Caravan and Motorhome Alde Heating 2 Year Antifreeze - A Con?

[@steven5018]

Totally agree. It annoyed me for 2 years! My other irritant is paying the same price for a service as I did on my old van, but this one now includes a "visual" damp check on my timber less caravan 🧐. They always proudly announce that no water ingress was seen... funny that because I hadn't seen any either. 🤷‍♂️

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I always sigh with relief when I hear “no damp” don’t know why coz it shouldn’t bloody have any ! 🤪 Graham

[@kenperrin8582]

Hi Graham Iv just watched your video on Aldi heating with the anti freeze in I’m going to do mine myself as they want £250 to £300 to do it bloody rip of . I reckon I can buy the anti freeze and the small pump to do the job for about £80 to £100 much cheaper and it’s not that difficult to do Great vlog though and ware have the years gone 😮

[@paulreimers6805]

Hi Graham apparently my buccaneer 1 year old in march already has 5 year from new!!! Great vlog Graham

[@CaravanVlogger]

Paul Reimers Thanks for watching. Think you got lucky there 😂Graham

[@MrOldhoot]

I've been wondering if the water from an air conditioning unit would be suitable. Its drawn from the atmosphere but obviously comes into contact with alloy pipes and grills on it's travels to the plastic water tank. Thank you for an interesting and informative video.

[@TheCaravanNut]

Mine needs doing this year, still researching it and the possibility of doing it myself. Just need to find a Unicorn to piss in my Bailey Unicorn! That sounds so wrong 😂 Another great vlog Graham, cheers Martin 🙂

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching Martin. Yes it does sound wrong 😂

[@ianmcgarvey6897]

Cheapest way is to buy g13 concentrate and mix with de ionised water, loads cheaper then the Alde stuff. G13 is standard in vw/ Audi so available from most motor factors.

[@greglewis8843]

Changed my own Graham bought g13 from motorfactors was easy to do bit of a faff bleeding system not got a warranty to worry about.thanks

[@CaravanChitChat]

Great vlog, and raises a very interesting point! at first I thought it is a blatant rip off but not sure what the manufacturer would gain from it, seeing as it’s the Independant dealers that are gaining business. Very odd though 🤷‍♂️

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. Just frustrating, it would cost manufacturers about 20 quid, yet passes a 200 plus cost onto customers. Graham

[@joshnnik]

My Unicorn has now gone through 6 winters on the original antifreeze. I live in one of the spots in England that regularly records the lowest temperatures, often into double figures.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. It’s like most things, you have to follow manufacturers guidelines to keep the warranty valid…

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Graham, What a Con. Audi tried that on every 12 months after buying new one with the brake fluid. It's a con to get you spending. Thanks for sharing an important bit of info. Phil🙂

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching Phil. Brake fluid lasts for year doesn’t it? Yeah all little cons to get us to part with money. Graham

[@gtricgtric]

Loved the vlog. Liked the wall paper, spotted the guitar. I’am a life long player, just being nosey. Keep up with the vlogs, I think they are one of the best on KZbin.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching and the comments. Took me a while to get a camera angle Mandy was happy with 🙄😂 I don’t play bass myself but can bash about in a 6 string 🎶 Graham

[@colinrimmer789]

Wow Graham it gets more complicated the further we go into it

[@CaravanVlogger]

The more you think about this one the more annoying it gets. It will cost us £250, as it needs draining down / flushing. And the buggers are putting the stuff in, in the factory. Just put 5 year in it would add about £20 to the price of a new caravan. Thanks for watching. Graham

[@geofffoster1704]

RIP off my friend, will be doing some shopping around as mine is not due until September

[@davethompson6726]

Thanks once again Graham thanks we are waiting for delivery of our 2020 caravan two weeks to go well I think I fill the heating system with Wine when it’s due could you recommend a ,wine filling station in FRANCE little bird told me that you been to France let’s see if customs find the wine in the system🤩🤩

