Cleaning out a long unused loop...

[CoW]8(0)]

Over time, copper watercooling components build up tarnish when left exposed to air. Unfortunately this tarnish also develops inside the component.

What would be the best way to remove this tarnish? I can't open up the radiator...

I'm planning on using a vinegar+salt solution in the loop to flush out all the tarnish.

Would there be any problems in running a diluted vinegar+salt solution in a loop? Am I forgetting any unwanted chemical reactions which would occur?

 

[CoW]8(0)]

Does tarnish even harm performance more than a negligible amount?

From the lack of response, it seems to me that most do not consider this a problem.

 

[sonnybobiche]

Don't take my opinion as gospel, but I'm not certain there's much that can be done to reverse it. There may be some chemical agent that you can flush through the rad, but short of that, I can't imagine any solution.

 

[overclockedpc]

Actually, the green color is from oxidation and I would imagine that it would affect performance. There would be a layer of oxidized copper that most likely would not conduct heat as well as clean copper does.

Just my two cents.

 

[CoW]8(0)]

I agree

But I'm worried my knowledge general chemistry has left out something which would perhaps cause massive damage to my watercooling system. I hope someone with more knowledge can catch any mistake I've made.

I plan on running a vinegar + salt solution in a watercooling system with the usual metals (eg. aluminum, brass, copper, nickel and others which I may not be aware of) to flush out any of the metal oxides and carbonates (ie. the tarnish) which have reacted over time.