The mother of all leaks.. HEEEELP!

3754 Views 56 Replies 37 Participants Last post by frankenstein406, Dec 23, 2009

NoodleGTS

Discussion Starter · Dec 6, 2009

First of all, Swiftech can go "have intercourse with" themselves!!!!!

My first experience with watercooling ended in a fatal leak with an Apogee GTX that was clearly defective... Ruined my motherboard and processor.

So I was installing my shiny new Apogee XT... I'll describe at length how much I hate that thing in another thread, but it leaked.

My motherboard, RAM, and graphics cards are drenched. I picked up my motherboard after having disconnected everything and tilted sideways and liquid literally poured off of it.

What should I do to maximize the chances of my stuff still working??? The good news is that when I found this massive leak, my computer was still on (no short circuit).

By the way, there was no CPU in the socket because i was "leak testing." Had paper towels and they basically absorbed my entire reservoir full of liquid before the block started, i imagine, spraying liquid all over my system.

Coolant is Feser one.

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Drift0r

· #2 · Dec 6, 2009

Don't know much about watercooling, but make sure to dry off all visible liquid off the equipment before plugging it in again. then maybe a touch of alcohol in the hard to reach places. Sorry to hear that bro

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DuckieHo

· #3 · Dec 6, 2009

you might be fine... just dry it very very well.

iquark

· #4 · Dec 6, 2009

If you were just jumping the PSU then let this dry for a MINIMUM of 24 hours in an open space, and then you will most likely be fine.

Also call Gabe at Swifty and he'll be happy to help get you a new XT most likely. How was it faulty?

EDIT: Almost forgot, you can take a hair dryer with the coil turned off and blow out any crevices to help get any trapped water out. Do this before and after the 24 hour drying time. An air compressor works better however.

r34p3rex

· #5 · Dec 6, 2009

Completely air it out for at least 72 hours.. also, try using some 91% isopropyl alcohol to get off any gunk that may be on your components

The number one mistake people make when trying to recover something from water damage is to "test" out the thing before it is fully dry

Raiden911

· #6 · Dec 6, 2009

as with any electronic device, dry everything well. Don't rush anything.

Luckily, the liquid is non-conductive.

GL!

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redsun

· #7 · Dec 6, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by r34p3rex

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Completely air it out for at least 72 hours.. also, try using some 91% isopropyl alcohol to get off any gunk that may be on your components

The number one mistake people make when trying to recover something from water damage is to "test" out the thing before it is fully dry

I agree completely.. make sure its all dry and just give it more than enough time to ensure no failure.

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Ryanb213

· #8 · Dec 6, 2009

Always run the loop for a few hours before connecting it to the system.

imadude10

· #9 · Dec 6, 2009

Wow, hope everything still works. I've dried wet cell phones in Ziplock bags with rice in them. The rice absorbs the moisture and the cell phones work flawlessly 48hrs later.

reiben05

· #10 · Dec 6, 2009

Feser liquid is non-conductive.. u'll be fine.. i spilled like a pool of distilled water on my CPU socket area during leak test

.. took me 2-3hours of re-drying everything

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Raiden911

· #11 · Dec 6, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by imadude10

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Wow, hope everything still works. I've dried wet cell phones in Ziplock bags with rice in them. The rice absorbs the moisture and the cell phones work flawlessly 48hrs later.

ah...thx for the tip. Will come in handy.

Torture Session: Feser One + Powered Fan cooler (dipped)

-> http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1704&pageID=7763

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HITandRUN

· #12 · Dec 6, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by iquark

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EDIT: Almost forgot, you can take a hair dryer with the coil turned off and blow out any crevices to help get any trapped water out. Do this before and after the 24 hour drying time. An air compressor works better however.

This and also I use good industrial DI water to fill my loops which is not conductive. This way even if you have a leak none of the components get smoked.

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USFORCES

· #13 · Dec 6, 2009

That sucks!

I'd blow it out and let it dry for a couple days if it's soaked better safe than sorry, Probably just really bad luck or probably some lador ready worker forgot to tighten down the bolts, I'd call Swiftech also and let them know to fire the guy, LOL

I just replaced my Swiftech GT for a EK a couple weeks back after 3yrs of use but I took it apart a few times and checked it.

NoodleGTS

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 6, 2009

Wow thanks for all the hits guys, it's like 4 am and I just posted this...

I think the threads on the apogee weren't drilled correctly because my D-tek fittings that I use on EVERYTHING (gpu blocks, cpu block, pump, res, etc...) didn't fit on it. I had to use the fittings that came with it (not nearly as good). The fittings suck and you don't even have enough space to clamp the tubes on because they're too close together. Had to clamp only one of them. Ironically that's the one that leaked. I think it leaked from under the fitting too, as well as from other parts of the block. Just from everywhere... another faulty swiftech block... I HATE Swiftech so much right now. This is the second major leak I've had due to their products (2/2). And I did leak test.. I always do. It just started leaking randomly.

USFORCES

· #15 · Dec 6, 2009

It just sprang a leak out of the blue because if you leak tested it must of.

HITandRUN

· #16 · Dec 6, 2009

2

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoodleGTS

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Wow thanks for all the hits guys, it's like 4 am and I just posted this...

I think the threads on the apogee weren't drilled correctly because my D-tek fittings that I use on EVERYTHING (gpu blocks, cpu block, pump, res, etc...) didn't fit on it. I had to use the fittings that came with it (not nearly as good). The fittings suck and you don't even have enough space to clamp the tubes on because they're too close together. Had to clamp only one of them. Ironically that's the one that leaked. I think it leaked from under the fitting too, as well as from other parts of the block. Just from everywhere... another faulty swiftech block... I HATE Swiftech so much right now. This is the second major leak I've had due to their products (2/2). And I did leak test.. I always do. It just started leaking randomly.

Man this sucks! This can really ruin a perfect day. Well I hope you choose a different product out of anger and your life will go on! He He!

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Volcom13

· #17 · Dec 6, 2009

Get a big bowl so that you can fit your mother board in it. Then get some uncooked rice and fill the bowl then place in your mobo. That will without a doubt soak up all the liquid and dry it out. I've done this with my phone, Ipod, and other things.

olympiawa

· #18 · Dec 6, 2009

Did you use teflon tape on the threads? I had problems getting one of my bitspower fittings on my apogee xt. However, I just used brute force to install it. I refused to use the barbs that came with it, they were junk.

NoodleGTS

Discussion Starter · #19 · Dec 6, 2009

Okay thanks for all the help so far.

I'm doing everything.

I just dried off everything with paper towels. Then I used my airblower/vaccum cleaner and shot some air at it. LOTS of water came out from behind/under the PCIE slots.

Now I just put my motherboard in an old bag and filled the whole things with rice... and tomorrow ill get some alcohol and rub down the whole board with to clean up.

Seems like my Classified was the only casualty in this... graphics cards/ram seem to have escape unscathed (dry). THat doesn't mean they'll work though... fingers crossed.

Reactions: 1

Ladiesman101

· #20 · Dec 6, 2009

2 things
lets hope it still works,good luck
and
AiRCOOLING FTW

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