Community Forums

AzGoldDigger · 10-15-2018, 11:12 PM

It has been mentioned many times that you are not supposed to mix brands of heat transfer fluid in your Oasis heating system.

I thought that happened to me as the fluid had become very dark. (Mixed fluids are often described as muddy). Even the dealer thought the system needed to be flushed.

I just confirmed with International Thermal Research (ITR) that the Century Chemical TF1 Transfer Fluid will change from a greenish yellow color to a caramel color over time. ITR also stated the fluid did NOT need to be changed.

I have to say ITR has the most responsive customer service. Simply top notch support. Just saved me $1200 dollars.

Mr_D · 10-15-2018, 11:18 PM

Around here the pink full strength Camco fluid is $15 a gallon and you dilute it with distilled water. The Century fluid is almost $50 a gallon and is used full strength. Luckily my AquaHot has the Camco.

AzGoldDigger · 10-15-2018, 11:23 PM

So much for using color to determine manufacturer. This stuff was originally a greenish Yellow...

Canuck53 · 10-16-2018, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Around here the pink full strength Camco fluid is $15 a gallon and you dilute it with distilled water. The Century fluid is almost $50 a gallon and is used full strength. Luckily my AquaHot has the Camco.

Try $25 on Amazon.

saddlesore · 10-16-2018, 01:23 AM

Our "Older model" AquaHot still used the regular antifreeze coolant..
(100-02s)

Magredvet · 10-16-2018, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzGoldDigger

So much for using color to determine manufacturer. This stuff was originally a greenish Yellow...

Mine was a similar color too, but had a sticker on the overflow bottle stating to use Century fluid

Webz · 10-16-2018, 04:56 AM

I agree ITR has the best customer service of any company I have dealt with involving an RV and most other companies.
My dealer mixed the fluids then told me I had to have the system flushed. It turned "muddy" brown. I composed a letter to Newmar, but did not send it, stating I would flush the system since the dealer's service department caused the problem. I presented the letter to the owner of the dealership. Told him I needed 17 gallons of Century fluid. Told him I would flush the system and he should pay for the fluid. I paid for the pump, hoses and bucket.
A few days later, I picked up the fluid at the dealer. No charge to me.
I flushed the system. (ITR has a great video on YouTube on how to do it. Thirty seconds into the video, it states mixing will make the fluid "muddy brown")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtQFYb6WdJ0

I would flush the system then blow air through the lines to push the last of the fluid out. Flushed and purged with air 17 times until nothing but clear water came out. Took almost 6 hours. The system works better than new. Water is hotter. Being FT, the system gets a lot of use.
The pictures above do not appear to be "muddy" brown. When mixed it will look like chocolate milk.
Good luck and be safe.

ptw · 10-16-2018, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzGoldDigger

I just confirmed with International Thermal Research (ITR) that the Century Chemical TF1 Transfer Fluid will change from a greenish yellow color to a caramel color over time. ITR also stated the fluid did NOT need to be changed.

We were full time untill recently, just under two years, so our system got a lot of use. The dealer sold me a bottle of the green Century Transfer Fluid the day I picked up my motor home. They told me not to use anything else in the system. No one has added any fluid except me and it has changed to a carmel color.

I had the ITR rep service our system at the Hoots rally last month. He told me that we were not the only ones at the rally that had dark fluid and had claimed to only add the proper fluid. He said for me to call him in a couple weeks he was going to talk to people back at the shop. I have not called him yet.

Thank you for passing this information on!

palehorse89 · 10-16-2018, 05:42 AM

Here is a thread to read through http://www.irv2.com/forums/f278/camc...id-336881.html then in post #11 by Brobox, click on the link in his post and sit back and do some reading. A lot of them has changed boiler fluid manufacture due to this problem.

AzGoldDigger · 10-16-2018, 10:00 AM

I guess the key take-away is that the Transfer Fluid does NOT need to be changed. Apparently the color change does not affect performance.

I still might do a purge just to see if there is any air in the system, but there shouldn’t be.

EZDZIT · 10-16-2018, 10:23 AM

Around 2012, the Oasis in our Dutch Star was filled with Rhogard which, again, is not to be mixed with any other boiler fluid. It is blue in color and has not changed color in our coach since 2012.

Rhogard is expensive

and only sold by plumbing and A/C outlets in 5 gallon containers although Newmar does repackage it 1 gallon jugs.

Mr_D · 10-16-2018, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canuck53

Try $25 on Amazon.

Camco is $7.50 a gallon when mixed for use and almost every RV dealer has it in stock.
Century us used as is so $25 a gallon and have to order it or pay far more.

Since you can use either I prefer the easier cheaper one.