Topping up anti freeze

[outdoors]

Hi all,
just noted on my 2017 Hymer Nova 580 GL that my anti freeze tank is showing just below minimum.
It is the Alde wet system, I've read that there are two colours of anti freeze ( blue & orange ) and not to mix, mine is yellow ( damn Germans ) could anyone allow me to know if this is available and is it a simple top up in the holding tank situated in the wardrobe. The 'van is due in to the dealers late January, ( don't really want to pay top wack for something I could probably do ) we are away this weekend and over Christmas & New Year.
Happy caravanning.

 

[otherclive]

Can’t answer on the correct type of antifreeze for Alde. But where has it gone to? Can’t think when I last needed to top up a car or domestic system. Although nerd that I am I always carry a premixed solution in the cars. Perhaps yours had some air in that has now dispersed.

 

[JTQ]

If it is just a cupfull needed then deionised water would do as what is in there is likely to be a 50/50 solution but using down to a 40/60 [product to water] will still give adequate corrosion inhibiting and antifreeze properties. There is 10 litre plus in there so a cupfull hardly makes a difference on the solution.

You could safely top up with a G12++ or G13 [those are VW Group specs commonly used for specifying these products]. The beauty of these two specs is they safely mix with nearly anything else used in Europe; many others do not.
Readily available G12++ is Comma's G40 [sorry about their confusing branding] or for the environmentally better G13 Comma's GG40. These can be got in both ready use strength or as a concentrate that you mix equal parts with ideally deionised water. Halfords often stock one or other and so do many auto factors.
Both these are "magenta" in colour.
When the fluid needs changing specify either of these as they are 5 year life products of excellent quality. Hymer did with mine use just two year life stuff.
The technical challenge is the corrosion inhibiting properties, the antifreeze properties last forever but the vital corrosion controlling chemicals do not.

 

[Craigyoung]

you could also go to an auto discount shop which sells all the stuff to and they'd would probably be able to advise you , probably cheaper than the big stores & named garages ?
Just a thought....

 

[JTQ]

you could also go to an auto discount shop which sells all the stuff to and they'd would probably be able to advise you , probably cheaper than the big stores & named garages ?
Just a thought....

In my professional opinion that is dangerous advice, the boiler is a £2000 item and quite prone to corrosion, use the right stuff it is readliy available, or cross-check with Alde UK.

With antifreezes these days you need to know what is there or select one known to be safe to cross mix; or be very rich.

 

[Dustydog]

http://www.alde.co.uk/itemdetails.php?itemId=143
Following on from JTQ excellent advice see the above link.
I suspect any deviation from the Alde solution may invalidate your warranty.
Note amongst other things it contains ethylene glycol and glycerin, with silicated OAT.(Organic Acid (Additive) Technology ) Ok I did google it but as you can see it is clearly something a bit special .

 

[Craigyoung]

apologies ,
I thought we were talking about the anti-freeze on our motor veichles not the caravans !

 

[outdoors]

Thanks for the info guys, I'll take a good look at it over the weekend and see If I can buy some on my travels.
Next question is, is the tank pressurised ? I certainly don't want to just undo the cap to find antifreeze splashing all over her ermines & cocktail dresses.
Happy caravanning.

 

[JTQ]

No, it is not pressurised, it has both an open air vent tube going up and an overflow tube going down, hopefully, routed through the floor.
It is as they describe it simply a "header tank" using gravity to hold about a metre pressure on the boiler; ideal if you have a boiler located pump to suppress any tendency to pump cavitation noises.

Cutting the top off something like a plastic water bottle is good as a refilling aid funnel for avoiding misplaced fluid.
Don't overfill, halfway between low and high when cold is ideal or it will simply throw out excess when getting really hot; then you will find out if they routed the overflow properly!