Anti freeze into fresh water tank

[garyhaupt]

I have always drained the fresh tank, connected the anti-freeze into the line at the pump and run the stuff around. It occurs to me..why not just toss a couple gallons into the fresh tank, run the pump and be done with it? I mean..yes, you have to rinse come spring, but one does anyway.

Gary Haupt

[fasteddie]

I do it this way all the time, been doing it for 15 years and never had an issue. I use about 8 gallons total , it's not that pricey usually someone always has a 2 for $5 sale on rv antifreeze in the fall. In the spring I do a through rinse with a diluted bleach mixture, this will kill anything that may have been growing in the lines and gets rid of the antifreeze taste, it takes a few tanks of water through the lines to get rid of the bleach smell. It's is recommended to do this bleach rinse to get rid of any organism that may grow in the water lines anyway so by doing this you are sanitizing your lines and getting rid of any antifreeze taste at the same time. Maybe not the best or most efficient way but it works for me and it has been effective.

[CavemanCharlie]

I do it that way every winter. It is the only way that I can do it. Then I flush it good in the spring. I am just a weekend camper but, by about the 3 weekend out the taste and smell has gone completely away. I don't drink from my tank anyway. I'm not worried about it I just like the water cold from the fridge. I do brush my teeth and wash dishes from the tank though.

[Lantley]

K3WE wrote:
If I missed this, I am sorry...

1. Some of us do not have the winterizer plumbing- and must pump antifreeze in via the external hose hook up.

2. That means some fresh water might live just upstream and downstream from the pump.

I would THINK that the antifreeze would diffuse up the pipe.

I would THINK that upstream from the pump would probably be open enough that freezing is not a problem.

BUT, for the pump itself...seems worrysome that water might be trapped in the pump and break the pump.

AND...along these same lines- is it enough that you pumped the tank dry and have the pump sucking air (some air, but still gurgling with amounts of water.

Yeah, it's PROBABLY all OK, but who knows for sure.

In my case, I have put a small amount of antifreeze in the fresh tank and tried to run the pump...no clue if it get's picked up.

Yes, in the spring, I do need to fill and drain (via the drain plug) the fresh water tank several times and sometimes do get a little bit of foaming later...no aftertaste, and it's non toxic anyway...but maybe not as big of a hassel as some folks make it out.

Anyway- bottom line- for those of us who don't have the winterizing plumbing where antifreeze pumps THROGUH the pump...how dangerous is the pump and it's left over water...even if you run the fresh water tank 'dry' (which is far from dry).

If you don't have a winterizing connection it is very easy to install the kit

[K3WE]

If I missed this, I am sorry...

1. Some of us do not have the winterizer plumbing- and must pump antifreeze in via the external hose hook up.

2. That means some fresh water might live just upstream and downstream from the pump.

I would THINK that the antifreeze would diffuse up the pipe.

I would THINK that upstream from the pump would probably be open enough that freezing is not a problem.

BUT, for the pump itself...seems worrysome that water might be trapped in the pump and break the pump.

AND...along these same lines- is it enough that you pumped the tank dry and have the pump sucking air (some air, but still gurgling with amounts of water.

Yeah, it's PROBABLY all OK, but who knows for sure.

In my case, I have put a small amount of antifreeze in the fresh tank and tried to run the pump...no clue if it get's picked up.

Yes, in the spring, I do need to fill and drain (via the drain plug) the fresh water tank several times and sometimes do get a little bit of foaming later...no aftertaste, and it's non toxic anyway...but maybe not as big of a hassel as some folks make it out.

Anyway- bottom line- for those of us who don't have the winterizing plumbing where antifreeze pumps THROGUH the pump...how dangerous is the pump and it's left over water...even if you run the fresh water tank 'dry' (which is far from dry).

[ScottG]

Doesn't everyone need a compressor to keep their tires up anyway?
Just use that.

[SidecarFlip]

You can always install a bulkhead fitting in the top of your FW tank to suck out the remaining water with a shop vac. I have one on mine so I can add water from a 6 gallon tote if necessary.

[DutchmenSport]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Many times the pump suction pickup line does NOT reach to bottom of tank
Hence pump runs dry before tank is emptied

Several gallons of anti-freeze may end up being double what you would normally use.

And then you have bunch of anti-freeze you have to get rid of in fresh water tank and tank drain doesn;t allow complete drainage. So yiou fill,drain,fill drain, fill drain...

Not to mention, that bit of water that never completely empties or gets sucked out will dilute the RV antifreeze making it less effective, or even not effective at all.

[azrving]

garyhaupt wrote:
Yes...fine...okay. But, I am not buying a compressor. I have always just pumped it in from the 'special' line in...and thus I will this year, too. The kicker was the pick-up point. That sold me. I always go for a drive after I have drained the tank..let the residual slosh out.

Next time I get a good idea, I shall keep it to myself..then you'll all be sorry.


Gary Haupt

People who have done what you suggest or think about doing it and decide not to are not wrong. Your way isn't wrong but it does require a decent amount of work next spring and probably a whole lot of water. People just choose to do what is effective and easier for them. If your way works better for you than you'd be crazy to do it our way.

When you look at the internet and search engines and all the forum talk available dont count on anyone here being crushed by the lack of one persons input. Everyone is replaceable. 🙂

[Grit_dog]

Not that hard. Just don’t use it. Dry Winterize the water lines and if paranoid about residual, dump a little cheap Vodka in the lines like the Russian guy suggested!

I’ve dry blocked my inboard boats for 15 years now and dry campers for 5. It works.

[garyhaupt]

Yes...fine...okay. But, I am not buying a compressor. I have always just pumped it in from the 'special' line in...and thus I will this year, too. The kicker was the pick-up point. That sold me. I always go for a drive after I have drained the tank..let the residual slosh out.

Next time I get a good idea, I shall keep it to myself..then you'll all be sorry.


Gary Haupt

[SidecarFlip]

Not that RV antifreeze is toxic because it isn't in diluted amounts and commercial bakers use it as a dough extender but, if you like foamy water all season long and that slight aftertaste of antifreeze in your coffee..

By all, means dump a couple gallons in your FW rank and pump it through your system and...

Then post on here next spring about how you can get rid of the foam and slight antifreeze taste. Makes for interesting reading...

[RGar974417]

I have done it that way, but like someone pointed out it takes more antifreeze. I have a Wayne 12 volt pump that hooks to the battery.I use it to put water in the tank if we have no campground water connection.But it also works great for putting antifreeze in. I stick the pick up end in the bottle and the other end attaches to the fresh water connection.Of course I drain everything and blow out lines first.It takes about 1.5 gallons of antifreeze to purge the lines. Then I use another 1.5 gallons in the traps and the holding tanks.

[jplante4]

As stated, my pickup point is about 2 inches off the bottom of the tank and the drain is off the pickup line. This leaves 2-3 gallons in the tank. Wasted anti-freeze and difficult to get rid of.

[mowermech]

When I winterized our first Class A many years ago, I did the "anti-freeze in the tank" thing. Never again! That old 1977 Pace Arrow not only didn't have a pickup tube for the pump, it didn't have a water heater bypass system! It took nearly 10 gallons of "pink stuff" to winterize the water system, and getting the taste out of the system was extremely difficult and wasted many gallons of fresh water.
Since then, I have winterized the RVs exactly the same way one would winterize an underground sprinkler system: 55 to 60 PSI air, then about a cup of AF in each P trap and in the toilet.
15 minutes of air compressor use, and half a gallon (or less) of AF, and I'm done.
It works for me.