[@CaravanVlogger]

Dave Thompson Nee caravan in 2 weeks - excellent very exciting. I think caravans are just big vessels for holding booze. Gin in Aquaroll wine in heating system...Thanks for watching. Graham

[@andrewturpin1994]

I only ever use Aldes own branded antifreeze, the reason behind this is, having spent years testing the antifreeze that other dealers and customers have fitted them selves nothing else seems to have the longevity that Aldes own branded fluid does I am not able to explain why this is or what the difference is with Aldes own fluid as apposed to other G13s made for the car world All I can say is when I check Aldes own 2 or 3 years later it is virtually as strong as the day it was fitted, while others where dealers and customers have done there own just a year later and can be as much as half the strength it started with For myself as an caravan engineer this makes the extra cost worth while rather than tracking down the cheapest option

[@ianf6512]

Our Van is just coming up to 3rd service and we haven’t had it changed yet. Asked last year and was told it’s recommended at the 2nd service but it all comes down to how often you switch it on. Will ask again this year.

[@CaravanVlogger]

Ian Foster interesting not heard that before. Thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@ianf6512]

Just found out it’s more like dealership rip off. Raymond James my local Elddis dealership want £259 for the annual service and £235 for the anti-freeze change. Reckoned they were fully booked till August and suggested picking up someone else off the NCC register if I needed it doing sooner. Already had a card for someone who was on the list and he’s quoted me £300 all in for both jobs. Another bonus being he will carry out the work at the storage yard, so I don’t have the added diesel expense moving it to the dealership.

[@shaungrinsted9419]

I found unicorn piss but it’s the same price as premium diesel so I will stick to using Buxton spring water

[@PoshcatsCamping]

I already have unicorn P in my system. My dealer was perfect. .................. sorry just choked on my cornflakes 😝 Trev

[@lynnebarkas6906]

What is recommended in the Alde handbook. ?

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I actually spoke to Alde at the NEC caravan show. Alde now insists new caravans have 5-year antifreeze from new. It was caravan manufacturers trying to save a bit of money by putting in 2 year in. In theory you can put 2 or 5 year in, but it must be changed at either 2 or 5 year. Makes sense for the owner to put 5 year, as half the cost of getting it changed is the labour. Graham

[@bluetonic9538]

Happy with our blown hair heating. Not to say that Alde heating wouldn't be better but our van heats up quicker than our friends posh van with Alde. Plus its 200kg of payload that we don't have to lug around so I can use a smaller car :D As for demonised water, yep you shouldn't use tap water in a car either so it does get rather expensive

[@CaravanVlogger]

Good point about the payload 👍🏻

[@muddymarvellous]

We've just had 3 nights away with Alde Very heavy frost Ice . An inch of ice in my water bucket every morning.. Total luxury.. programmable heating 17 degrees at night and 23 degrees from 7am in the morning..So so pleased with it..silent easy on the battery, no cold spots dry towels..Just like our home central heating..but probably better..

[@CaravanVlogger]

muddymarvellous we have ours in 17 at night and 23 during the day. Can’t have it too hot at night

[@NG-cb7he]

As your title says Graham,, yes it’s a rip-off. It’s works similar to your heating at home and also car . I would say just to buy a antifreeze tester on line or from your local Motor factors and check if it needs changing. The only worrying thing I can see is the header tank for the Aldi fluids is open vent with a plastic screw and a overflow pipe. This bubbles like your kettle. So where are all the vapours going? Do think it only need topping up with full strength not diluted there not running 24hr like your home central heating. You would think that there would be some type of filter inline fitted if Aldi was concerned about contamination and the fluid being weak. Think most basic knowledge person would be able to do this even full draining down. Did see a video from Bob Earnshaw this was a full fluid change on his Motorhome just seems to be a-bit over the top must have cost a fortune. Think if you can do it your self have a go and upload your video and hopefully it might save someone a fortune. Does anyone one no the warranty times for the wet heating systems ? not sure if it goes along side with your caravan warranty. Could only be covered for 12mths.

