Alde Heating Fluid...

Shuckford
Shuckford Forum Participant Posts: 63
edited February 2017 in Caravans #1

Coming up to the time where it's recommended to change the 2 year old fluid.

Question is has anyone delayed this job by 12 months?

Is the change noted in the vans service record?

Will this cause problems? 

Have been quoted £150 to do the job, any comments will be welcome.

Comments

  • geordie01
    geordie01 Forum Participant Posts: 108
    edited February 2017 #2

    Wouldn't bother it's just water and antifreeze 50/50 mix

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #3

    As far as I am aware it is the corrosion inhibitor that is only specified for two years, not the anti freeze potential. This can be easily checked in any event. On ours the fact it has been done is not mentioned in the stamped book, although of course it shows on the service invoice. However, as you will be replacing it with 5 year fluid, unless finances are really tight, I would bight the bullet and get it done. Prices do vary however and £150 is towards the top end.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #4

    Fairly easy to do yourself, though time consuming.  I did ours, so there is no proof.  It was a bit over the recommended time but we have had no problems in the 8 years we have owned the van.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2017 #5

    Don't want to upset the insurers by doing it (properly ☺) yourself  😉

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
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    edited February 2017 #6

    I would say very top end.  My dealer quoted me £75 plus the cost of the fluid which included a spare litre to top it up.

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited February 2017 #7

    I was late changing mine- no problems. Changed it to 5 yr fluid. I was under the impression that you needed a special pump to get the old stuff out KjellNN?

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited February 2017 #8

    Youtube is your friend ..... the 'special' pump just makes it easier

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,690 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #9

    When I booked our Barcelona in for its second service, last November, I specifically asked about changing the heating fluid and was told, categorically, that it doesn't need to be changed until the end of the third year.  Even though I queried that advice based on what I have read on here, the Service Manager was adamant about this.  I'm not convinced he's right, but since I will probably swap the van this year, I wasn't too concerned.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2017 #10

    Certainly in our Unicorn handbook  it says to replace every second year.  Although they seem to assume you are going to replace it with 2 year fluid rather than 5 year, as my next replacement will be at 7 years old.

    However, the paperwork for our van shows it was completed in September 2013, although we didn't collect until the end of January 2014. So on its second service the fluid would have been  in the system for well over 2 years in any event.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2017 #11

    My memory was that the original fluid used was 3 year.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited February 2017 #12

    My memory was that the original fluid used was 3 year.

  • Shuckford
    Shuckford Forum Participant Posts: 63
    edited February 2017 #13

    Thanks to you all for your response's. Decided on 'biting the bullet' and getting the fluid changed at the two year mark.

    Hoping that we shall still be caravanning when it's due to be changed the next time. 😜 

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