Dumb Alde Question

Nomad

Hurray - Thank you Chan.

Verna

http://tab-rv.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/27425/#Comment_27425

This is where Ed said their glycol is already diluted. (I remembered wrong.)

mickietucs

ChanW said:

Ed at LG said that the glycol that they sell is already 50%, so it should not be mixed with water.

The glycol I bought from Amazon, Prestone Low-Tox, is 100%, so it does need to be mixed with water.

I contacted Prestone to ask if mixing Prestone Low-Tox with Sierra (which is what Ed told me the factory uses) was ok. Prestone said it would be fine.

I'm still confused as Elsie told me they used the yellow (Century Chemical brand) and I believe both the Sierra and Prestone are green. So if the "color scenario" is true then mixing Prestone and Sierra would be fine as they're both green. 

ChanW

It was two years ago that Ed said they used Sierra. They may have changed brands.

You could contact a glycol manufacturer, Prestone was responsive, and ask if the color matters.

Nomad

Oooops - Still might have something different than what LG put in.

mickietucs

So between notes to Alde, my dealer and the factory, I've struck out on getting an answer about mixing colors - hmmmm.....

ChanW

Michele, after finding many times that the advice "the guy at the parts counter" gave me was wrong (often completely backwards), I've learned to ignore it. If the guy at the NAPA counter was a mechanic (or a glycol chemist), he probably wouldn't be working behind the NAPA counter!

That's why I contacted Prestone directly, to ask if there would be a problem mixing the two 'colors'. They're the chemists, and know the various glycol recipes best, and whether or not it will mix. Or that was my thinking anyway.

Prestone said no problem. If my Alde has a problem because of his advice, I can go back to them about it, eh? B-/ 

So you could add one more source to your list of answers, and contact the glycol manufacturer!

HTH!

mickietucs said:

So between notes to Alde, my dealer and the factory, I've struck out on getting an answer about mixing colors - hmmmm.....

mickietucs

Thank you Chan -- I agree they aren't chemists. Somehow I missed your post saying you contacted Prestone and they told you it's okay to mix colors. Thought others on the forum were hoping for a definitive answer but guess you already got it!

Nomad

Yep, they'd scratch their heads at that description but if you asked for Sierra LowTox they'd know what you were looking for. Every store I called did. Only one had any though.

Nomad

I'm kind of surprised this thread goes on and on and on since Sierra LowTox was recommended way, way, way back when. I could be wrong but I recall that recommendation coming directly from LG - that's why I bought it.
Nice to know one can mix colors :-)

Ratkity

I think the yellow and pink should make an orange that looks like Tang (old drink for the clueless younguns LOL). Green and any other color may come out looking either an icky darkish green (with pink) or perhaps a lighter yellow-green (yellow and green). Mine is yellow, btw. Chemically, the colors are heat resistant. at low concentration and don't react with one another (other than playing with the color palette and making artists shudder). 

Alde topic recovery - I only had a red sharpie to outline the level indicators on the tank. UGH.... I never could color within the lines. Fortunately, an alcohol wipe takes off sharpie ink and I could start again. The angle of drawing on the reservoir tank is awkward, but hand tremors don't help either. Sorta looks looks like a 3 yr old did it while picking her nose.

ChanW

I heard that discussion and consensus... Might have been at the parts counter. B-)

mickietucs

Well, I received the following email from U.S. Alde.  I specifically asked about color of the SAME type of glycol (there are various brands/colors) as Connie mentions (non-toxic PROPYLENE Glycol, (with inhibitor) intended for aluminum heating systems), the answer seems to be to never mix glycols - see below.

Interesting it's mentioned from posts that Alde uses clear - and the factory uses yellow (that's what Elsie told me)... 

Michele,

Thank you for contacting Alde.

Let's see if we can clear this up!

It is ALWAYS a good idea to never mix glycols. Ever.

The only exception would be if you contacted the glycol companies and ask them if you can mix them. They are the ones who know what the chemical
makeups are of their products. So I would avoid it if you can.

If you are just needing to a cupful or so, use distilled water. ONLY distilled water. Every other water has minerals in it. Which is bad.

If you are looking to replace the glycol in your system, I would like to suggest  you get the glycol from us. We will be supplying all the manufactures with our glycol. We already have a couple of them switched over. The product we use is a premium glycol with all the inhibitors that we need for the system.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!


Joe

Joe Elwell
Vice President & US Operations

Nomad

Answer = Never Mix Glycols? Huh? No, they say check with glycol manufactures. Chan contacted Prestone (the chemists - the manufacturer) and they said it was ok. And LG evidently has shipped units with different colors.
I look at Alde's response as a non (cover your ass) response - Get it from us. What if I need it NOW?

This thread is like dogs chasing their tails.

Nomad

Why the heck doesn't Alde just tell us where they get their glycol, what brand, who manufacturers it - They most likely don't manufacture their own. Then - once and for all - all the manufacturers (Prestone, etc) could be contacted and asked about mixing cuz I know that up until then peoples won't be satified.
:-)

Nomad

Coloring is probably just branding - Sierra's bottle is green, Preston's bottle is yellow, betting the glycol inside matches. Clear is probably just bulk, unbranded glycol. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Alde buys unbranded from each depending on who quotes the best price at the time.

Ratkity

Color also distinguishes it from the bright fluorescent green of Ethylene glycol (regular automotive antifreeze - poisonous). Then, I'm reasonably sure it's a company branding thing. The voluntary industry rule is they can use any color except the special green that is designated for regular antifreeze. Not sure if any company has broken the industry standard. It wouldn't surprise me, but the backlash of many groups (especially groups that spend a lot of time preventing accidental poisoning of animals and children) would be severe.

Edited to add: At first, I sorta liked the idea of the clear version because it made the "color dyes could gum up the system" argument moot.  Then, Practicality smacked me upside the head and it dawned on me how hard it would be to see the level in a milky translucent reservoir or detect leaks at a glance when doing something else while working around the guts of the camper.

TaBFan

Connie, you are very bad.........time yourself out.

rrkulla

Went to an RV dealer that is an Alde service center and asked about Glycol. His opinion is some can be mixed. The Alde units are shipped to the RV manufacturers empty. Since they fill them them the best idea was to purchase through little guy to be sure it's compatible.