Hi all, I've just had my Lunar Clubman SB in for it's annual service today, three years old later this month. I thought it would be a good idea to have the Alde heating fluid changed , due to it's age and the fact that the fluid is a centimetre or so below the minimum mark. Imagine my horror when the service company quoted me an approximate figure of £340 to do this, in addition to the annual service charge of near to £200. ! This was for a change to 5 year fluid; they didn't offer any other alternative. They said that there would be 2-3 hours labour involved, at £46+ per hour (+VAT) , and cost of fluid. I declined the offer, and am currently looking at other alternatives, although I am keen to resolve the problem at some sort of reasonable cost. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks
Stonebank
There should be a thread about this somewhere; you can do it yourself but it sounds complicated. We had a mobile servicer do it, can't remember the price but nothing like that.
Quote: Originally posted by stonebank on 04/5/2016
Hi all, I've just had my Lunar Clubman SB in for it's annual service today, three years old later this month. I thought it would be a good idea to have the Alde heating fluid changed , due to it's age and the fact that the fluid is a centimetre or so below the minimum mark. Imagine my horror when the service company quoted me an approximate figure of £340 to do this, in addition to the annual service charge of near to £200. ! This was for a change to 5 year fluid; they didn't offer any other alternative. They said that there would be 2-3 hours labour involved, at £46+ per hour (+VAT) , and cost of fluid. I declined the offer, and am currently looking at other alternatives, although I am keen to resolve the problem at some sort of reasonable cost. Anyone got any ideas? Thanks
Stonebank
if your van has the green glycol its has to be changed every 2 years in which case yours should have been done at its second service .
It will be replaced by Red G13 spec glycol which lasts 5 years before requiring a further change .
Its a fairly lengthy job to change the fluid and involves bleeding the system which is time consuming hence the 2/3 hours work plus the cost of the Alde fluid which is not cheap .
The maintenance of the ALDE heating system is more expensive than the equivalent Truma or Whale heating system but then again ALDE is more efficient than the latter
I would take note of the second comment at your peril.
------------- XVI yes?
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Quote: Originally posted by clbewi on 05/5/2016
Our van is 4 years old now and Serviced by the dealer the fluid hasn't been changed and I won't bother as it all works fine very efficient
Same here. dont need changing yet,3yrs old, still ok, dont get a hard enough frost anyway. Money spinner. hour of a job anyway to change, cant justify there charges.
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
Leaving the 2 year green glycol in your van for 4/5 years could cause premature boiler failure.
Its false economy not to maintain your heating system but then some only look at the cost and not at the possible consequences of failing to change the glycol at the correct time interval
I changed my Alde fluid some while ago now and it was a royal pain in the backside, so won't bother again.
I don't hear or read about any Alde boilers failing due to corrosion, and I would imagine a lot of people don't bother with the change.
If you are determined to get it changed then get a quote from Alde themselves, although they are probably too far from where the OP lives.
As antifreeze ages it retains the antifreeze component but loses the anti corrosion element. If it's 5yr car antifreeze then one can work out a reasonable workshop cost based on materials & 3hrs labour cost at whatever rate they charge.
Just a few tips if you decide to change the anti freeze. Drain the fluids, When refilling No legs down,wind the jocky wheel down to lift the front of the van, Dosent need to be a great deal.Put one of the rear legs down now to support the van, Now fill your tank with correct fluids, open the front bleed screw on the radiator when air has gone and water is coming out,(just bleed like your C/Heating at home) Now wind the jockey wheel up,Wind the rear legs down so the front of the van is pointing lower than the rear, Now open bleed screw on rear rads, top up tank. Turn heating on,The motor will hit air in the system now and a gain, and sound a little noisey at times, but the air will come out..Job done.
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
yes you can change it yourself,go to a vw or seat car dealer and buy long life V A G antifreeze. follow the ALDE MANUAL on drain and refill. Thats what is used.
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Topic: Alde heating fluid change
