OK, I winterize my trailers well. But come Spring I have to deal with the possibility of a damaged toilet ball seal and the replacement hassle. I have tried the following.1. Put 1/2 gallon of RV antifreeze in toilet to keep seal moist and cover toilet bowl with plastic wrap to slow down evaporation. 2. Keep toilet bowl empty and dry.I'm replacing a seal right now.Has anyone tried spraying the seal with silicone spay or rubbing Vaseline under and over the seal? Then keeping the bowl empty.What do you all do?

I just pour some pink AF in the bowl. Not much at all. I've never found that it 'evaporates'. I check it about every other weekend during the winter. Always has the same amount in it.During the summer, when I'm using it, I always make sure it has water in it. Always holds the water between trips.It's the same seal from 2002 when I bought the rig brand new. I've never put anything on it other than the AF and water.Good luck!Mitch

I lube the ball seal with O-Ring Lubricant. (what I can reach of it with my finger)...Then some pink anti-freeze in the bowl.Don't use Vaseline. It's petroleum based and can actually harm the rubber seal.Lowes, Home DepotAqua-EZ-O-Ring-Lubricant

I've never replaced mine. It did start leaking a while back and I used a toilet bowl brush and stuck down the hole and gave the seal a good brushing, and the leak stopped. For winter I usually just put some pink in it, and that usually comes in when I winterize the water system.

I would never leave mine dried out without moisture on it. And I wouldn't use Vaseline. Could damage the rubber seal, but I see more of problem with Vaseline being sticking and that causing toilet paper or something else to stick to the seal and therefore NOT sealing tight anymore.I've seen a winterization product for the seal sold in stores but have just filled the bowl a couple of inches on mine with pink stuff and never had a problem.Bill

I pour enough olive oil in bowl to cover seal......doesn't evaporate & lubricates seal.It will turn slushy in really cold weather but causes no harm

Toilet Ball Seal -- Winter Care? | Good Sam Community

myredracer
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2016
Just use propylene based anti-freeze, and not the ethanol based stuff which will evaporate as well as cause other issues. The PG stuff won't evaporate, lubricates seals and is non-toxic.

Most places sell the ethanol based version because it is cheaper and most folks like to spend based on price alone. Sometimes you have to look really closely at the label on the container to find what the contents are. Last time I bought the PG stuff it was around $5 for a gallon.

The two types of RV antifreeze explained.
covered_wagon
Explorer
Oct 31, 2016
tjfogelberg wrote:
Thetford has a product specifically designed to protect the toilet seal during storage. "Toilet seal lubricant and conditioner". Pink stuff may have alcohol in it which can dry out the seal. Not all pink stuff is created equal. I learned how to replace the seal and did it myself. It wasn't that hard once I found this you tube video.Will try the thetford stuff this winter. $10

https://youtu.be/vi3TRivsNlQ

PLEASE NOTE CORRECTION Below....brought to my attention by Fred42

There are two kinds of non toxic rv antifreeze. The less expensive alcohol base, has Ethyl Alcohol and the good one for a wee bit more money, is mostly Propylene Glycol.

Thank you Fred42 :)

You can also use baby oil poured over the seal is good too.
Searching_Ut
Explorer
Oct 30, 2016
Wow, you olive oil guys go first class all the way with your toilets. I've always just used the cheap vegetable oil that I use for stuff like seasoning cast iron.
cbshoestring
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2016
I just put a new Warn plow on the quad, reminded me I better get the trailer winterized. Went inside to start cleaning her out, found the bowl empty. This made me think about toilet seal maintenance, figured I would check in her for suggestions first.

EVOO :C Ya'll just saved me a trip looking for toilet seal lubricant.
down_home
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2016
Ours is kept indoors but it occasionally gets cold. We make sure a little water and a bit of chemicals of ant feeze on top. I haven't studied what RV tank valve sealant is and if it might swell seals or deteriorate them over longer periods.
They turn the big heaters on if it's really cold.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2016
I like using whatever is already onboard rather than some overpriced product that has RV on the label.

Olive oil it is for us too.
Community Alumni
Aug 16, 2016
2gypsies wrote:
coolbreeze01 wrote:
kroghville wrote:
We put in about 1/4 cup of veg. oil and rv anti-freeze. Have not had a problem.

Same here.

This works! .. and it's cheaper than olive oil. :W

You guys are cheaping out; my toilet gets nothing but the best extra virgin olive oil! :B
tjfogelberg
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
Brandy works too.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 16, 2016
coolbreeze01 wrote:
kroghville wrote:
We put in about 1/4 cup of veg. oil and rv anti-freeze. Have not had a problem.

Same here.

This works! .. and it's cheaper than olive oil. :W
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016
kroghville wrote:
We put in about 1/4 cup of veg. oil and rv anti-freeze. Have not had a problem.

Same here.

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Toilet Ball Seal -- Winter Care?

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