EK Nickel Plating still a problem?? - Page 3

I'm pretty sure it will only be a matter of time before it fails. You'll probably just have to ride it out and hope yours lasts longer than most, then buy a different block or live with it once it starts happening.

I've posted my thoughts on the matter here.

Based on complaints here and elsewhere, I'd say its safe to say the new "EN Nickel" is no different than original Nickel. And based on our rma rate last year, its a 1 to 2 out of 10 chance that yours will have these issues. It will boil down to how the block was prepped and plated and not what you put into your loop.
If you use it, just keep an eye on your loop, and RMA it if it shows any signs of falling apart.
I would insist on a copper replacement in the event that occurs.

just to let you know the old thread you pointed to was a old one before we worked on Biocide extreme. Which is a tad different how ever PT nuke will be fine but i cannot comment on any problems with EK plating sorry. Thats one war i what to avoid and stay away from.

Can someone link where EK blamed distilled water?

EK blamed lots of things, including its customers and retailers.

and i know why, because im near guranteeing that they stopped carrying nickel blocks.

Just go to Ek site and search "corrosion", but basically state issue with distilled here and here and testing here.

People use nickel for aesthetics/prevent copper oxidation, but flaking/discolored nickel looks far worse than copper oxidation. And copper oxidation can be cleaned 100% of time with salt/vinegar in 5 mins, unlike nickel issues. To me EKs message is dont use our nickel blocks, look what happens when you do. And those short tests with anti-corrosives still have early staining, just delaying the inevitable.

Thanks for the links.

As far as I see, they aren't blaming distilled water in any of those links. They only mention that distilled water doesn't have anti-corrosives, which is why corrosion is more often present in customers loop, as well as test loops than it is in loops where customer is using an anti-corrosive additive.

You're right though, corrosion is inevitable in mixed metal loops, which is almost every loop. If you have a copper radiator with brass pipes and tin welding, you're mixing metals.

Blaming distilled water vs saying you get corrosion with distilled since doesnt have anti-corrosives, to me just 2 ways of saying same thing...semantics.

Erosion-corrosion/flaking of cheap, thin, mass produced, questionably prepped nickel coating is inevitable and over a relatively short time frame from what we have seen, and often before use of product is up. I wouldnt use those nickel plated blocks with or without anti-corrosives, but thats just me.

Copper/brass/tin solder and copper blocks without nickel, while corrosion is inevitable, it is over a very long time frame 10+ years, which most will update equipment long before it is an issue.

Ive been watercooling almost 10 yrs, I have had rads that were 7 yrs old and still performed fine, copper blocks many years old, and pumps 7 years old. Just some oxidation on rad openings, blocks, and some erosion of nickel on fittings,. Nothing even remotely unusable, upgrades will occur long before one is likely to see any problems. Distilled and biocide is fine for copper/brass rads/blocks/pumps without nickel.

If someone wants to sell benzotriazole, which reduces copper oxidation plus biocide at a reasonable price, I have nothing against such an anti-corrosive. But bottling/diluting zerex concentrate or other automotive concentrated inhibitors and charging 10x price mark up, that I wont be buying or using because of sulfates which are contraindicated with impingement systems because they break down and cause sludging. Not to mention, just buy the concentrate and add to distilled yourself. Ever wonder why not one of the manufactures list their anticorrosives? And if they dont list and they protect aluminum, they likely have sulfates. You can look at MSDS and match some with known auto antifreezes concentrates, even down to color/dilution.
Edited by opt33 - 6/20/12 at 4:12pm