5 instances of water leakage reported for the Thermaltake Pacific M360 Plus D5 model.
5 instances of water leakage reported for the Thermaltake Pacific M360 Plus D5 model.
I'm new to the board and trying my first time using the Thermaltake M360 Plus Kit. After finishing installation, I filled the reservoir and allowed it to bleed while keeping the refill cap open. Once the air was released, I closed the fill port and within 24 hours the system developed excessive pressure and disconnected from one of the fittings. This occurs when the pump is running or even when it's not. The leak spot changes each time. I'm unsure why it keeps leaking or builds up pressure when the pump is off. Please review the pictures and let me know what I'm doing incorrectly. Thanks.
The only other thing that comes to mind besides what Rubix talked about is fluid levels. Those compression fittings should be snug, not just loosely, and if you fill the reservoir all the way, when the heated liquid expands, there’s nowhere for it to go, so the weakest part will fail first.
From examining the tubing and fittings, it seems you're trying to fit them in positions that aren't truly at right angles. The main concern appears to be pressure from torsion or twisting, which could cause the fittings to separate, unrelated to the pump. This issue persists even when the system is turned off.
Additionally, in your recent photo showing the CPU block connecting to the GPU, a single angle would have been sufficient instead of winding around the entire front port. Using 90-degree fittings adds unnecessary restrictions, and you're using more than necessary with all these pieces. It would have been better to bend the acrylic tubing, which is also more cost-effective than buying many 90-degree ones.
The only other point that comes to mind besides what Rubix discussed is fluid levels. Those compression fittings should be securely tightened, not just loosely, and if you fill the reservoir completely, the heated liquid will expand, leaving no room for the weakest part to fail first.
Radiators are known for trapping air even after prolonged use, and when the pump operates, that air gets compressed. Turning off the pump allows the trapped air to dissipate, reducing pressure on fittings where it shouldn’t be present.
It’s advisable to keep at least 2cm of air in the reservoir, ensuring all tubing ends are smooth and fittings are properly sealed. You shouldn’t be able to pull the tubing slightly and see it separate from the fitting.
This adds further insight to the situation. I recently added an M360 kit and noticed the PETG pipes detaching from the fittings twice. I was present during both instances, and there was a sudden flow of fluid—not a leak, nor caused by pump pressure, which I keep at its lowest setting because of insufficient GPU cooling. My pipes are precisely aligned, making torsion between them and the fittings improbable. The PETG pipe made an audible pop when it came out from the fittings, which I had double verified.
It seems air or gas pressure buildup is likely the cause. There might be oxidation in the radiator from coolant interaction, and changes in temperature of the air gap in the pump or radiator could also contribute. As Karadjne pointed out, the radiator needs time to fully release all trapped air. To address this, I left the pump plug slightly loose at the top to allow for expansion of air and gas.
I hope this information proves useful.