Cooling high-density artificial intelligence (AI) data centers often means bringing liquid very close to hot chips, which can also mean more seals, more connections, and more chances for leaks. Immersion cooling oils such as GTL (natural gas-to-liquid) isoparaffins can simplify that risk while delivering even better cooling performance. Questions? Contact us.
Servicing today’s high-power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers can feel like doing gymnastics in a server aisle. When you run liquid lines right up to hot chips, you get improved cooling, but you also get a lot of places where leaks can happen.
This is part of why the industry is now rethinking the plastics and rubber materials used in direct liquid cooling hardware, as pressure grows to move away from PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are linked to health risks and environmental contamination.
If you’re deciding between direct-to-chip cooling and immersion cooling, here’s the big idea: PFAS-free immersion cooling oils, such as GTL (gas-to-liquid) specialty oils, can reduce the “sealing headache” that comes with putting liquid right next to graphics processing units (GPUs) while delivering even better thermal performance.
Why “Direct-To-Chip” Cooling Can Be a Maintenance Headache
Direct liquid cooling often uses “cold plates,” which are metal blocks that sit on top of hot components like central processing units (CPUs) and GPUs. Coolant flows through those plates and carries heat away from one side of the chip.
That setup works, but the downside is obvious: more parts equals more connections to manage.
Here are a few reasons these systems can be fussy over time:
- Lots of seals and joints. Tubing, manifolds, gaskets, quick-connects, clamps—each one is a possible leak path. Hardware in the loop deals with constant flow, sustained clamp load, and repeated temperature swings.
- Heat and pressure stress the materials. Typical loop temperatures are around 140–185°F, plus power-driven thermal spikes cause stress.
- A “small” leak isn’t always small. Even if the fluid isn’t water, a leak near electronics can still create downtime, cleanup, and hard questions about the root cause. If it is water cooling, short circuits are likely.
That’s the “gymnastics”: it’s not one failure point, it’s a whole network of them.
The PFAS-free Shift Adds Another Layer of Change
For years, PFAS-based materials have been common in cooling loops because they tend to be stable and resistant in tough environments. Many current systems rely on PFAS in parts like tubing, manifolds, gaskets, and coatings.
Now, global restrictions and pressure around PFAS are speeding up the move toward fluorine-free alternatives.
That matters for operators and buyers because it can mean:
- New material choices for hoses, seals, and fittings
- More testing for compatibility and long-term reliability
- More variation between vendors while the market standardizes
None of this is “bad.” But it does mean more change in an area where you want predictability.
Why Immersion Cooling Oils Can Reduce Leak Risk Near GPUs
Immersion cooling takes a different approach. Instead of bringing liquid to a cold plate attached to the chip, you place the entire server hardware into a bath of dielectric (non-conductive) fluid.
The practical upside is straightforward:
- Fewer liquid connections right at the hottest electronics. You’re no longer relying on multiple seals and fittings sitting inches away from GPUs.
- Less “leak anxiety” at the rack level. You still have a cooling system, pumps, and heat exchangers, but many of the most sensitive leak points (the ones close to chips) can be eliminated or redesigned.
- Strong cooling performance. Full immersion can improve heat removal and lower component temperatures, which supports stable performance under heavy workloads.
This connects directly to GTL (gas-to-liquid) fluids: GTL-based specialty oils are well-suited for immersion designs because they’re PFAS-free and engineered to be stable and non-conductive, supporting safe contact with electronics in single-phase immersion setups.
A Buyer-Friendly Way To Compare the Two Approaches
There’s no single “right answer” for every facility. Many data centers will run a mix of cooling methods. But if your priority is simplifying the “near-GPU” sealing challenge, immersion deserves a hard look.
Direct-to-chip (cold plate) often means:
- More hoses and seals close to CPUs/GPUs
- More service steps during maintenance
- More focus on long-term seal performance under clamp load and heat
- Heat-conducting paste performance is critical
In contrast, the use of immersion cooling oil often means:
- Fewer fluid connections right next to GPUs
- A cleaner path to scaling cooling as power density rises
- A different kind of maintenance plan that’s less about microleaks at fittings, more about fluid management and system discipline
- Lower temperatures since all sides of the chip are cooled, allowing higher performance
What To Ask Your Immersion Cooling Oil Supplier Before You Commit
Fluid selection is where a lot of projects win or lose. Polymers and seals must work with coolants over time without breaking down or contaminating the system.
