How do I open this reservoir?

This is my first computer with a reservoir and it just ran dry so I need to refill -- I have coolant but I have no idea how to open the thing up to get it in! I assumed there'd be something fairly obvious but I don't see anything. Thanks in advance for any help.

You know Frank, you're probably right -- I've probably completely screwed this thing up. I really bought it so my son could have a good gaming experience -- I am not a computer wonk so don't know how to do the kind of thorough maintenance that a computer like this requires.

Funny thing is, though, back in December of 2014 when the computer arrived I was actually paranoid about the reservoir as I've never had a computer with one and I was afraid it would dry out. So I bought a container of coolant and checked the reservoir in November (of 2015). It was still full. Then I googled around and found that reservoirs usually stay full for quite some time. Then, three months later, I start getting messages that my CPU is over temperature. I check the reservoir and it is empty and there is no evidence of leakage.

As you say there is a screw for an allen wrench at the top of the reservoir. I don't have one that's the right size to fit in the gap but I'll get one today and give it a go, hoping that the pump is not burnt out. Thanks for your help.

Edited by Khuminis - 26 Feb 2016 at 6:54am

Thanks, yes the coolant I bought apparently comes with a small tube that attached to the bottle which seems to be a bit smaller than the hole on the top. Will see how it goes. Fingers crossed that the dry reservoir didn't damage the pump.

i've never heard of a res that size running completely dry due to evaporation.  it has to be a leak, imo.  are you sure there are no liquid stains anywhere in the comp?  make sure you check the fittings (where a leak is most likely to occur for tightness.  they should be hand tightened and snug.  there will be some play in the tubing connections.  look for seeping/welling around where the o-rings in the fittings seal.  your pc should be unplugged while physically checking for leaks and during filling of the res with fluid.  when you add the fluid, fill up the res, stop, plug in the psu power chord and turn on for just a second or two, then shut off.  you should see the fluid level go down in the res as the fluid moves throughout the loop (to the rads, blocks, etc.).  you dont want the fluid level in the res to get too low and burn up the pump.  add fluid as you go, each time turning the power on to start the pump for only seconds at a time until the entire loop is filled.  you'll have air in the system for a few days that will continue to bleed out of the loop.  you will probably have to continue to monitor fluid level and add more as needed to top it off.  never ignore you pc for long amounts of time.  every pc should be inspected and cleaned at least monthly.   dust will gather around/under the fans on the rads and will need to be cleaned to maintain optimal cooling performance.  

If the fluid isn't exiting the reservoir, then it could be the pump. That's the pump's job.   Can you hear it or feel it running with your fingertips? Could be burned out if the fluid ran dry like was said.   Check the pump is plugged in just to make sure.

Yes, the pump is below the reservoir. Try unplugging it and plugging it back in and try again.

I wonder if I should have a service person come in and look at the computer instead -- I have a sinking feeling that there's something wrong with the way the fluid is flowing through the cooling system. That will be way over my head to repair.

Does DS have authorized service people throughout the country to make visits? This thing weighs as much as a tank -- there's no way I'm shipping it anywhere!

don't ever "yank" on anything.  the wire(s) should lead to a 4-pin connector attached to the motherboard cpu fan header (refer to your manual for location, but it should be near the cpu).  if you have the DS fan controller, the pump will be plugged into it instead of the motherboard. 

if the fluid level didn't change after filling and starting p the computer then it could mean there was enough fluid in the loop (tubing, blocks, etc) that it wouldn't just completely vacate the reservoir to the naked eye like when you fill the loop when it's completely absent fluid.  or, it could mean the pump is dead.  in which case you'll need a replacement.  do you see any movement in the fluid at all?  if the pump is working properly the fluid will not sit still like a placid pond.  there will be turbulence.  even if the pump is getting power to it, and the motor is humming along there could still be a doa impeller or blockage.  it's really hard to tell just looking at pics (especially with colored tubing). 

I just turned it on again to see if there was any bubbling, and the coolant poured down into the guts of the coolant system!!!

