Flush and Replace ALDE 3010 Antifreeze

[John Barrett]

Following on from another thread I decided to flush and replace the glycol in the ALDE 3010 system. I found a most informative video showing how to use a submersible pump to do the job.


Having my own lathe meant I could make up some 22/10 mm adaptors. I bought a Whale pump from you know where for £12.95, and the readymix Tetrasil was £6.95 for five litres. I will find a another use for the pump!
Here's the header tank in the wardrobe with the cover removed. The pump lifts out without difficulty.

I made these alloy adaptors.

The system being flushed. When the water had all gone I just put the antifreeze in the bucket and did the same. It took about 15 minutes to do the entire job! Well pleased and it all still works.
I wonder what a dealer would charge...?
John

 

[John Barrett]

Gosh, 50 views already. I'm flushed with success!

 

[Lenny HB]

I think Alde charge about. £220.

 

[pappajohn]

I think Alde charge about. £220.

And they will do it a lot faster using their specific pump which removes and replenishes in one action.

 

[tonyidle]

And they will do it a lot faster using their specific pump which removes and replenishes in one action.

Faster than 15 minutes?

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[John Barrett]

Faster than 15 minutes?

That would be quite an hourly rate!

 

[Ninjabob]

Can anyone explain to me why vans leave the factory with two years fluid rather than five? Are we being conned into coughing up another £240 for this service three years early? Great video and now I am out of warranty I'll give it a go myself when the time comes.

 

[John Barrett]

Can anyone explain to me why vans leave the factory with two years fluid rather than five? Are we being conned into coughing up another £240 for this service three years early? Great video and now I am out of warranty I'll give it a go myself when the time comes.

If you want the adaptors for free just send me a SAE!
John

 

[TheBig1]

readymix Tetrasil was £6.95 for five litres

not the recommended 5 year purple aluminium safe antifreeze?

 

[TheBig1]

I have bought this to do the job
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=154004767561

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[pappajohn]

not the recommended 5 year purple aluminium safe antifreeze?

The antifreeze is that recommended by VW..... At a far lesser price than buying from Alde.

 

[pappajohn]

I have bought this to do the job
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=154004767561

I believe the latest is G13+ but is backwards compatible with G13

 

[TheBig1]

The antifreeze is that recommended by VW..... At a far lesser price than buying from Alde.

They use the same long life stuff that does not harm the aluminium radiators

 

[John Barrett]

not the recommended 5 year purple aluminium safe antifreeze?

Dead right! Just about all modern engines are made of ally in part or whole, and this stuff will be fine for my purposes.

 

[TheBig1]

Dead right!

what was your reasoning for that choice John? I know you are an engineer and would have investigated the choice

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[John Barrett]

what was your reasoning for that choice John? I know you are an engineer and would have investigated the choice

i just added to my previous post. It will do what it says on the tin i.e. Safe for aluminium

 

[pappajohn]

i just added to my previous post. It will do what it says on the tin i.e. Safe for aluminium

I suppose its like manufactures and engine oil.
My Hyundai recommened oil is Shell Helix which is a 5w/30 C3 grade low Ash.
I just changed oil and used Granville 5w/30 C3 grade...... Same viscosity, same grade, low Ash, half the price.

 

[TheBig1]

my thoughts are that I have heard that if a van goes to alde for repair out of warranty and it has the wrong antifreeze or just water, they condemn the entire system and say you need it all renewing.

 

[John Barrett]

my thoughts are that I have heard that if a van goes to alde for repair out of warranty and it has the wrong antifreeze or just water, they condemn the entire system and say you need it all renewing.

That proves that they are charlatan salesmen: not real engineers!

 

[DuxDeluxe]

And they will do it a lot faster using their specific pump which removes and replenishes in one action.

They flushed mine for about 30 minutes whilst also switching out the floor heating and other radiators to ensure that it was all fully flushed before feeding in the new fluid. It cost £240 including tracing and fixing a sensor fault and money well spent as the system had never been flushed/replaced in 6 years (old 2 year fluid)

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[Landy Andy]

Why do they flush the system?

 

[John Barrett]

Why do they flush the system?

Apparently to remove the 'expired' two years old antifreeze!

 

[Landy Andy]

That is extreme. The motor trade wouldn’t do that when they do an antifreeze renew, and a car engine has a higher value than a moho heater.

 

[tonyidle]

Can anyone explain to me why vans leave the factory with two years fluid rather than five? Are we being conned into coughing up another £240 for this service three years early? Great video and now I am out of warranty I'll give it a go myself when the time comes.

Vans leave the factory like that because Alde have no input into what the converter chooses to do. In the same way that they have ignored manufacturers instructions when fitting fridges for example or in my recent case not using the Heki roof cutting template when fitting a Heki rooflight.

 

[tonyidle]

That proves that they are charlatan salesmen: not real engineers!

Alde can show you the results of incorrect maintenance and of, even temporarily, running the system with plain water in it. I have no experience of the company personally but owners who have used their services have nothing but praise for their attitude to customers and attention to detail.

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[John Barrett]

The adapters have just gone to a deserving cause!
Glad to be of service.
John

 

[JockandRita]

The adapters have just gone to a deserving cause!
Glad to be of service.
John

They certainly did John Barrett, which arrived today thank you very much, and very nicely machined too.

The current fluid is 5-6 years old, and although the hydrometer still shows protection levels down to -25 degrees C, I doubt the inhibitor factor is still within safe limits, so I'll be flushing through and changing the fluid sometime soon.

Much appreciated John.

Jock.

 

[Basildog]

That is extreme. The motor trade wouldn’t do that when they do an antifreeze renew, and a car engine has a higher value than a moho heater.

The Alde heating system in many modern Motorhomes is almost impossible to economically replace, I did hear of one guy spending around £11 k to have an Alde system replacement, boiler alone is approximately £3k