I just purchased a camper at a consignment auction. The previous owner did not provide the auction company with any information about the camper so I have no history. I got it home and checked it out and everything seemed to work properly. There was RV antifreeze in the holding tank & all of the lines so I flushed out the water system.The problem occurred when I went to dump the grey water tank, when I pulled the dump slide just a trickle of water came out. I removed the drain hose from the camper and shoved a septic snake into the drain. When the water started to flow I pulled the snake out and there was a big glob of a white colored translucent goo all over the end of the snake. It looks like a partially decomposed white plastic trash bag and there was enough of it to fill 1/2 of the 2.5 gallon wash bucket I had under the tank drain.Anyone have any idea what this could be and how it got in my grey water tank? I have pictures of it but I'm new to the forum and I haven't figured out how to post pictures yet

Since this is not a forum technical issue, I've suggested to the moderators that it be moved to a more appropriate forum.

Welcome to the forum. It sounds kind of technical to me. :)White goo in the gray tank, sounds technically nasty.It appears the tanks were not flushed lately. I would fill the black and gray tanks, then dump a few times.Try The Geo Method to help keep the tanks cleaned out. But, don't worry about keeping them clean, they are holding tanks.Another option is put some Rid-X in both tanks, fill with water and leave them set for several days, or longer before dumping.I think if you flush them a few times you will get the gunk cleaned out.Let us know how you make out.

Probably an accumulation of grease from cooking and other food stuff.It appears the previous owners knew they were going to get rid of the trailer and didn't care what they put down the drain or failed to due proper maintenance.

Moved from Forum Technical Support

3oaks wrote:Probably an accumulation of grease from cooking and other food stuff.It appears the previous owners knew they were going to get rid of the trailer and didn't care what they put down the drain or failed to due proper maintenance.Sounds like a good possibility. With that in mind I'd check the kitchen sink's piping. Should it also be coated with the white stuff grease is prolly the problem.

Unusual discharge from grey water tank | Good Sam Community

21 Replies

mrjimbov
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
Thank you all for your input. I'm pretty sure it's not grease because if you take a stick you can pick up a big glob of it that will hang about 16 inches without breaking. I laid some out on the ground overnight and it hardened into a plastic consistency like a Wal-Mart bag. I wish I could post pictures but I guess it doesn't matter. I will try the hot water & dawn dish soap that several people suggested
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Oct 13, 2015
Not sure if they have a servicer near you. I camped next to a guy that was a tech for All Pro Water Flo. They clean your tanks with a high pressure system with a flexible spray head and a camera.

The before/after pictures and stories were amazing. They take your valves off if they have to and go up from the outside.

Here is a clicky

I am not affiliated in anyway nor did I use them as at the time my RV was a year old. They have a dealer locator on the web site.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
At one time we were using a "green" dish soap, it might have been Seventh Generation or something like that. I discovered that it turned all our gray water into a snot like consistency that was difficult to drain. We stopped using it and have never had the problem again using regular dish soap.
tenbear
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
Here is a link to the picture posting instructions mentioned in a couple of earlier posts.

Clicky
JaxDad
Explorer III
Oct 13, 2015
mrjimbov wrote:
The problem occurred when I went to dump the grey water tank, when I pulled the dump slide just a trickle of water came out. I removed the drain hose from the camper and shoved a septic snake into the drain. When the water started to flow I pulled the snake out and there was a big glob of a white colored translucent goo all over the end of the snake. It looks like a partially decomposed white plastic trash bag and there was enough of it to fill 1/2 of the 2.5 gallon wash bucket I had under the tank drain.

Considering the OP's description that whatever it was, they described it as "goo" and "looks like a partially decomposed white plastic trash bag" I'm very highly sceptical that it could be grease.

If they had just added a bunch of water into the tank it would have been at least cool if not cold water, grease would be the consistency of candle wax.

I suspect it's more likely that in 'cleaning out' the camper the previous owners emptied bottles of shampoo or other stuff into the sink where it formed into the 'goo' the OP found.
Geocritter
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
I had a similar problem with my then new-to-me RV only my grease had dried into white clumps and chunks. I was able to clear it out by shoving a garden hose up my gray water outlet and flushing it out that way. Never dump waste cooking oil or grease down your drains. In fact, when I have any type of greasy film in a fry pan I wipe it out with a paper towel before I clean the pan with soap and water.

Steve
Pepperoni
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
mrgreetis wrote:
First, Look at the top 2 topics in the "Do It Yourself Modifications and Upgrades (DIY)" forum for how to post pictures.
Second, I've seem posts where they suggest liquid dishwasher detergent in the grey water tank and hot water to break up the grease. Driving around and sloshing the mixture will help. It will probably just take some time.

I agree Dawn is cheap and a good soap. I use this method to clean out drains at home. A few 5 gallon buckets of water, a slug of soap down the drain to start, and a bit more in each bucket. Fill the tank right up.For holding tanks, I would drain and flush before the water gets cold and the grease hardens again.
Use at home when toilet drains get sluggish. Grease from kitchen joins toilet line and captures hair, garbage disposal crud etc..
stickdog
Explorer
Oct 13, 2015
We often sit for several months and leave the grey tank open. Knowing that accumulation of debris from dish washing occurs, when we prepare to move I fill the grey tank with as much hot water as the WH can supply along with a 1/4 cup of dawn dish detergent and hit the road. I usually take a FHU for our first nights stop and dump the grey tank with a Flush King hooked up and watch the gunk flow out, then give a reverse flush and get more gunk out.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Oct 13, 2015
I also think it's grease. We always wiped our dishes/pots with a used napkin or paper towel before washing them.... and never coffee grounds either.

I think once you start using it and after a few dumps it'll be just fine.

It would be nice if they made holding tanks clear so we could all see into them. Well....maybe not. :(
ksbowman
Explorer II
Oct 13, 2015
I'd put a dish soap in the sink and then pour heated water down the drain and plenty of it. Let it set for 3-5 minutes then open the grey water drain and chase it with more hot water. The two together should cut it if it is indeed grease which is what it sounds like.