Alde heating and anti freeze
Just making all caravan owners and potential caravan owners aware that new caravans with Alde heating only have the blue anti freeze in the heating system. This anti freeze is only gauranteed in the system for two years, then you are recommended to drain
the anti freeze out of the system and refill with the pink anti freeze . The cost of draining the system is about £200 pounds and the pink anti freeze is guaranteed for five years. Why can't the manufacturers put the pink anti freeze in the system in the
first place, obviously another way of getting caravaners to part with more money.
Comments
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£200 is IMO getting into exploitation territory. Alde do it for less and I would trust them to know what they are doing. The £200 quoted only indicates they know how to rip you off.
I can't answer the question of why the short life product is used, but that £200 might hold the answer. I did my own and the product I used cost about £20 five years ago, I am expecting to pay very little more this year.
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The product specified is for cars, however there are various types and not all are compatible with each other. Alde's current recommendation is one that offers 5 years and is pretty tolerant to any residules of what might already be there. It is G13 in VW
speak, though G12++ is also suitable.I used an older 5 year spec but one not so tolerant to mixing with others. I don't intend using various odd stuff to top up and ensured the system was well flushed before I used it.
The antifreeze component in the product will not age but the corrosion inhibitors do. That is why it has to be changed or run the risk of internal corrosion. Relative to some applications I don't think the inhibitors are too challenged but at the price of
a new boiler I am not going to test my opinion.0 -
I made an enquiry about our Alde heating only a few months ago and I was informed that Elddis only put the five year Alde antifreeze in all there new caravans.
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I replaced mine for less than £50, but provided my own labour. Not sure, but thought it was yellow rather than pink (5 year stuff).
I imagine that some manufacturers put inferior additives in to enhance their margins. You can’t blame Alde for that, of course, but I do wonder why a less sophisticated boiler should cost so much more than a domestic one. And the price charged for other
appliances is no cheaper, either. It’s no surprise that vans are costing what they do. Perhaps we need more competition in the marketplace.0 -
Ours cost £78 to have two year replaced by 5 year at a main dealer, so £200 is way over the top. £2000 for a reconditioned alde boiler, also seems very expensive, as a new one is only £1500 to £1600. So even allowing for labour, £2000 for a reconditioned unit would be on the expensive side. As to why Bailey, in our case, put two year in instead of five. I would assume it is down to saving a few more £ per unit. All the little savings add up. Much better to get the customer to pay for it on the second service.
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My Lunar, bought new last year came with the 5 year fluid.
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If a company skimps on the quality of materials used, it would be indicative of a readiness to do so in other places also.
I am not sure the analogy holds true, as there is nothing wrong with the quality of the fluid, it is just that its anti corrosive spec is only two rather than 5 years. The same company fitted expensive Michelin tyres, rather than cheaper less capable alternatives.
It is just that people look at these but do not normally question how long the heating fluid is spec' for.0 -
I believe you should not mix the two liquids, hence the percieved high cost of removing the two year fluid before adding the five.My mobile service engineer, Alde trained, just tests the fluid at every service
and tops it up to the required strength. Simples.0 -
You are right, jobsworth, the two should not be mixed and one should be flushed out before refilling with the other. The flushing process can be quite labour-intensive if done properly and is best done yourself because it’s impossible to know how well a
dealer will have done so (if at all).0 -
If a company skimps on the quality of materials used, it would be indicative of a readiness to do so in other places also.
I am not sure the analogy holds true, as there is nothing wrong with the quality of the fluid, it is just that its anti corrosive spec is only two rather than 5 years. The same company fitted expensive Michelin tyres, rather than cheaper less capable alternatives.
It is just that people look at these but do not normally question how long the heating fluid is spec' for.That would bother me more. To be inconsistent, by skimping where it might not be noticed, yet making it appear otherwise where it is likely to be, is sheer deception. Sadly, this seems to be a common practice these days and should not be acceptable.
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That would bother me more. To be inconsistent, by skimping where it might not be noticed, yet making it appear otherwise where it is likely to be, is sheer deception.
Sadly, this seems to be a common practice these days and should not be acceptable.I don't think it has ever been not so, and not just amongst caravan manufactures. Firms always want you to focus on the shiny bits, it what sells product. Unfortunately there are not many of us that are not drawn in.
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I believe you should not mix the two liquids, hence the percieved high cost of removing the two year fluid before adding the five.My mobile service engineer, Alde trained, just tests the fluid at every service and tops it up to the required strength. Simples.
That is very frightening unless he has a way of testing the corrosion inhibitors that takes far less time than actually doing a conventional corrosion test.
Being trained by Alde or whoever is one thing doing what they teach is another. Testing the SG is dead easy and proves the antifreeze is up to the job but does ziltch to proving the corrosion inhibitors are still up to the job.
As you said "Simples" yes far far too simple IMO.
It would be informative if Alde UK respond here to confirm they approve of the practice.
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So two posts saying 5 year fluid is fitted to a new Lunar, and Elddis, can anyone confirm this?
Also according to Alde blue and pink fluid can be mixed with out harm. Although i flushed all my old fluid out wnen i changed mine, i don't see the point of leaving of fluid in.
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I believe you should not mix the two liquids, hence the percieved high cost of removing the two year fluid before adding the five.My mobile service engineer, Alde trained, just tests the fluid at every service
and tops it up to the required strength. Simples.That is very frightening unless he has a way of testing the corrosion inhibitors that takes far less time than actually doing a conventional corrosion test.
Being trained by Alde or whoever is one thing doing what they teach is another. Testing the SG is dead easy and proves the antifreeze is up to the job but does ziltch to proving the corrosion inhibitors are still up to the job.
As you said "Simples" yes far far too simple IMO.
It would be informative if Alde UK respond here to confirm they approve of the practice.
It would be more useful to write to Alde than hope they might see this and respond. It would be interesting to know what instruction they give, although academic for me as I’m about to go back to blown air for lightness.
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Makes me glad I've got blown air.
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Also according to Alde blue and pink fluid can be mixed with out harm. Although i flushed all my old fluid out wnen i changed mine, i don't see the point of leaving of fluid in.
That is only true in some cases; there are a few products that can mix without issues with most other fluids irrespective of their colour or make up.
The product sold by ALDE under its own brand is one of these tolerant products. Others that like theirs also meeting G13 can.
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Makes me glad I've got blown air.
You no doubt cope with your car's coolant without issues? There is no difference, they also need changing at the appropriate time period for the product employed and then with the right fluid. There is nothing novel in the requirements of the Alde system.
The issue IMO arises in some of our van builders putting in old technology products in the first place. Best we let them know by telling the dealer to ensure it comes with G13, or keep their van and you will go elsewhere.0
