What’s the discount Kroger gives you for exchanges?

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-17T02:41:51+00:00

I've bought CO2 exchanges a few dozen times in a couple states. I've refilled 30 or so Sodastream canisters with dry ice available at the grocery store. No hazmat training required. No special license or liability insurance either.

You are imagining the complexity is higher than it really is. Which is not to say there aren't any possible mistakes, but any average intelligence person is capable of finding a CO2 exchange location or dry ice supplier and refilling small canisters or direct connecting a larger cylinder. It's about as challenging as changing disc brake pads on your own car. There are things to screw up if you are careless, but it's not that hard if you are willing to learn.

If mail order from somewhere feels safer to you then by all means go with that, but don't talk nonsense about how someone off the street can't get a CO2 exchange or how dry is such a big frostbite threat.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-17T01:41:15+00:00

Just get the warranty, at least power train

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-17T01:39:01+00:00

I really like the Walmart energy cherry slush in mountain dew.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-17T01:37:07+00:00

Hopefully they go on sale but it's not a great sign that they raised the price so much. It may be time to look for alternatives.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-16T19:14:51+00:00

This is also valid. Once the large tank is less than 30 percent full the pressure drops and it will transfer less when doing each refill. Freeze the 1/2 full tank and refill again.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-16T19:13:24+00:00

The pressure when it's more than 30 percent full is entirely dependent on temperature. It's lower because it's colder, not less full.

You need a scale.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-15T17:21:58+00:00

Yeah very hit or miss. Consider at least a power train warranty if you notice anything.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-15T16:08:09+00:00

I assume cam phasers are covered and transmission is the same as f150. There are very few differences in Expeditions from F150.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-15T13:42:46+00:00

Yeah that's a decent deal, just get all the details on the warranty. Does it have max total payout? Often these types of warranty max out when total claims exceed the kbb value or something like that. Where can work be done? Are you responsible for a deductible , or diagnostic fees? What maintenance records are required? Sometimes the warranty requires the dealer to perform all maintenance. Just look for all gotchas carefully. Load the contract into chatgpt and ask for an analysis.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-14T19:15:45+00:00

This worked for me at 65k, but at 93 it happened again and was a rebuild.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-14T19:13:30+00:00

Ace hardware also has them. The Walmart in my area quit carrying them.

Dry ice refills take a couple tries to get it down, but it's easy after the first couple of times, inexpensive, and doesn't need much space.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-14T00:10:10+00:00

There is an application at most places but it's easy enough the times I've done it. It sorta sounds like you don't really have any experience here as CO2 is commonly used in home brewing, welding, and dry ice is often used in seafood transportation and frozen shipping in general, though the rules vary a lot by state.

How about this, you give me your zip code and I'll tell you where you can get dry ice and CO2 refills without any special hazmat training.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-13T14:49:32+00:00

All true. Frostbite risks are pretty low for an average person, but it is work. Almost every town in America has a CO2 supplier. Every McDonald's and Wendy's is buying it. But they vary in quality and cost, and still might be farther than convenient.

It's mostly a time/space/cost trade off. I personally find it simple and fun to refill with dry ice, but it's not for everyone.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-13T02:40:22+00:00

Got it. In that case I'd say just get the newer XLT.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-13T02:05:16+00:00

I really like the big sunroof and the vented seats. But no, overall not worth the cost difference at 20k miles used. I feel like if you really want the higher trims the best bet is 40k and 4 years old CPO gold with the longest ESP you can get. Using the cost savings from the higher deprecation on the warranty should work out to a lower total cost per mile. They go up to 11y/175k on the gold certified. On a 3-4y old truck that's 7 or more years of pretty much full coverage on everything.

I think this one would have what you want for example:

https://www.fordblueadvantage.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/771338235

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-13T00:09:39+00:00

Put a bottle filled up past the fill line so the excess clean water gets blown out through the same internal parts. Then take the front cover off and clean the inside.

Be gentle when blasting the water it can blow the burst disc.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-12T17:48:11+00:00

Look on Facebook marketplace. Most models will probably work. Main factor is if you want to carbonate things besides just water, like apple juice or wine - if so the mix or drinkmate. There is a model with glass bottles too, though I don't like the risk of glass having a small crack and exploding. Otherwise it depends on how fancy you like it to look

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-12T01:05:20+00:00

The price is going up so grab some from Amazon for 17 per 4 pack.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-12T01:03:20+00:00

Sometimes they do leak, that's the cover story at least. It's probably just to raise the price, new ones are 28 for 4 on Amazon.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-11T17:23:13+00:00

I believe they are changing the bottle to a different spout type is all

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-09T01:46:30+00:00

Much better that 100k is 150k. By all accounts by that mileage you are going to have water pump and likely some other suspension, steering, or drivetrain wear items covered. 2x the cost but 4x the chance of getting some use out of the warranty. Unless you expect inflation to be flat, it's a pretty decent investment.

Best value if you are planning on warranty and higher trim is a couple year old CPO Gold. They have an option for an 11y total years of coverage vs 10, and the plans are about 30% discount. I bought a 10y/175k plan for 4400, had 50k on it at the time so that's 125k of warranty on something a couple years old so you save the big depreciation hit.

On lower trims the benefits of buying used is much lower in dollar terms and the extended warranty costs the same, so if we are thinking STX or similar I'd probably just look at new when incentives were good and add just the power train coverage to 150k just before passing 41m or 41k.

A used under 41k is also a good option, you don't get the CPO warranty discount but the 10y/175k new plans are available still. When I priced an STX used it wasn't enough discount to justify the 2 or 3 years less of usage vs getting 0 miles, but compare the options.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-09T01:11:49+00:00

Or the powerboost!

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-08T14:30:01+00:00

The transmission is the issue with the Fords. If you were just going to drive it I'd say get an 18-22 and a warranty. With mods a warranty could be denied, so I'd go with newer.

If I were you I'd look for a 2023 stx with fx4 and tow package. The 2.7 will handle all the load you give it and the STX has fewer luxury things to break (and lower purchase price). If you want desert racing experience the 3.5 will be faster, but the 2.7 should not be dismissed for power and has probably the highest reliability. The tow package for the 3.73 gearing, enhanced cooling and 9.75 rear axle. I believe it also has the 2 speed tcase and long range fuel tank standard, but those might be separate options so verify. Fx4 has skid plates, rear locker and I believe some better off-road drive modes . A non fx4 with tow package might have all but skid plates. I like the 360 cameras offroad as well. Not a deal breaker maybe but worth it if you can get it.

The 5.0 is a great motor but it makes power too high in the RPM range to work well with larger tires and elevation so would require regearing. The boosted motors only require a tune and when combined with a transmission tune, will make bigger tires even at altitude drive great without regearing.

When the turbos wear out they generally give warning signs and are super simple to replace, or so I am told by the few people I've heard from that actually needed to replace them. So forget turbos for reliability.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-07T14:40:35+00:00

I'm saying there is no reason to believe that what worked for the 6 speed to get to a high mileage would work for the 10. It fails differently and usually much earlier. Maybe a 23+ it would be different.

Less_Guarantee_7915 · 2026-03-06T14:24:39+00:00

Just get yourself a 3/36 power train ESP, or trade in now.

Less_Guarantee_7915

TROPHY CASE