So I've tried just Jumpstarting the PSU to get the pump to run... flipped the whole case upside down while the pump is running... and nothing. Infact I think the bubbles are getting worse?! I've also tried tighitng all the fittings as much as possible by hand (no extra 1/8" turn), Granted I only did this a few hours ago, but it's still annoying the hell outta me. I'm also worried there are more bubbles getting stuck in the GPU WB. Is it possible that I didn't clean out the 2nd rad enough times and contaminants are causing bubbles in the loop? Based on what Bill said, I previously wasn't worried about the bubbles, just trying ot get them out. But now that there are more and more bubbles building in the GPU block (especially in one corner) I'm getting worried that it's soon just gonna be all air =\

Cliff Notes:
Tightened all Compression Fittings... Check
Turned Case upside down... Check
Ran just the pump via jumpstarting...Check
Bubbles from Hell... Double Check >_<

:edit
I checked the GPU Block again... now it's forming decent sized bubbles. They're big enough to get me worried that it's not cooling on of the chips (off to the side near the back of the card). I took the card up and tilted it vertically and the bubbles went through the loop, but I'm worried they'll come back. I also noticed that on the rest of the block, it looks like some kidn of white condensation is building up. I'm guessing the rad wasn't cleaned enough? Do I have to tear everything apart and clean it, or can I flush it? If I have to tear apart the loop, what's the best way to clean it?
 
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i seem to be having the same problem as you do. When i first built my loop (Koolance cpu340-swiftech mcr220-microres-mcp655-cpu340) It bled out no problem within an hour. A month later, i drained the system to move the pump to a different mount, and wuddaya know... it seems like i can never get rid of those pesky bubbles from hell as well...
 
can you post pics of your rig? get some big shots and a couple detailed shots of everything. if you can, post the links or thumbs on this thread to keep page loading times down. imageshack.us is a good site for hosting if you dont have a preference.
 
@ekuest here are some pics First pic is a close up of the Bubbles after i tapped everything out, and about 1.5 hours of playing TF2 and the 2nd pic is the whole loop, The liquid through teh block doesnt seem clear, looks a little hazy. It's hard to make out but to the outlet side of the card (right side) you can see white streaks/build up?



:edit
Including a third picture, which is a close up of the "haziness" and what I think is some kind of build up on the block. You can see it around most of the block except for teh far left which is where the bubbles have been forming. If it is just build up, do I have to tear part all the blocks and use ketchup or would it be possible to just flush with boiled distilled water and then re-fill with fresh Feser V.S.C?

:edit
imageshack


 
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sorry man i forgot about you. can you repost those pics on imageshack.us or something? that site kept opening popups that i couldnt close, so i couldnt even see your pictures.

got it. went to full screen and the pop ups didnt... pop up.
 
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ok so heres my thought process so far in rorscach journal style: wtf? doesnt make sense. warping block? is that even possible? res can make bubbles... pic of res? pump mouting orientation? bubbles stuck to acetal top or to block? try reversing flow direction. according to ek can go either way. try using bracket.
 
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