Air trapped inside, difficult to remove. D5 pump performance is reduced.
Air trapped inside, difficult to remove. D5 pump performance is reduced.
Hi Everyone,
I'm using a D5 pump with a photon 270 reservoir. My configuration is Pump>Gpu block>Cpu block>480mm radiator. Despite months of effort, I still can't clear air from the loop and water isn't flowing. The pipe has a 10mm inner diameter. Do you think I should replace the D5 pump? If so, should I connect them in series or parallel? Also, how would I add another pump to the existing setup? Please see the image: https://postimg.org/image/d1dsa7pjz/
Thank you Mikel_4 for your response.
My setup is a D5 pump with a res combo, connected directly under the res.
I’d say: Res > GPU block > CPU block > Rads > back to pump.
There’s no micro tube inside.
My unit is a 6-port rad, with the CPU block at the top port on the right and the top left port feeding back to the res.
No micro tube either.
The coolant fills up the res initially when I start the pump, and it circulates normally. Once the entire loop is full, there’s a large air bubble gap of about 6 inches in the pipe, causing the system to stop. I’ve tried shaking it or flipping it upside down, but nothing works.
I’m wondering if the pump might not be powerful enough for my setup.
What advice would you give? Thank you.
We could share a photo of your loop and zoom in...
The connection for the inlet loop is determined by the path: tube > res top > micro tube inside res > pump top OR tube > res base/pump top. It depends on how the coolant flows and whether it stops at a specific point or simply doesn't move when the pump runs. You may need to check your waterblock and clean any buildup, then flush the rad, tube, and fittings. Restart the bleeding, pump priming, and give the system a good shake. Avoid using a defective pump, as it can cause a significant pressure drop. For parallel setups, usually used with weak or failing pumps, you might have: res > res base with dual inlet/outlet > tube1/tube2 OR Pump1 > tube1 > water block1 > tube1 OR Pump2 > tube2 > water block2 > tube2. For series setups, with identical pumps, a failed pump could still provide enough flow to the loop. The path can also be: res > dual pump top > tube or water block1 > rad > water block2 (place the hotter source before rad if needed, adding another tube after water block2) > tube, or water block > tube > rad > tube.
Here’s a revised version of your message:
How should the inlet loop be connected? Should it be tube > res top > micro tube inside res > pump top, or tube > res base/pump top? Does the coolant cease to flow at a specific point or simply stop when the pump is running? You might want to inspect your waterblock and clean any buildup. Flush the rad, tube, and fittings. Restart bleeding, pump priming, and give it a shake or flip. You shouldn’t use a defective pump, as it will cause a significant pressure drop in the loop. For parallel setups, usually used with weak or failing pumps:
- Res > res base with dual inlet/outlet > tube1/tube2
- Pump1 > tube1 > water block1 > tube1
- Pump2 > tube2 > water block2 > tube2
- Multi port rad (four or six port) or Y/T adapter > tube > rad > tube > res
For series setups, with identical pumps, if one fails the other could still provide enough flow.
- Res > dual pump top > tube
- Place water block1 > rad > water block2 (put the hotter source before rad, and add another tube after water block2 if needed) > tube
OR
- water block > tube > rad > tube
Or
- res
Thank you Mikel_4 for your response.
My setup is D5 pump with a res combo. The pump is connected directly under the res. I’d suggest Res > gpu block > cpu block > rads > back to pump. There’s no micro tube inside.
My setup is 6 port rad, with the cpu block at the top port on the right and the top left port back to res. No micro tube either.
The coolant fills up the res initially when I start the pump, and it circulates its cycle. Once the entire loop is filled, there’s a large gap of about 6 inches with an air bubble in the pipe, after which it stops completely. I tried shaking it or flipping it, but nothing worked. I’m wondering if the pump might not be powerful enough for my setup.
What advice would you give? Thanks.
Thank you Mikel_4 for your response.
My setup is a D5 pump with a combo unit. The pump is placed directly beneath the RES.
I’d suggest the order: RES → GPU block → CPU block → Rads → back to pump.
There’s no micro tube inside.
My unit is a 6-port rad, with the CPU block at the top port on the right and the top left port feeding back to the RES.
No micro tube either.
The coolant fills the RES initially when I start the pump; it circulates normally. Once the entire loop is full, there’s a noticeable 6-inch air bubble gap in the pipe, causing the system to halt. I’ve tried shaking it or flipping it upside down—nothing works. I’m wondering if the pump might not be powerful enough for this setup.
What advice would you give? Thank you.
We could share a photo of your loop and zoom in on the bubble gap.
Is this a D5 model with a 5-speed switch, or PWM? Have you set it to the 5-speed mode (vario)? Also, try replacing the PSU power cable connected to the D5 connector first.
Did you observe any vortex inside the reservoir?
If you use a soft tube, gently wiggle it to move the bubble toward the RES inlet—usually it breaks into smaller bubbles when entering the waterblock.