[@ExtremeMotorhomingAdventures]

Where do you find this unicorn 🦄?? I’m so confused 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. I have the unicorn on my drive. Locked up.

[@JTCamper]

I was quoted £220 4 years ago to change the antifreeze, I did it myself. The caravan place said it was a special system and they need a special thing with 3 pumps to pump it in / out... Load of rubbish, its just a ring of pipes that goes round the caravan, I drained it all down and filled it back up, got a few air locks but found the bleed valves. I got the caravan service yesterday and apparently it needs changing again quoted £190... no thanks. There are plenty of good videos on youtube where people have made a setup with a couple of hoses, 2 containers and a submersible pump. Complete con...

[@CaravanVlogger]

Thanks for watching. There's a lot of information on youtube that seems to be designed to scare people into thinking something is more difficult than it actually is. Over complicating things etc. I guess some wouldn't feel comfortable doing certain things themselves. You're right, though, it is a con, and a lot of these things actually aren't as difficult as some make out...

[@muddymarvellous]

My mobile engineer charged me £90.00 last year to have the 5 year antifreeze done, he left me the bottle with an inch of antifreeze for topping up and a little deironized water..It took him about an hour, I was so pleased I gave him £100.00 I've a receipt for the service..He was very professional, and took all the old antifreeze away with him.

[@CaravanVlogger]

That’s good value for 90 quid 👍🏻

[@HitchUpAndTow]

I'll stick with my blown air heating , seem a lot easier and cheaper.🙂 Mark

[@paulandbiancaadventures3458]

Sounds really complicated. Our 2011 conqueror has alde heating. It’s being serviced next month. Can’t believe you snuck in jockeywheel again 🙄😂

[@CaravanVlogger]

As Jason Donovan sang, “especially for you” 🤢 thanks for watching 👍🏻

[@sandrabebbington4422]

Still comes down to ££. Think Alde and especially manufacturers have finally realised people were becoming increasingly annoyed.

[@Venomator.]

Awesomesauce Graham, I need to go check the colour of my piss now... 🤷🏼‍♂️ Cheers matey, Rog... 👍🏻 😉 🐍

[@velianlodestone1249]

Anti-freeze does need replacing eventually, true. Every 2 years.. well not so sure about that, anti-freeze can become corrosive as it ages - all Alde is doing is covering their asses. I would recommend testing the anti freeze using coolant test strips, I bet the anti freeze lasts > 2 years, I even guess it'll > 5 years.

[@laptopsid]

Just boil the kettle, wait until it goes cold and use that. De-ironised water my arse.

[@CaraVanOlogywithBecky]

Nope sorry won't work. Deionisation uses chemistry and mechanical filtration to remove all the minerals that are in there naturally plus ones that are added to tap water at the treatment plant ie removes sodium, calcium, iron, copper, chlorides, sulphates, etc. Things that would otherwise react with the metal components. Boiling will cause calcium carbonate to be removed from the water in the form of limescale and will kill of any bugs, etc. in it but won't remove other dissolved impurities. The other way of purifying water is distillation but that requires something to catch and re-condense the steam or double distillation (re-distilling the condensed steam) to be absolutely sure it's just H2O but this is a very expensive process hence the cheaper de-ionised when you need reasonably de-mineralised water but don't need pharmaceutical grade pure water :) PS Drinking deionised/distilled isn't good for us compared to tap water as our bodies need the minerals. Aquarium shops sell de-ionised in larger quantities than the small bottles sold as "ironing water" as it helps serious fish keepers keep the pH levels balanced in their tanks. Hope that helps.

[@happywanderer7369]

Well that was straight forward wasn’t it!

[@daviddavis6231]

This all sounds like rip off time at the dealers