Alde hot water only with no fluid for the heating?

[DangerMousy]

We're due to go away next weekend and have just found a leak in our Alde system

Not sure we're going to be able to get it fixed before we're due to go away....is it possible to run the Alde for hot water only without having gycol in the system? We're going to be on hook up so we'd use an oil filled radiator for temporary heating, but we need hot water as the campsite has no facilities.

 

[landranger]

If its in the right area to be the heat exchanger, and the Alde fluid is about right, I'd be checking the engine cooling system next. Assuming its not oily a quick taste - just a dab on the end of your tongue, if it's sweet it's almost certainly antifreeze.

 

[Ditcha]

It's definitely bright pink/red and has a slight oily sheen
View attachment 842651


If its the E&P hydraulics then it was fitted by Rosmia.

Check the e&p tank level if easy accessible they use red coloured hydraulic oil.

 

[DangerMousy]

Just a thought, our pipes to the heat exchanger on the alde system remain inside the moho in the double floor, they don’t go on the underneath

Yeah, I also find it strange for heating pipes to run outside. Maybe the leak stopping after turning the heat exchanger off was just a coincidence?

 

[funflair]

OK, plan for tomorrow...

• Turn the heat exchanger back on, fire up the engine and check if the leak resumes
• Try to trace where the conduit goes....if the other ends are at the rear jacks then it would be a strong indication that these are the hydraulic pipes for jacks
• Turn the heating on.....I assume the Alde control panel will show an error if the fluid level is too low

The heat exchanger has cooling fluid from the engine going to it and you can only stop this circulation by turning off the circulation on to the heat exchanger, circulation from the Alde heating is not interrupted, if that is the fluid it would be showing low in the cooling header tank.

You could peel back some conduit from those melted areas and if there is a pipe filling the conduit good chance it is for the jacks so then just follow the conduit a see where it goes.

Just to add the E+P will do a quick pump when you start up just to make sure all the jacks are up, when it is happy there will be no pressure.

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[Ditcha]

E&P pump pic attached if your not sure what to look for see the red fluid.

 

[rb62]

That looks a bit to red for Alde fluid and your level looks fine,


Found this post,



and this info,

 

[DangerMousy]

Thanks all for your advice......it never ceases to amaze me the huge breadth of knowledge and helpfulness on this forum. It truly is an amazing community. I shall report back tomorrow after further investigations.

At the moment it's looking more and more likely that it's the jacks (bright red fluid, oily feeling, pipes running outside) in which case our trip next weekend will hopefully be back on....if a little uneven!

 

[WESTY66]

Thanks all for your advice......it never ceases to amaze me the huge breadth of knowledge and helpfulness on this forum. It truly is an amazing community. I shall report back tomorrow after further investigations.

At the moment it's looking more and more likely that it's the jacks (bright red fluid, oily feeling, pipes running outside) in which case our trip next weekend will hopefully be back on....if a little uneven!

If only you lived near CazPaul he's got some little cheese tyre level thingy’s he could lend you, however they’re quite famous now and he gets a little protective of them.

 

[AdrianChen]

Since the burnt area is right at the back of the van, the E&P compressor must also be right at the back or I cant see why hydraulic pipes would be there, On our two the E&P pump has been under the chassis in the middle(ish), or between the floors under the belted seats.

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[Ditcha]

Thanks all for your advice......it never ceases to amaze me the huge breadth of knowledge and helpfulness on this forum. It truly is an amazing community. I shall report back tomorrow after further investigations.

At the moment it's looking more and more likely that it's the jacks (bright red fluid, oily feeling, pipes running outside) in which case our trip next weekend will hopefully be back on....if a little uneven!

Just check with your supplier it will be okay to use at the jacks are kept up under pressure, no fluid no pressure good luck

 

[Ditcha]

Since the burnt area is right at the back of the van, the E&P compressor must also be right at the back or I cant see why hydraulic pipes would be there, On our two the E&P pump has been under the chassis in the middle(ish), or between the floors under the belted seats.

Yes but you have pipework feeding the 4 jacks across the 4 corners of the van a bit like your brake lines.

 

[DangerMousy]

Since the burnt area is right at the back of the van, the E&P compressor must also be right at the back or I cant see why hydraulic pipes would be there, On our two the E&P pump has been under the chassis in the middle(ish), or between the floors under the belted seats.

The area in the photos is only about a metre behind the front axle.

Just check with your supplier it will be okay to use at the jack are kept up under pressure, no fluid no pressure good luck

That's on the to-do list for first thing Monday morning.

