Cannot connect system with different fluids???

[GmanUK1965]

On my first attempted playthrough I thought I worked out this problem but obviously not because the same is happening in second attempt (in a way this is my fourth attempt because I've restarted 3 times because of this problem.
Why is this happening?
How can I stop this happening?

Yesterday I stated that this game is amazing but now, with this problem I'm beginning to hate the game (3 attempts and 3 wasted hours)

[Washell]

Pipes next to each other will automatically connect. So trying to place a second pipe for different fluids next to another pipe will trigger this message. Either offset them using underground pipes, or keep a square distance between pipelines carrying different fluids.

Ideally, a future update would allow pipes to be placed regardless and just not connect them to anything carrying different fluids. Then again, the world is large enough to accommodate spacing.

[AzKat 🐔]

You could make underground pipes as those will only connect "2 way" instead of the "4 way" top pipes.

[Purpleganja]

If you contaminated a pipe network with the wrong fluid, you can press the button to purge it. If it keeps happening, you probably have a wrong connection or a bad reservation somewhere.

[AlexMBrennan]

Why is this happening?

You are trying to connect pipes that contain different fluids.

The solution is to not connect pipes that contain different fluids.

in a way this is my fourth attempt because I've restarted 3 times because of this problem.

No offence but maybe this isn't the right game for you? This is a game about problem solving, and your best seems to be "let's try the thing that didn't work again in case it magically works this time".

[DCYW]

what fluids are you mixing?

[GmanUK1965]

Sussed it!
I found an earlier post about this problem. Something I forgot to mention was when setting up pipes with boiler. The boiler has an end indicating steam side (I did not know this). If this end is connected towards the water pump then the problem will occur.

[Atzerk]

Originally posted by GmanUK1965:

Sussed it!
I found an earlier post about this problem. Something I forgot to mention was when setting up pipes with boiler. The boiler has an end indicating steam side (I did not know this). If this end is connected towards the water pump then the problem will occur.

Do you play with ALT mode on? Make sure you do so! In the settings you can customise what you want to see in ALT mode from all inputs outputs on every item you place basically, to orientation of inserters, as well as showing what furnaces and assemblers are currently working on, everything.
Be aware that this issue with the pipes will come up later when planning oil refining as well, and there are multiple fluids coming in and out of refineries and other factories, which also mustn't mix together. Designing that is quite more complicated than the boilers, so you should get accustomed to it! ALT mode is your friend, you won't be able to live without it, trust me.

[Fuinril]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

Why is this happening?

You are trying to connect pipes that contain different fluids.

The solution is to not connect pipes that contain different fluids.

And that SUCKS hard ! I mean I'm OK with the fact 2 fluids cannot be mixed in the same entity, but not being able to connect empty pipes to multiple (possible) inputs with a logical control sucks soooooo hard !

The old system was missleading and tends to cause headaches, yes, but hardcoding the new system and not giving any control to modders over it is one of the worst part of Factorio

[Xaule]

This happened to me when I expanded my base and removed flamethrower turrets fed by crude oil. I got this message when I tried to reconnect the pipe. Both pipes are crude oil only so there is no reason for this. So the solution was to lay new pipe around the flamethrowers first as a bypass and when that was done, remove the turrets.

[jagholin]

there is probably a reason, like one of the systems having mixed fluids

[Xaule]

Originally posted by Jagh:

there is probably a reason, like one of the systems having mixed fluids

It doesn't seem so. When I place pipes around the turrets as a bypass and then remove them, the flow of oil remains intact. When I simply remove the turret and try to bridge the space with a pipe, I got the message about different fluids. Plus, I tried flushing both ends of the pipes to no avail. Very strange.

[Diakoptes]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

Why is this happening?

No offence but maybe this isn't the right game for you? This is a game about problem solving, and your best seems to be "let's try the thing that didn't work again in case it magically works this time".

well hey now he is trying

[Xaule]

Finally found it. An inverted refinery had its petroleum gas output facing towards the crude oil pipe that should have been on the input. Got the answer from the Factorio forum https://forums.factorio.com/90269

[arya_sat]

When I started this game, I faced the same problem, as well. But my mistake was that I tried to connect a water pump with *output* of a boiler. The pipe from the pump needed to go to the *input* of the boiler. So I got this error. I easily solved it.

[0xbaadf00d]

Well, you can still get this error if the fluid is the same or you might want to actually do this for some reason. The solution is simple, I'll give you a hint:

The system only checks if the connection is valid when you place a block, not when you remove one. With this you can connect your pipes.