Anything Other Than RV Anti Freeze?

rexlion wrote:
I can't see why no one wants to taste that olive oil in the bowl... lol :D

Any cooking oil works just fine. A little pink mixed in gives it color :C

FrankShore wrote:
Is there anything other than RV Anti Freeze that I can put in my toilet to keep the seal from drying out in the off season? The Anti Freeze evaporates and I'm looking for something that won't evaporate.

Amazon sells a toilet seal liquid that is non petroleum based specifically for camper toilet seals. Unlike olive oil, it will not get moldy. It is silicone based and will not freeze. Used it for first time last winter! Great product. One bottle will last years.

I use the pink AF after blowing out the lines (hard lesson learned - used to just blow the lines). Put about a quart of AF in the toilet and maybe a half cup of coconut oil on top. The oil skim keeps the AF from evaporating and is (per the RV mechanic I trust) reputed to be the best seal & valve lubricant you can use.

I use Calgon water softener, usually just splash a little in and let it go. Use it in the black tank too just to make things a little slick.

Olive oil freezes at about 37F. At least it doesn't expand as it freezes like water. Bad would be to mix it with water - would just float on top.

I leave south for the winter and put RV antifreeze in the house toilet. The place then sits cold all the way down to -40f. Using 1/4 to 1/2 gallon of RV antifreeze per toilet six months later it was always there in the spring. House toilets don't have seals but traps.

Your RV toilet seal is leaking, fix that and your problem will go away. Use the $5 for a small bottle EV olive oil for dipping and cooking, not for a toilet. :S

They do make a product designed specifically to lubricate the toilet seal that will last all winter.

Thetford RV Toilet Seal Lube & Conditioner 36663, 24 oz. Bottle

darsben1 wrote:
use a glycol based antifreeze (more expensive) instead of an alcohol based antifreeze.

^^^ This.

Just stop buying the cheap RV antifreeze and get the propylene glycol based type. The PG type is superior and acts as a lubricant, won't dry out seals, won't taint the lines and is non-flammable. Doesn't cost much more if you look around. I buy it from a local RV repair shop for about the same price as the alcohol based type elsewhere.

Is it time to winterize yet? :E

naturist wrote:

darsben1 wrote:
use a glycol based antifreeze (more expensive) instead of an alcohol based antifreeze.

Where are you getting alcohol based antifreeze? I thought they quit making it in the 1950s. As another poster noted, RV antifreeze is propylene glycol based, non-toxic, unlike auto antifreeze, which is mostly ethylene glycol based, and very toxic.

Some brands of RV antifreeze are ethanol (alcohol) based. Read the labels before you buy.

BB_TX wrote:
Is the antifreeze evaporating? Or is the toilet bowl leaking down. I have never had antifreeze evaporate from the bowl over the winter. But I did have it leak down one year when my seal was leaking. I do use propylene glycol RV antifreeze.

RV antifreeze will evaporate. Many times after winterizing, I had drops of antifreeze in my sinks, or even in the toilet bowel. After a while, those drops would be dried up. Red spot still there, and completely dry. Water will wash the residue down, and never leaves a stain. So, if a single drop will evaporate, yes, it all can evaporate.

FYI... anyone interested. The rubber seal on my RV toilet on my current trailer has always been a bit difficult. It seems to dry out, even with water or RV antifreeze on it. It sticks. My dealer told me to use a little Vaseline, and it works, but realized using a petroleum based product was not the best.

I started using vegetable oil, which worked great, but eventually it would wash off and then the valve would start sticking again.

So, just a few days ago I tried something different. I drained all the water, got it dried out and then sprayed a good foamy layer of RV Rubber Conditioner for RV slide-outs on it. Wow! Made it mice and slick and smooth, and so far, appears to not be washing away!

Don't know how it would hold up over the winter, but it sure does help the valve while in use! Just an idea you might consider.