Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable?

larryjr88 · 09-01-2008, 05:23 PM

Hello fellow water-coolers, I was wondering if anyone has tried adding food coloring to their coolant to change the color. I'm getting sick of the typical UV green and was wondering if this might be an easy change, or possibly a chemical disaster.

Is this safe? Effective? I thought about simply pouring the dye into my reservoir.

i_am_pumpkin_ma · 09-02-2008, 04:25 PM

I dont know for sure what would happen as far as chemical mixing goes, but if you get no answer, I would suggest putting the dye into the coolant outside of the computer first, like in a bucket, just to see what would happen.

blackduck30 · 09-05-2008, 03:09 AM

never thought about using food dye but I would consider if it might add to a fungus problem or make the coolant go "OFF" faster. i really don't know. I also have no idea if it would be conductive or not.

Have a look here

http://www.xoxide.com/water-cooling-coolant-dye.html

f0rce · 09-06-2008, 08:40 PM

My thoughts are is that the food dye will be too thick and harm your pump. I dont suggest doing it.

Hardwarenerd · 09-24-2008, 12:36 PM

DO NOT PUT FOOD COLORANT IN WATER COOLING SYSTEM!!! it contains sugar alcohols and other components that will ruin your system, especially if you have copper or aluminum anywhere in your cooling loop, which im sure you have...plus food colorant will end up molding...

dai · 09-24-2008, 02:54 PM

agree not a good idea at all

MyKobalt · 10-26-2008, 10:33 PM

A lot of coolants come in multiple colors. Even if you're looking for UV reactive ones. I know PC Pure coolants come in green, blue yellow, pink, clear and red. You just need clear tubing.
http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...=&sortby=match

Hardwarenerd · 10-27-2008, 04:43 PM

FLUID XP!! FLUID XP!!! a little pricier, but worth it, it will not corrode, rot or otherwise harm your system, and is uv reactive. if i sound like an add, i apologize, just have tried all kinds of stuff for my water cooled systems, and FluidXP ULTRA is the best.....it also cleans out the other crap that other systems leave behind, plus it is non-conductive

**kodi** · 10-27-2008, 04:53 PM

You can get all different dyes and coolant, here is a sample from just ONE Aussie supplier
http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=207_160_301

**grimx133** · 10-27-2008, 05:43 PM

OK, so you piqued my curiosity a tad, so I read a review on it. Sounds like a good fluid, doesn't cool as well as homebrew, but the other benefits might make it worthwhile to use. http://reviews.pcapex.com/cooling/fl...ve_coolant.php

dai · 10-27-2008, 06:56 PM

[a little pricier, but worth it]
$150 compared to 50cents
i will stick with the 50cent option

09-01-2008, 05:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
larryjr88 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Atlanta Posts: 26 OS: Vista 32 Ultimate	Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? Hello fellow water-coolers, I was wondering if anyone has tried adding food coloring to their coolant to change the color. I'm getting sick of the typical UV green and was wondering if this might be an easy change, or possibly a chemical disaster. Is this safe? Effective? I thought about simply pouring the dye into my reservoir.

09-02-2008, 04:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
i_am_pumpkin_ma Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southern California. Posts: 23 OS: winxp My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? I dont know for sure what would happen as far as chemical mixing goes, but if you get no answer, I would suggest putting the dye into the coolant outside of the computer first, like in a bucket, just to see what would happen. __________________ I believe in Murry's Law...he thought Murphy was an optimist.

09-05-2008, 03:09 AM	#3 (permalink)
blackduck30 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? never thought about using food dye but I would consider if it might add to a fungus problem or make the coolant go "OFF" faster. i really don't know. I also have no idea if it would be conductive or not. Have a look here http://www.xoxide.com/water-cooling-coolant-dye.html __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All Last edited by blackduck30; 09-05-2008 at 03:11 AM.

09-06-2008, 08:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
f0rce Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: WNY Posts: 16 OS: vista My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? My thoughts are is that the food dye will be too thick and harm your pump. I dont suggest doing it.

09-24-2008, 12:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hardwarenerd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle/Phoenix Posts: 130 OS: Windows XP, SP3 My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? DO NOT PUT FOOD COLORANT IN WATER COOLING SYSTEM!!! it contains sugar alcohols and other components that will ruin your system, especially if you have copper or aluminum anywhere in your cooling loop, which im sure you have...plus food colorant will end up molding...

09-24-2008, 02:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,565 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? agree not a good idea at all __________________

10-26-2008, 10:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
MyKobalt Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 259 OS: Windows Vista 64-Bit SP2 My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? A lot of coolants come in multiple colors. Even if you're looking for UV reactive ones. I know PC Pure coolants come in green, blue yellow, pink, clear and red. You just need clear tubing. http://www.microcenter.com/search/se...=&sortby=match __________________ <~~~~~~ Check out my rig Last edited by MyKobalt; 10-26-2008 at 10:35 PM.

10-27-2008, 04:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
Hardwarenerd Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle/Phoenix Posts: 130 OS: Windows XP, SP3 My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? FLUID XP!! FLUID XP!!! a little pricier, but worth it, it will not corrode, rot or otherwise harm your system, and is uv reactive. if i sound like an add, i apologize, just have tried all kinds of stuff for my water cooled systems, and FluidXP ULTRA is the best.....it also cleans out the other crap that other systems leave behind, plus it is non-conductive

10-27-2008, 04:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
kodi Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 7,153 OS: Windows Vista Ultimate 64 and 32bit, Xp Pro, Windows 7-RC 64 & 32 Bit My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? You can get all different dyes and coolant, here is a sample from just ONE Aussie supplier http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=207_160_301 __________________ Brian

10-27-2008, 05:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 2,198 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? OK, so you piqued my curiosity a tad, so I read a review on it. Sounds like a good fluid, doesn't cool as well as homebrew, but the other benefits might make it worthwhile to use. http://reviews.pcapex.com/cooling/fl...ve_coolant.php

10-27-2008, 06:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,565 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Coolant + Food Dye = Acceptable? [a little pricier, but worth it] $150 compared to 50cents i will stick with the 50cent option __________________