Very pleased. I then topped off the reservoir. CPU temp holding at about 19-20 degrees C.

But I still get sent to setup because of CPU fan error. So back to that thread I guess ....

Edited by Khuminis - 26 Feb 2016 at 8:34pm

Originally posted by Khuminis One other consideration, before I get too pleased -- my reservoir went from full to empty in three months. That suggests a leak, doesn't it? How do I respond to that?

Last time I went looking for a leak in a very tight space I found that tissue paper, rolled into a fine point, was very helpful.

Roll tissue into a long pencil shape and poke it in and around the dark corners of all your fittings to see if you can detect a leak.

Also, it would be a good idea to move the computer to see any traces of leakage on the ledge where it sits.

Originally posted by Khuminis ...But I still get sent to setup because of CPU fan error. So back to that thread I guess ....

if your fans/pump aren't controlled by the mobo and are instead plugged into the DS fan controller (or another manufacturer's fan controller), go into your bios (press del while the system is posting) and head to advanced settings>monitor tab>change all cpu temp monitoring to "ignore".  hit F10 save and exit.  reboot and you shouldn't see that message again.  i'm having that same issue, but in my case i believe it's due to a failing mobo or cpu.  it could also be the case with you, or it could just be the bios setting like i outlined above. 

Originally posted by Khuminis I just turned it on again to see if there was any bubbling, and the coolant poured down into the guts of the coolant system!!! Very pleased. I then topped off the reservoir. CPU temp holding at about 19-20 degrees C. But I still get sent to setup because of CPU fan error. So back to that thread I guess ....

Sounds like the pump had to sit for awhile to prime and then did its thing.   Gravity usually does it but I've had non PC pumps that needed a little help by loosening a fitting to get rid of the air.    

Thanks everyone. DS yes I will contact you because it seems clear something in my computer is leaking.

Last night my reservoir was refilled after the cooling system drank in from the reservoir. So I topped it off. I ran the PC for a few hours.

Today the rug is moist around the front of the PC. I have run it for a few more hours. The reservoir is half empty.

So I assume there's a strong leak. I will not run it with the reservoir almost empty of course!

My thought is this. Have a computer repair guy come in and find the leak. Contact DS to find out how to get replacement parts. Get them and have the repair guy put them in. Does that sound like a plan?

Funny thing about this is, I've owned PCs since the IBM XT I got in 1983. But I've never had one with liquid cooling before! It's proving to be a bit of a challenge for this old guy. :)

Edited by Khuminis - 27 Feb 2016 at 12:08pm

Hi Khuminis,

Well you lucked out with the pump. Maybe you will be lucky locating the leak. It might be a very simple fix if you locate it. May just need to hand tighten a connector. If you get a tech make sure you find one that has worked on water cooled systems.

Frank

You may not need any parts. That is why you may benefit if you found where it is leaking.

Frank

I work two jobs so often can't turn the PC on for days, but last night had the chance and let it run for a while.

I opened both sides. Here's what I saw. My directions will be assuming I'm looking at the PC from the front.

No leaking visible on the left side, but the left side does not have any visible cooling tubes etc.

No discernible leaking on the right side (the side in which the reservoir is located). I looked for quite a while but the part of the right side that is exposed to the air did not show the least bit of moisture. With one exception -- on the right side, right at the part where the side door fits in (the very bottom edge) there is very slight liquid pooling visible. The right side, toward the front, is also where the rug gets moist when the PC runs for a while. This suggests to me that the leak is somewhere under the "floor" on the right side -- perhaps coming from where the pump is attached to the floor of the right side of the unit?

The PC is extremely heavy and I assume that the pump works at least in part using gravity to drag the liquid down, so I'm not sure how I can continue with my hunt for the leak. Any ideas? Thanks.

Edited by Khuminis - 03 Mar 2016 at 7:14am

the more i look at that pump, the more it looks to be the where the leak is.  you can see below and around it evidence of liquid stains.  the screw that was pointed out and that bottom fitting that leads to the rad(s) both show water-related corrosion.