AIO stopped cooling

The problem

The MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R did not cool the CPU any longer.

 

There can be several reasons:

* waterpump
* low liquis level
* clogged fins
*etc

 

Teardown

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What are we working with.
MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R is a AIO with the pump in the radiator.
Simple setup and pretty serviceble. it even has a bleed screw.

 

MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R

Back of the radiator has a protective plate for the pump.

Aluminium plate, four screws.

Under the plate, four additional screws to remove impeller from housing.

3 pin motor PCB.

Good to see nothing broken inside, pump spins when applying
voltage to the pins. cleaned all components with cotton ear swabs.

Impeller housing.

 

Inside waterblock

Taking apart the waterblock to see how the cooling fins are doing.

Cupper plate with some screws.

Opening the unit shows a less than desirable state of the water channels There seems to be some membrane inside that forces the water
to spread along the fins outward from center and then back to the radiator.

Clogged water channels.

Under the menbrane.

The block has cutouts and other features to prevent rotating the
the part when reinstalling.

 

Ultrasonic cleaning

Took some warm water and dish soap, let it sit for 5 min.

Time to soak.

 

Reassembly and filling

Do not know what they used int the system. I'll be using something that has worked very well for 10 years in my stationary computer,
G12 coolant, mixed to 30% in distilled water.

Made a bath that would allow the wateblock head to be submerged.
The pump will be primed and the impeller pulsed to allow for water to start flowing.
When it gets going it can then be left running until all small bubbles are gone.
The cupper plate is then reinstalled while still submerged.

G12 red coolant concentrate

30% mixture is minimum.

3 pin connected to 12V supply

 

Priming via bleed screw.

Initial run, pulsing, had to prime more.

 

Pump pulsed until flow is reached.

After filling the radiator is stood up with the bleedscrew as the highest point. bleedscrew opened and with a syringe underpressure is created
to get a few more bubbles out.

Removing a little air.

 

Final

Allowing som air in the system is pefectly fine.
All seems to be working fine, cooling nicely.

 

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