Best lube for grey tank and black tank valves

[sgfrye]

What are y'all using to lube valves?

[LarryJM]

Lwiddis wrote:
Since I now know it’s an issue...40 years after my first TC...I’ll lube them religiously.

Same here, but it's only been 36 years for me not lubing any valves.

Larry

[DutchmenSport]

YC 1 wrote:
I can't find the link to the fantastic solution.

Simple enough to explain.


Drill a small hole on the face of the slide out valve near the rod.

The face meaning the area where the T handle lives. Spray some silicon lube inside the small hole. Exercise the vavle.

When done, just put in a small screw to plug the hole. I had some stainless ones so don't need to worry about rust.

These valves are smoother than when new.

Might work OK, except my actual valves are under the colorplast underlayer and packed in foam insulation. (from the factory this way). Unless I bust through the colorplast and chisel away all that foam, this isn't going to happen for my situation.

[covered_wagon]

I like the idea above, but it would be nice to better understand the exact location of the screw lubrication hole.

Another thing to consider is always avoid the ethylene glycol rv antifreeze which is cheaper and causes the rubber valves to dry out because of its alcohol content.

You want to look for the propylene glycol rv antifreeze which will help the valves little bit with lube.

[YC_1]

I can't find the link to the fantastic solution.

Simple enough to explain.


Drill a small hole on the face of the slide out valve near the rod.

The face meaning the area where the T handle lives. Spray some silicon lube inside the small hole. Exercise the vavle.

When done, just put in a small screw to plug the hole. I had some stainless ones so don't need to worry about rust.

These valves are smoother than when new.

[Grit_dog]

Bobbo wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:
How would you "lube" them in the first place??

Dump the tanks, close the dump valves, dump in a quart of vegetable oil, open and close the dump valves rapidly a few times to spread it around

^Are you serious?

[eubank]

I started lubricating only after having to replace the valve in our then 45 year old black tank. It was not an easy job. Had to remove the tank in order to do so.

🙂
Lynn

hotpepperkid wrote:
In 40 years of RVing I never have lubed my dump valves

[hotpepperkid]

In 40 years of RVing I never have lubed my dump valves

[eubank]

Once the RV is parked after a trip and all cleaned up, I put on rubber gloves and give all valves, including the slide valve in the bottom of the toilet, a rub-down with silicone grease. Expensive stuff, but a great rubber preservative.

🙂
Lynn

[DutchmenSport]

I've used this stuff, but really, can't tell any difference.

[eHoefler]

When I replace my valves, I coated them with silicone grease

[Bumpyroad]

I see one here uses coconut oil. that is what I have used.
bumpy

[ScottG]

When I could actually get to the valve, a couple of shots of vegi oil did a great job.

[TenOC]

old guy wrote:
veggie oil and any grease for the shaft

I would think that any oil would float on the black water and not do much lubricating. I would think one would need a water soluble oil if such a thing exist. Maybe the oil that is used to cool cutting tools in a machine shop.

[Bobbo]

MitchF150 wrote:
How would you "lube" them in the first place??

Dump the tanks, close the dump valves, dump in a quart of vegetable oil, open and close the dump valves rapidly a few times to spread it around.

NEVER USE ANY KIND OF PETROLEUM PRODUCT LIKE VASELINE OR 3-IN-1 OIL!

[Lwiddis]

Since I now know it’s an issue...40 years after my first TC...I’ll lube them religiously.