how to make coolant motion visible

[OldOneEye]

So I've been wondering. Is there an additive that one could add to liquid coolant that you could see moving through the clear tubing? This would make the liquid cooling system look Incredible if it could be accomplished. But it also is probably difficult. A tinted oil perhaps? Of course, we wouldn't want to put anything into the system that would damage the pumps, or corrode the blocks or pipes. This might be impossible but I just thought of it and thought it would be amazing.

Any idea? Has anyone tried this? The additive would have to have qualities that would drive it to separate itself from the coolant, otherwise the two substances would just blend and be a solid "unmoving" color again. That's why I think an oil might be possible.

 

[omechengineeru]

simple fluid dynamics would state that this would be imposible. the oil idea would just make the oil float at the very top of the coolant lines not in the center like you would want. To do what you want you would need a neutrally bouyant substance. None of which i know that would be good for your system.

 

[OldOneEye]

the oil idea would just make the oil float at the very top of the coolant lines not in the center like you would want.

Are you certain? It is true that if the system used a reservoir that the oil would escape to the top of the reservoir and not be used, but if it was a closed tube system then would the oil not be forced to move, even at the highest point in the system?

 

[Mitch?]

i'm sure you can find a substance that'd still be able to move through your wc system without bonding/mixing with the coolant.
possibly another coolant, with the same density, so it doesn't sink, float, etc

 

[Geoff]

My setup has the moving appearance. It's from the foam that gets churned up in the pump, it's nothing much but it's just enough to see how fast the water is moving.