Anti-freeze in the toilet?

[Bottom Line]

I have always had the marina do my winterization. The boat stays in the water all year. I went down the check on the boat last week...as I do peridically do throughtout the winter. I happened to look in the toilet and noticed there was not any anti-freeze in the toilet. I thought in past years there was always some anti-freeze left in the toilet....but can't remember for sure. Should there be anti-freeze standing in the bowl?

 

[mrsrobinson]

Yes

I always pour a gallon down the head, flush it, then pour another gallon and let it sit.

 

[vetteboy]

Why would you put antifreeze in an empty toilet..what is going to freeze?

 

[osd9]

Bottom Line:

Most marinas and individuals winterize the FW system by running AF through the lines. Part of that process includes a flush or two of the head while under pressure and the lines filled with AF. Flushing the head, as with normal summertime use, will also refill the toilet with whatever fluid is in the lines....AF or Water.

2 guesses...1.)you have a leaking seal in the bowl or 2.)the indiviual who witnerized the system flushed the toilet one more time after the pressure was out of the FW system....most likely number 1.

 

[osd9]

You can re-energize the head system...DON'T TURN ON THE FW SYSTEM....and see if the pump stops and holds vacuum. Also, go buy a gallon of AF and pour some, not all, in the toilet....then come back later in the day or a few days later to see if the pink is still in the toilet...it should be there ...if not..you've got a seal leak.

 

[Bottom Line]

Dom....good idea....when reading your post about the seals, I thought about adding some to the bowl and see if it leaks out.

 

[wish2fish]

Bottom Line:

Most marinas and individuals winterize the FW system by running AF through the lines. Part of that process includes a flush or two of the head while under pressure and the lines filled with AF. Flushing the head, as with normal summertime use, will also refill the toilet with whatever fluid is in the lines....AF or Water.

2 guesses...1.)you have a leaking seal in the bowl or 2.)the indiviual who witnerized the system flushed the toilet one more time after the pressure was out of the FW system....most likely number 1.

you said #1 & #2 when you're talking about toilets! :grin:

my AF evaporates in the trailer over the winter but you can see a pink scum line.

 

[PMvdb395DA]

This text comes from the Sealand manual:

[FONT=Arial,Bold]The use of freshwater antifreeze that[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Bold]contains alcohol will result in damage to your sanitation[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Bold]system. Only use propylene glycol freshwater antifreeze[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Bold]that does not contain alcohol.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Bold]Also: Press flush lever until all water/antifreeze is drained from toilet![/FONT][FONT=Arial,Bold]​

I always pump out vacuum holding tank, and flush with antifreeze.
Than I pump out again my holding tank, and drain the bowl.
Nothing can happen than, and it doesn't damage anything.​

I always do what is written in the manual...
Always worked.​

Peter.​

[/FONT]

 

[osd9]

you said #1 & #2 when you're talking about toilets! :grin:....

I know...I thought about that when I was typing....:smt043

my AF evaporates in the trailer over the winter but you can see a pink scum line.

I'd be surprised at that......water stays in my toilets for months sometimes without evaporating.

This text comes from the Sealand manual:

[FONT=Arial,Bold]The use of freshwater antifreeze that[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Bold]contains alcohol will result in damage to your sanitation[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Bold]system. Only use propylene glycol freshwater antifreeze[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Bold]that does not contain alcohol.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Bold]Also: Press flush lever until all water/antifreeze is drained from toilet![/FONT]​

[FONT=Arial,Bold].....[/FONT]

Peter:

I agree with using only propylene glycol in the FW system....that's what the Camcos and the like AFs for fresh water systems are made from. However, I don't completely agree with the draining the toilet of "all water/antifreeze" statement. Water yes, but AF....WHY? I know it is the manufacturer's recomendation, but I just don't see why.

From Camco's site:

RV antifreezes are made from propylene glycol which is considered GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) by the U.S. Government. Propylene glycol is used in many consumable products such as ice cream, candy and even cosmetics. Therefore, Camco’s propylene glycol based antifreezes are the products of choice when winterizing potable water systems.

But I won't suggest that anyone go against the manufacturer's recommendation.:thumbsup:

 

[Mr Salt]

The AF in the toilet keeps the seals moist, so they don't crack. The fact that the AF the marina put into the toilet drained out says one of the seals are leaking. In the past, when I encountered this problem, I have "flushed the toilet and with the valve open put some white grease around the seal with my finger. Then flush the toilet dry a few times to spread the grease. With that all done I have added AF to the bowl, it did not drain until it was de winterized in the spring.

Mr Salt
2001 540 CPMY
Caterpillar C-12s
Cape May, NJ

 

[Skuza]

I have always put antifreeze down the toilets. I will flush the toilet to get antifreeze into the supply line and whatever is flushed from that I add a gallon to each toilet and flush again. The point is to get antifreeze into the vacuumn pump and not necessarily the holding tank. Antifreeze in the holding tank isnt necessary as there are no moving parts to be damaged by freezing. Also the point of having a little bit of pink left in the bowl is to keep the seal moist as Mr Salt stated. Even if your yard blew air through your lines instead of pumping antifreeze in there I still would expect to see pink in the bowl. As I said the point there is to winterize the vacuumn pump. Blowing air into the lines has nothing to do with that pump. Even if you have a bad seal you should still see a little bit of pink around the seal ring. It will not suck it completly dry. Good luck!

