Home› Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing

How I came to do the Alde glycol maintenance DIY

jimcennamejimcenname Member Posts: 334
edited December 2025 in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
I completed my first DIY replacement of Alde glycol in my 2019 T@B 400 with the reservoir in the front left. I purchased a setup of a small pump with hoses, copper pipes and plugs ($150) from a T@B owner on Facebook (Mark Johnson.) At the recommendation of Truma/Alde I purchased the Adle glycol on Amazon ($68/gal.) I purchased 5 gallons and install about 3.6. I'll keep a gallon to top off.

For this service I previously employed nuCamp (~$500), Truma/Alde ($600) and John Schilling (~$400) (San Diego region, nuCamp factory trained.) I learned what I liked and didn't like about each of their processes and I chose to DIY this time. I got what I wanted.

I live in my T@B and the heater and water heater get used every day. I replace my glycol every 12-18 months. I switched from Century to Rhomar/Alde glycol with my second glycol flush. Due to convector corrosion nuCamp replaced my Alde hoses and convectors in 2023. 
2019 T@B400
TV: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV 4X4
Southern California
Full-timer since 2019
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+

Comments

  • qhumberdqhumberd Administrator, Moderator Posts: 739
    Thanks for the post @jimcenname. It seems inevitable that corrosion is going to impact these connections at some point. Is Truma pretty convinced that regular changes with the Rhomar will prevent future corrosion? I am sure your corrosion service for the 2019 400 involved a fair amount of work to access the convectors, which had to be pricey. But when I think about maintenance on a regular house HVAC and water heater, it might be not so bad in comparison.

    2019  T@B400 Boondock Lite "Todd"

    2016 Toyota Tundra 5.7 Crew Cab
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • jimcennamejimcenname Member Posts: 334
    I had early signs of corrosion, even before the first service. I hoped that switching to the new glycol would stop the corrosion but it didn't. Ultimately I had to replace the convectors and hoses. That appears to have worked. As I understand it the corrosion inhibitors in the glycol diminish with time and the 2 year interval assures sufficient protection. 
    2019 T@B400
    TV: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV 4X4
    Southern California
    Full-timer since 2019
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,442
    There have already been a couple of reports of the "Rhomar" trailers having corrosion in places where the clamping is not sufficient to prevent glycol intrusion under the hoses at the "stub ends".  
    In the newer trailers, (I want to say after 2020) the design and setup of the Alde hoses and convectors is quite different compared to the Alde 3010 trailers, with extensive hose runs leading to poorly fitted and clamped convector stub ends, or at places like the "non-return valve" next to the Auto Air Bleed Valve.
    This thread has a discussion about this, and a picture of the owner's 2023 check valve that corroded and leaked. If there is glycol under a clamp between the hose and the aluminum, it will corrode over time, even if you change the glycol once a month.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • jimcennamejimcenname Member Posts: 334
    When nuCamp replaced my hoses and convectors they used hose plastic couplers in place of aluminum. Of course the convectors remain aluminum. The recent photo below is of the convectors in the kitchen cabinet. It's representative of others I have recently inspected. It looks good to me, after 2.5 years of use.
    2019 T@B400
    TV: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV 4X4
    Southern California
    Full-timer since 2019
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • AnOldURAnOldUR Member Posts: 1,668
    For additional protection, I followed the recommendation to put two spring clamps on the ends of the convectors. One as close to the end as possible to lessen the chance of glycol getting between the hose and aluminum end on the convector.


    Stockton, New Jersey
    2020 nuCamp T@B 320S * Jeep Wrangler
    60,865 camping miles through the end of 2025

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • mwjoemwjoe Member Posts: 3
    Hello "jimcenname"
    I recently purchased a 2022 Tab 320 and am interested in changing the Alde fluid myself.  Do you know if Mark Johnson is still selling the pump and associated hardware to complete the task?  I found his Youtube video but he doesn't seem to be responding to recent comments.  Any information would be greatly appreciated.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • jimcennamejimcenname Member Posts: 334
    @mwjoe
    Since I do not have his phone or email address the best I can offer is for you to message (using Messenger, not comment) him on Facebook. Search for this profile:


    2019 T@B400
    TV: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV 4X4
    Southern California
    Full-timer since 2019
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • pthomas745pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,442
    @mwjoe Many owners have assembled their own pumps and the basic tools to do the job.  
    Find the DIY Glycol Change File at this link.  No matter which pump you use, or what video you watch, the DIY File has the step by step procedure.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • jimcennamejimcenname Member Posts: 334
    @mwjoe
    I like the pump Mark Johnson used because it is very low pressure and it has a cigarette lighter plug that is compatible with a socket in my 400.
    2019 T@B400
    TV: 2017 Nissan Frontier SV 4X4
    Southern California
    Full-timer since 2019
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
Sign In or Register to comment.