2023 320 with the "new" Alde Truma glycol has corrosion that cracked non-return valve.

pthomas745

An owner on one of the FB pages discovered a leak near the Alde. On a 2023 320.   All the usual water leak suspects were examined, but the "paper towel test" showed this to be glycol related, and it seemed to be coming from the area near the Auto Air Bleed Valve.

The owners have owned the trailer less than two years.  They have the Truma Alde glycol installed from the factory, and have purchased that product for "topping off" the expansion tank.

The leak appeared to be coming from the area of the "non-return" valve connection, circled in the photo below. (You can see the aluminum non-return valve in the space where the two hoses are clamped to each end.)

The owner adjusted the clamps on each end of the non return valve, but the leak did not stop.  

By removing the clamp on the Auto Air Bleed valve side of the non return valve, the owner was able to remove the non return valve for inspection and only had to deal with a small amount of glycol loss.

The owner found a cracked and slightly corroded non return valve had caused the leak.  The "green stuff" is the corrosion, and note the damage to the outer and inner edges of the valve.  The corroded end is where the glycol is moving from the Auto Air Bleed valve, into the non-return valve.

Better view of the cracked area of the non return valve.  Note the "exit" end of the valve is completely clean.  

This is exactly the same sort of corrosion seen in the Alde 3010 trailers with the Century brand glycol.  The corroded connection here, after around two years, would seem to call into question the "improved corrosion protection" of the Truma Alde (Rhomar) glycol. If a connection is not properly clamped, corrosion is completely possible. It is a bit surprising how quickly this happened in a 2023 trailer.  

Sharon_is_SAM

Well, this is what we suspected all along!

AnOldUR

Getting the Covid vaccine never guaranteed you wouldn’t get sick, just lessen the chances and severity. I think we need more time and complete details and examination of reported failures before jumping to conclusions.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I’m hoping that it’s an isolated incident.

Sharon_is_SAM

@AnOldUR - I was referring to the misclamping of the valve allowing trapping of the glycol. That seems to be the real culprit.