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Rmack1's avatar
Rmack1
Explorer
Oct 23, 2014

Fridge spewing brown liquid

I've only had my trailer over a couple years, but I have had it on many trips already.

On this last month-long trip to the Eastern Sierras, I had been going back and forth between generators, in which case I ran the fridge off of propane, and 30 amp hookups, where I switched it to 'auto' which runs it off of electricity if available.

I was at a RV campground in June Lake for five days, in which I had it on auto. When I packed up to leave, I noticed a dark brown liquid had apparently come out of the drain hose (for condensation?) and spilled over the removable panel that exposes the back of the fridge on the outside of the trailer, collecting in the slats below the hose.

I've seen slightly dirty water on this panel before, but never anywhere near so dark brown. I have just towed for over five hours on propane, and I don't see it. I had cleaned it off, so I would have noticed.

It didn't really look like rust, which I would think would be a tad reddish. Does anyone have any idea why this happened? The fridge still seems to be working fine.

I'm on power again in Inyokern, so I'll look again in the morning.
  • 352 wrote:
    What did it smell like?


    I just went out and whiffed it. It does seem to have an organic order. Not strong, but slightly like Worcestershire sauce or something. Not sure though, not 100% that it's organic.

    I don't have any of that sauce, nor I don't think I ever did in this fridge. I looked, and the fridge is fairly clean. No spills anywhere, and I looked at the bottom of both the fridge and freezer.

    I wouldn't think a spill would find it's way to this hose, anyway. I don't think. Anyone know what this drain actually comes from?
  • OK, I think the mystery is solved.

    I took apart the fridge and the stuff in it to have a better look, and I see a drain from the tray under the cooling vanes. Saw the brown liquid (just a little)going and it smells the same.

    Apparently, something spilled in there, and that drain is from that catch tray.

    Whew. This I can live with.
  • BobsYourUncle wrote:
    Let us know how your steaks taste when you recycle that Worcestershire sauce!!
    :B


    Should have an aged flavor.
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Did you hear a Whistling Sound? That's the Failed Cooling Unit Bullet you just dodged...
  • j-d wrote:
    Did you hear a Whistling Sound? That's the Failed Cooling Unit Bullet you just dodged...


    I did.
  • BobsYourUncle wrote:
    Let us know how your steaks taste when you recycle that Worcestershire sauce!!
    :B


    That's funny. It was an 'au juice' (or some spelling) that spilled.

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