Can PC coolant expire? Here's how long it can last

Liquid-cooled PCs are all the rage, but you can't leave all that water sitting in your rig forever.

By Jack Peachey Nov. 8, 2026 10:45 am EST Daryadanik/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

If you want to improve your PC's cooling systems, liquid coolant is a method worth considering. In a coolant system, stored water is pumped around hot PC components, absorbs the heat, carries it back to the radiator and dissipates it. While this is a pretty effective way to cool down a PC, it does require a good deal of maintenance — and that includes the occasional coolant replacement.