Oil filled water cooling loop?

[RejZoR]

I watched this yesterday:

And it made me wonder. Milk would turn into yogurt because of proteins in it and acidity from it would eat the metal parts, orange juice would also corrode metal stuff, Powerade would eventually grow algae etc.

But then it struck me. What about motor oil? A very thin (very liquidy one)?

- it is made to be used in hot conditions
- is not corrosive
- won't allow algae to grow
- won't go bad like ever

Seems like a perfect candidate. There might be some concerns regarding pump and maybe rubber gaskets here and there, but in theory, it should work. I'd love to see how it performs thermally as I don't know how oil performs as heat transportation medium.

 

[P4-630]

What about automotive water cooling fluid?

 

[RejZoR]

That too. If it works in a car, one would assume it should work in a computer as well.

 

[P4-630]

That too. If it works in a car, one would assume it should work in a computer as well.

Right! Thats what I was thinking!

Edit: http://www.overclock.net/t/401891/regular-car-coolant-for-pc

 

[Jetster]

Mineral Oil. Its what is used in heaters. Motor oil eventually breaks down. To many hydro carbons and other organic materal. Or synthetic oil

 

[dorsetknob]

That too. If it works in a car, one would assume it should work in a computer as well.

that i am pretty certin is what your all in one sealed loops contain
with other additives for patent reasons ext

Fill your Loop with 170 proof vodka or the alcohol/spirit of your choice

 

[trog100]

oil is used as a coolent for high voltage power cables and transformers so in theory it would work.. its not motor oil though.. more a special type produced for the job..

trog

 

[RCoon]

That too. If it works in a car, one would assume it should work in a computer as well.

It would be worse than distilled water. The liquid used in car watercooling systems contains anti-freeze among other things, so it has to operate below 0 degrees as well as above 180 degrees. It also contains properties to lubricate the impeller in the cooling system. It works well for engines because it's designed to. Automotive coolant would be worse in a computer cooling loop than plain old distilled water because some of the aspects make it transfer heat less effectively at PC temperatures.

Maybe if you diluted the automotive coolant with distilled water, like 6:1, it might be as good. But distilled water is so cheap, why bother?

Also as above, motor oil breaks down. You don't want to scrub expelled oil from your $100 water block every few months.

 

[RejZoR]

Mineral Oil. Its what is used in heaters. Motor oil eventually breaks down. To many hydro carbons and other organic materal. Or synthetic oil

Motor oil breaks down because of shit tons of impurities introduced through combustion and insane temperatures. Something PC cooling loop would never experience. Even mineral oil should last for ages.

 

[Vayra86]

Topic title suggestion:

How to make something cheap and simple, expensive and labor-intensive, 'The 101'

 

[trog100]

for what is worth super high voltage 240K underground power cables are oil filled.. using oil as a coolant aint a new idea.. he he

with the right oil it would work and last for ever.. maybe some company will actually do it in the future.. it would remove all the scary thoughts most folks have about mixing water and electricity..

oil also cools a motor engine as part of its job.. it lubricates and it cools the bearings and such as it is pumped around the engine..

trog

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Mmmmmmmm...Sodium-23? Probably not. It reacts enegetically if it comes into contact with water/air and it is conductive.

 

[Jetster]

Motor oil breaks down because of shit tons of impurities introduced through combustion and insane temperatures. Something PC cooling loop would never experience. Even mineral oil should last for ages.

Mineral oil is refined further than motor oil. Its distilled. I use to work in a refinery in another life. Motor oil has surfer among many other corrosive chemicals. Its not meant to last forever. Its temporary lubricant. Mineral oil is made for cooling.

Even better would be synthetics. But costly.

 

[dorsetknob]

Mmmmmmmm...Sodium-23? Probably not. It reacts enegetically if it comes into contact with water/air and it is conductive.

Disadvantages
A disadvantage of sodium is its chemical reactivity, which requires special precautions to prevent and suppress fires. If sodium comes into contact with water it explodes, and it burns when in contact with air.

 

[Jetster]

I'm sure most AIO coolers have distilled water and a antimicrobial. That's it. Its why they only last and couple of years is my guess. Why would you spend more money just to have it last longer

 

[64K]

From what I've seen from people that know a lot about cooling, oil doesn't transfer heat as well as water and that's why it isn't used in cooling CPU/GPU. In situations where oil is used to transfer heat, like in a space heater, it's probably because of the risk that water might boil and turn your heater into a steam bomb.

 

[JalleR]

Yes Oil isn't a conductor, so no worries if it leaks (i guess it will still make a mess though. )

But What about D2O (Heavy Water) that is what they are using in Nuclear power plants. I guess that is the S........

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Disadvantages
A disadvantage of sodium is its chemical reactivity, which requires special precautions to prevent and suppress fires. If sodium comes into contact with water it explodes, and it burns when in contact with air.

 

[Vayra86]

Just FYI, if you want to do it, do it right.

https://www.pugetsystems.com/submerged.php

 

[Outback Bronze]

Not sure I would like to keep changing the loop with different parts or drain it coz it's sprung a leak or something.

I have been using car coolant for my water cooling loops for the best part of 10 years now and its the best stuff I've ever found!

 

[jboydgolfer]

im certain antifreeze would work(iirc many Closed loop systems use AF i believe), but as MANY people already know, water is extremely efficient when it comes to heat dissipation. I dont think there would be a benefit from this "mod".

 

[bencrutz]

But then it struck me. What about motor oil? A very thin (very liquidy one)?

with lower thermal conductivity & heat capacity than water?
stick with distilled water, less hassle - more efficient

 

[stinger608]

What about automotive water cooling fluid?

That too. If it works in a car, one would assume it should work in a computer as well.

Right. I always use 25% antifreeze along with distilled water. I use the non poisonous "gold" colored stuff.

 

[sneekypeet]

For some reason i read this thread and thought to myself, isn't PC Ice oil based coolant? Not exactly motor oil, but oil none the less.

 

[R-T-B]

Sodium is a pansy. Use Cesium if you want a real explosion.