If you’re considering immersion cooling with specialty oils, start with these questions:
- Material compatibility: What common plastics, elastomers, labels, and cable materials has the fluid been tested against?
- Fluid stability: How does the fluid hold up under heat, oxygen exposure, and long run times?
- Cleanliness and control: What filtration and monitoring approach is recommended to keep the system stable?
- Service realities: What does a real maintenance workflow look like for technicians?
Bottom Line on Immersion Cooling Oil: How Renkert Oil Can Help
Immersion cooling can be a smart way to reduce leak risk near your most expensive hardware and keep artificial intelligence (AI) systems running at stable temperatures. But the fluid choice and the supplier behind it matter just as much as the tank design.
Renkert Oil helps you get both the right immersion cooling oil and a delivery plan you can trust. We supply Shell GTL (gas-to-liquid) isoparaffins, high-purity fluids that are colorless, very low odor, and built for consistent performance.
Just as important: we don’t stop at product. We help you protect uptime with supply planning and logistics support, including strategically located storage, bulk delivery options, and redundancy to reduce the risk of interruptions.
If you’re evaluating immersion cooling (or scaling it), talk with Renkert Oil about:
- Selecting a GTL (gas-to-liquid) immersion fluid that fits your performance and safety goals
- Building a supply plan designed to keep your fluid available when demand spikes or shipping conditions change
- Planning delivery and storage so your rollout stays on schedule, not at the mercy of freight surprises
Ready to talk? Contact us to learn more!
FAQs: Immersion Cooling Oils
1) What is immersion cooling?
Immersion cooling is when server components sit in a non-conductive cooling fluid that pulls heat away directly from the hardware.2) What is direct-to-chip cooling (cold plates)?
Direct-to-chip cooling uses liquid flowing through metal “cold plates” mounted on one side of hot components like central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs).3) Why are PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) restricted?
Many PFAS can persist in the environment for a long time and have been linked to health and contamination concerns, so regulators are trying to reduce exposure.4) Is PFAS mainly a “fluid” issue or a “hardware” issue?
Often it’s a hardware issue (tubing, seals, coatings) in liquid cooling loops, but some cooling fluids can also raise PFAS questions depending on what they’re made of.5) Does Shell GTL (gas-to-liquid) cooling oil contain PFAS?
Shell GTL isoparaffins are hydrocarbon-based fluids, not fluorinated chemistry, so the immersion fluid itself is not PFAS-based.6) How does immersion cooling reduce leak concerns near GPUs (graphics processing units)?
Because you’re not running liquid lines and seals right up to each chip the same way, there can be fewer connection points near the hottest, most valuable electronics.7) Is immersion cooling safe for electronics?
It can be, when the system is designed for it, and the fluid is a proper dielectric (non-conductive) immersion fluid used as intended.8) What kind of maintenance does immersion cooling require?
It’s usually less about chasing small leaks at fittings and more about fluid handling basics like filtration, cleanliness, monitoring, and good service procedures.9) How do I choose the right immersion cooling oil?
Start with your hardware requirements, temperature targets, and service plan, then confirm dielectric performance, stability, and material compatibility.10) Will immersion cooling work with common plastics, labels, cables, and seals?
It depends on the materials used in your equipment, so compatibility testing and supplier guidance are important before you scale. GTL fluids are inert isoparaffins, which limits concerns.11) Is immersion cooling “more efficient”?
Immersion can help control temperatures better in high-density racks, which can support stable performance and reduce cooling strain, but results depend on your design.12) How can Renkert Oil help with an immersion cooling project?
Renkert Oil can help you select a Shell GTL (gas-to-liquid) immersion fluid and build a practical supply and logistics plan so your rollout isn’t slowed by sourcing or delivery surprises.