Having trouble bleeding system

[DarkenReaper57]

Ok, I finished my new watercooling setup, however, I am having trouble bleeding the system of air bubbles. It has not posed a problem before so I am curious as to why this is and if you guys have any ideas.

The order of components is:

res -> rad -> -> t-line (for draining) -> pump -> cpu -> gpu

I have always been a fan of putting the res directly before the pump and the rad directly before the cpu but the order doesn't have a significant effect on temps, so I opted to go with the route which made it easier to route tubing.

My system has been running for about an hour and a half now and the pump is still sucking air, making racket. I can tell that the tubes are not completely full of water, especially coming out of the radiator. Should this eventually subside?

I have also tried opening the res and t-line (but not both at the same time) to help air escape, and I have made sure the res it full of water so it doesn't pull air, but this doesn't seem to have helped.

I have also tried tilting the system and laying it on its back. Lacking it on the back completely caused the pump to pull all air.

Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks.

 

[HeThatKnows]

Big bubbles or tiny bubbles?

Big ones can be encouraged to move to the res with a gentle tap and some tilting of the case. Tiny ones that are suspended in the flow should be allowed to coalesce (by shutting down the system for a while) into bigger bubbles that are less likely to pass through the t-line and res.

You should also double check for leaks. The rad and t-line sections will be under-pressured -- meaning that a leak there would suck air into the system. An air leak can be heard if you get really close to it, or use a length of tube as a ghetto stethoscope.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

Big bubbles or tiny bubbles?

Big ones can be encouraged to move to the res with a gentle tap and some tilting of the case. Tiny ones that are suspended in the flow should be allowed to coalesce (by shutting down the system for a while) into bigger bubbles that are less likely to pass through the t-line and res.

You should also double check for leaks. The rad and t-line sections will be under-pressured -- meaning that a leak there would suck air into the system. An air leak can be heard if you get really close to it, or use a length of tube as a ghetto stethoscope.

There are big bubbles, it is as if there is an air space between the rad, t-line, and pump (thus tons of tiny ones are generated by the pump). Perhaps not bubbles but an air gap. I really have tried tilting the case in every direction.

I have thoroughly checked for leaks, and I don't think there are any. Everything is clamped down tight.

I may just try draining and refilling.

 

[Absentee]

take the radiator off the case and tilt it around alot while the pump is running and while it is not (do it while its not first, to loosten up some bubbles, then turn it on and do it some more)

the line may have an air leak like someone said above, do the ghetto stethescope thing

 

[HeThatKnows]

Don't know what to tell you, man. Might need to go back to res->pump.

You might try working some of the air out via a the t-line (with the pump off). Is you res sealed enough that you can do some serious tilting, get some of that air out of the rad?

 

[uclajd]

Have you tried just doing the Monica Lewinsky?

Seriously, turn it off, pull out the proper tube, and blow! (cover with Kleenex to prevent contamination).

 

[DarkenReaper57]

take the radiator off the case and tilt it around alot while the pump is running and while it is not (do it while its not first, to loosten up some bubbles, then turn it on and do it some more)

the line may have an air leak like someone said above, do the ghetto stethescope thing

Erm, I need to change my sig. I am using an internal 86' chevette. I cant really move it around much where it is. I'll try to do my best.

Don't know what to tell you, man. Might need to go back to res->pump.

You might try working some of the air out via a the t-line (with the pump off). Is you res sealed enough that you can do some serious tilting, get some of that air out of the rad?

The system is sealed very well. I have, like I said before, putting the case on its back but it didn't work. I guess I can try my best to do otherwise.

I also tried getting all of the water out of the system I could via t-line (i didnt get it all, maybe 2/3) and refilling via t-line. The system is still making racket and the pump is pulling air.

Hopefully I dont need to go back to res-> pump. I wouldn't have much room for the t-line so draining would be such a pain...I would almost need to siphon out of the res or break the seal of the pump.

Argh /rant.

Any more ideas?

 

[HeThatKnows]

How about get some really small tubing, thread it into the t-line and up towards the rad. Then suck the air bubbles out. Sort of like an angiogram for a cooling loop.

Yeah, I'm mostly kidding. But it might work.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

Fortunately the system seems be slowly bleeding itself out with a little knocking around the components and playing with the pump here and there. The pump is still sucking in air but the water line in the tubes is much higher, and full in most areas.

Hopefully this will continue. I'll post back here in the morning or if/when I solve the problem.

If all else fails I may try the small tube in the big tube idea, lol. I have already tried pressurizing the system but it just likes to spit water at me though the t-line when I release the pressure (duh, but I didn't think it would be so bad, lol).

On a random side note, does anyone know if a blue cold cathode will activate UV blue dye/objects? I know a black light will, but not so sure about a cold cathode. Just wondering before I buy, so I know whether or not to include a black light cold cathode.

 

[DarkenReaper57]

Ok, the system is fine now . Thanks for all of the help.

 

[Absentee]

no...you need a UV cold cathode....not a blue one...they should be on the same page