MyKobalt

ok. i ran a search and couldn't find anything on this. I KNOW i can't be the only one who's asked this, but..... can you use automotive antifreeze like Prestone in your pc liquid cooling? I know it's usually a 50/50 ratio of coolant and water. anyone?

MyKobalt

i just figure if i use the new Prestone Extended Life, which has anti-corrosive agents in it, and mix it 50/50 with distilled water that it should be fine. either way, i'm gonna be trying it in about 6 hours when the stores open. unless someone heeds a strict warning. lol

ebackhus

Anti-free/coolant is usually a main component of any water-cooling setup. While water itself is a great conductor and carrier of hot and cold, it can receive a boost to help it do the job better. Most all-in-one cooling kits come with a concentrated coolant that you dillute with distilled water and then introduced into the setup. Buying it at the car parts store just makes it easier (no figuring mixture amounts!) but leaves you with lots of leftovers.

wrench97

One note about automotive antifreeze and I suspect I'll hear flak, but it actually lowers the ability of water to dissipate heat, In marine and heavy truck applications we have in the past removed the coolant and went with straight water with a rust inhibitor to cool problem applications 671TT Detroits in marine applications where famous for the problem,
as were some generator sets with Caterpillar engines. In trucks and cars it would be done to make something runnable with a plugged radiator while one was on order or to finish a trip.

So my question is if it's not in danger of freezing like a car why use it?
Could the water cooling fluids be nonconductive?

MyKobalt

Antifreeze isn't just to keep the engine form freezing. It helps cool it too iin the extreme heat of summer. It's a "coolant".

dai

i use the automotive corrision inhibitor,just remember it is poisonous
i don't know how good this is
http://www.xoxide.com/primoice-nonco...uid-clear.html

MyKobalt

I did some research and found a 2 part article, 18 pages each, that describes the science of water cooling and additives including antifreeze from our friends at Overclockers.com. Excellent reading and a lot to learn. Please check it out. They even tell you how to make your own coolant!

http://www.overclockers.com/tips1153/index.asp

MyKobalt

I also just found a site that did a comparison on PC Ice against auto antifreeze!

http://reviews.pcapex.com/cooling/pr...ant.php?page=1

MyKobalt

Well I just got me some Prestone Extended Life Antifreeze, Water Wetter Super Coolant Additive and some Prestone Anit-Rust additive. Next time I log on, i'll be chilled. We'll see what happens.

FreoHeaveho

haven't logged on in a while, success then?

Hardwarenerd

why use car antifreeze? it is expensive, it degrades, and can mold... mold=BAD in water cooling, do not use water or "distilled" water, it will also not inhibit fungus, try Fluid XP or fluid XP ultra, it is like 15 bucks and will last a lifetime, and will not corrode or mold, plus its not poisonous, AND it is NON-conductive, no matter how much you spill (me= spills alot)

jaggerwild

Antifreeze is fine unless going sub zero temps?

wrench97

Now there's a stable setup if I ever saw one.

Hardwarenerd

car antifreeze is also conductive, is it not? so any spill or leak will fry that stylish computer... do you have static building up on that desk? plus antifreeze is toxic... not a good plan imo.... but to each their own...

Zeroko

so what would be the recommended mixture of substances to make your own water cooling fluid?

dai

of the concentrate i use approx 100/900 distilled water

Hardwarenerd

honestly, alot of water cooling systems have 2 potential problems with distilled water. First off, unless you are in a clean room, (and by that i mean free of bacteria/mold) and that waters ph can cause chemical reactions in systems, slow, but surely, like if you have aluminum and copper in the same system, they will react with each other and the copper will eventually corrode...again i suggest Fluid XP ultra, it isnt that expensive, it will not corrode, and will not ever mold, is non-conductive, and is non-toxic. im not a salesman by any means, but i do have quite a bit of experience with water cooling systems...and have tried almost every combination of coolants and/or water and coolants w/water.

420365

I just use that pink antifreeze (for long term storage of vehicles and boats and crap)

Also there is still some of that green glycol crap that came with it still in the system im sure.


Is this okay? will it mold? would adding a small amount of sodium benzoate to it help (thats a bakers additive that prevents mold and spoilage)

Hardwarenerd

again, i strongly advise against the car antifreeze, and against the thermaltake glycol stuff (especially the thermaltake) and strongly strongly advise for the FluidXP, i have tried the additives, and the Thermaltake stuff, and it all molds or corrodes. I have had the same bottle of Fluid XP for almost 2 yrs, and have had no issues whatsoever, no molding or corrosion, i havent even had to flush my system, unlike the other ones, which i had to flush every 2 mos or so or it would mold...i havent used the car antifreeze, but if you look at the chemicals in car antifreeze and know a bit of chemistry, you can figure out that it isnt good for long term use...

MyKobalt

After using this, PCPure's stuff and Thermaltake's..... my own formulation had the best results by far. Beating the leading solutions by 5-10 degrees. However, my formula is conductive. I'll take the risk. Hook your sh*t up right and you won't have to worry about it. :D