 

[wish2fish]

I witerize in mid November and De winterize in early April. The toilets are normal house toilets so I don't know where it would go!

 

[wingless]

My holding tank was modified by cutting the wiring harness for the level switch assembly. I then added an in-line connector, dual-row, eight position, I think.

This connector permits me to unscrew and remove the level switch assembly. That's handy for when the level switches stop working from crud.

It also permits access to the tank interior.

When winterizing systems, the tank is pumped empty, flushed, the switch assembly is removed and the tank interior is cleaned w/ powdered Ajax, a very long-handled brush and a garden hose.

This has worked well for lots of years.

 

[Uplate]

That's handy for when the level switches stop working from crud.
quote]

This tells me why my tank level indicator was not working correctly. It would only start reading when it was 1/2 full and never Empty or 1/4.

Before winterizing the FW system my dock neighboor helped me at the pump out station. Once the tank was empty, he told me to go to the head and hold down the flusher to continue to pump FW into the tank as he continued to pump. We did this for several minutes.

Guess what? My Tank indicator works at all levels now. Musta been some crud in there as you put it.

No idea what it takes to get the sensor out, but it is probably a stinky job:wow:

 

[mrsrobinson]

That's handy for when the level switches stop working from crud.
quote]

This tells me why my tank level indicator was not working correctly. It would only start reading when it was 1/2 full and never Empty or 1/4.

Before winterizing the FW system my dock neighboor helped me at the pump out station. Once the tank was empty, he told me to go to the head and hold down the flusher to continue to pump FW into the tank as he continued to pump. We did this for several minutes.

Guess what? My Tank indicator works at all levels now. Musta been some crud in there as you put it.

No idea what it takes to get the sensor out, but it is probably a stinky job:wow:

"Once the tank was empty, he told me to go to the head and hold down the flusher to continue to pump FW into the tank as he continued to pump. We did this for several minutes."

We do this at every pump out. The Mrs keeps her foot on the head pedal with water moving thru while I, or dock hand, pump out. At the end of the pump out we will take a dock water hose, run some water in the tank and pump out again.

 

[wingless]

No idea what it takes to get the sensor out, but it is probably a stinky job

Not bad. The first removal was the worst.

It is threaded. I lubed the threads w/ white lithium grease the first time, now it goes on and off by hand w/o problems.

 

[wingless]

My holding tank was modified by cutting the wiring harness for the level switch assembly. I then added an in-line connector, dual-row, eight position, I think.

This connector permits me to unscrew and remove the level switch assembly. That's handy for when the level switches stop working from crud.

It also permits access to the tank interior.

When winterizing systems, the tank is pumped empty, flushed, the switch assembly is removed and the tank interior is cleaned w/ powdered Ajax, a very long-handled brush and a garden hose.

This has worked well for lots of years.

This illustrates the inequity of members asserting I don't know sheet...

 

[The Bill Collector]

Wingless... It's official, you know your "sh*t".

 

[Skuza]

You guys crack me up. Peter gave you exactly what the manual from the maker of the toilet instructs.......but evidently that's not good enough? Perhaps someday one of you can instruct me on the proper way to land a MD-11 in a 40 knot crosswind on a ice covered runway. Just because I've been doing it for over 20 years, and have over 10,000 hours experience, certain the common man on the street knows better.

Hey Sfergson, I am a big player of Microsoft flight simulator so I'm sure I could teach you something...
I've got an interest in planes and would love to hear some of your work stories...close calls, emergencies, etc.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

Well, my career has been somewhat routine....I did have some close calls when I first broke out of the instructor ranks and started flying cancelled checks out of Buffalo in a Beech Baron, and Piper Aerostar. 164 inches of snow that year, six legs a night, five days a week, and all single pilot made for an interesting and educational year.

The eight years I spent flying business jets was pretty non-eventful, just some passenger stories that will make you never look at some celebs the same way again.

My first year flying for an airline, we had a drugged up Mexican hijack the airplane (Boeing 727) from Phoenix to Chicago, and I discovered the captain I was flying with was nuts. Later with the same airline, as a captain myself, I had two flight attendants start fighting, causing us to divert to Denver to kick them both off the airplane. Lovers quarrels are nasty, particularly when the combatants are male fighting over a third male. (yuck)

Other than that, I've only had one engine failure (knock on wood) and it wasn't that big of a deal as it occurred in a Falcon 50, which has three engines.

Feel free to PM, and I would be happy to go into more detail. BTW Flight simulator is actually a great product, I find it very realistic.

Take care,
Scott

Hey, I can help out here too....20 years of professional aviation. (767 capt. a light twin compared to the MD-11).

At a dinner party at my home some years ago a friend asks..

"Hey, whats the biggest scare you've had in your job so far??"
I thought for a moment and then replied.

"There was this one time that a flight attendant called my house!

My wife got it right away. It took the guests another second to laugh.

Wow what a hijack.
The anti freeze question. If you have pink in the fresh water tank to protect the lines and then flush....now you have pink in the toilet bowl. Done.