 

[WESTY66]

Yes but you have pipework feeding the 4 jacks across the 4 corners of the van a bit like your brake lines.

Yes, the op has the same van as us and the rear jacks are behind the rear wheels and the front jacks just behind the front wheels

 

[AdrianChen]

The area in the photos is only about a metre behind the front axle.


That's on the to-do list for first thing Monday morning.

Ah - now I see!

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[AdrianChen]

Yes but you have pipework feeding the 4 jacks across the 4 corners of the van a bit like your brake lines.

It would have helped had I realised it was the front of the van not the back Doh.......

 

[dpsuk999]

I’d put money on it’s the hydraulic fluid from your jacks

 

[CazPaul]

If only you lived near CazPaul he's got some little cheese tyre level thingy’s he could lend you, however they’re quite famous now and he gets a little protective of them.

Hey, we went on a Concorde meeting once, you ought to have seen the looks when we put it on the bits of cheese

I had to say it was my mates van and ours was in for fitting of full air

 

[ChrisL]

It's definitely bright pink/red and has a slight oily sheen
View attachment 842651


If its the E&P hydraulics then it was fitted by Rosmia.

That is definitely hydraulic fluid from the levellers, have a look at all the couplings, I had a similar leak in France, I think it was a 17mm spanner and a pair of french pliers to hold the coupling block to fix mine. Once I tightened it up I had no more issues.

 

[Marie-Claire]

There looks to be 4 identical conduits in the photo, would it be one for each jack after the pump

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[WESTY66]

Hey, we went on a Concorde meeting once, you ought to have seen the looks when we put it on the bits of cheese

I had to say it was my mates van and ours was in for fitting of full air

Tbh Paul, if I was ata Concorde meet, I’d have the beer glass sliding off the table before I got the “cheese” out

 

[funflair]

There looks to be 4 identical conduits in the photo, would it be one for each jack after the pump

Two pipes to each jack so 4 to back and 4 to front, I think all will be revealed tomorrow and the smart money seems to be on hydraulics so if that is the case the apprentice needs a bit more training, or sacking

 

[Marie-Claire]

They seem to be quite a small bore which would indicate high pressure, I would expect alde hoses to be larger diameter for an increased flow at lower pressure

 

[funflair]

They seem to be quite a small bore which would indicate high pressure, I would expect alde hoses to be larger diameter for an increased flow at lower pressure

Alde are all aluminium pipe about 25 mm dia with rubber corners and joints, and should all be inside the van.

 

[tonyidle]

Alde are all aluminium pipe about 25 mm dia with rubber corners and joints, and should all be inside the van.

They're 20mm and as you say all aluminium.

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[Clive Mott]

NO. It MUST have the glycol based fluid in the system.

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

We're due to go away next weekend and have just found a leak in our Alde system

View attachment 842589

Not sure we're going to be able to get it fixed before we're due to go away....is it possible to run the Alde for hot water only without having gycol in the system? We're going to be on hook up so we'd use an oil filled radiator for temporary heating, but we need hot water as the campsite has no facilities.

Wow how as that got burnt through like that, can only have touched the hot exhaust, but seem's far enough away, less it's blown onto it???
Once you sealed pipes you need to Zip/Cable tie the pipes together as there's far to much sag It's a wonder it's not been ripped out altogether. You could also wrap the pipes in heat resistant exhaust heat wrap, £5.99 for 5 meters Inc: steel ties.
Is it the burnt pipes that are leaking, as look still sealed to me?

 

[Colin McCourt]

That's what I suspected, but thought I'd check here on the off-chance I was wrong


Yeah not sure what else is damaged....luckily its still under warranty, but unfortunately they're up in Cannock and we're down in Hampshire. Might be cheaper to just get it fixed locally.

Looks like next weekend's trip is going to be cancelled.

I can thoroughly recommend Green Caravan Services in Gosport. They are mobile and Alde trained.

 

[Colin McCourt]

Hydraulic oil smells really oily if that makes sense and will be greasy to the touch Alde fluid will have more of a watery feel and little smell.

Alde fluid is also pink and would stain a bit of kitchen roll pink

 

[Colin McCourt]

That looks a bit to red for Alde fluid and your level looks fine,
View attachment 842670

Found this post,

View attachment 842673

and this info,

View attachment 842674

Fluid level should be 1cm above min

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[rb62]

Fluid level should be 1cm above min

As shown in Alde graphic,I find pictures tell a better story