RV Anti-freeze question.

[dryfly]

I used RV anti-freeze for the first time this past winter. Previously I just drained lines and used my compressor to blow the remaining water out.

Since I have cancelled travel plans for this summer, and really have no ability to tell if I can even travel this fall, I'm questioning as to if I should drain the solution out of my trailer.

Is there any reason it can't be left in the lines for extended periods, as in 12 months? Of course I'm really hoping things will improve and I'll be back camping in a few months, but if not, I see no reason to have to drain and then refill next winter.

[dryfly]

dedmiston wrote:
Apologies to the OP. This thread really turned into garbage. I'll do some cleaning...

It seemed like such a simple question too.

Yes, seemed simple to me. I had no idea when I made the OP that the question could lead to other subjects as fast as it did. There is some really good info on this forum, and I did get some good advice to my original question. I appreciate those responders.

[Super_Dave]

magicbus wrote:
My previous coach had excellent low point drains. No pink stuff, no pumping air into lines, just open faucets and the low point drains. Kudos to Country Coach for that. On my current coach I don’t have that luxury, but Winnebago was nice enough to install a hose by the pump to poke into an antifreeze jug so I use that. What I really don’t understand is why people leave the pink stuff on their lines all winter instead of just opening their low point drains and dumping it. Even my Class B has low point drains. I don’t trust them or I wouldn’t use the pink stuff, but they do empty a lot of fluids.

Dave

No low point drains in my rig or at least none that I have been able to find. The only fresh water drain is the fresh water holding tank. As to why the antifreeze is left in all winter, well, that’s what my owners manual directed me to do. ??

[magicbus]

My previous coach had excellent low point drains. No pink stuff, no pumping air into lines, just open faucets and the low point drains. Kudos to Country Coach for that. On my current coach I don’t have that luxury, but Winnebago was nice enough to install a hose by the pump to poke into an antifreeze jug so I use that. What I really don’t understand is why people leave the pink stuff on their lines all winter instead of just opening their low point drains and dumping it. Even my Class B has low point drains. I don’t trust them or I wouldn’t use the pink stuff, but they do empty a lot of fluids.

Dave

[Monaramblee]

Super_Dave wrote:

Monaramblee wrote:
If you drain the antifreeze and do not add water, your coach remains winterized. So if in doubt drain it out. Maybe catch some of it when you're draining and pour it in the toilet bowl before winter.

How are you draining it? I hook up the fresh water and flush it all out?

I was thinking just use the pump to drain the antifreeze out of the lines without the use of water. This eliminates any long standing potential issues to the plumbing lines ( i have no idea if there are any) and keeps the coach winterized for the next winter.

[Super_Dave]

Monaramblee wrote:
If you drain the antifreeze and do not add water, your coach remains winterized. So if in doubt drain it out. Maybe catch some of it when you're draining and pour it in the toilet bowl before winter.

How are you draining it? I hook up the fresh water and flush it all out?

[Monaramblee]

If you drain the antifreeze and do not add water, your coach remains winterized. So if in doubt drain it out. Maybe catch some of it when you're draining and pour it in the toilet bowl before winter.

[dedmiston]

This seemed like such a simple question:

Is there any reason it can't be left in the lines for extended periods, as in 12 months?

Who knew this would start a troll fight?

Fourteen posts deleted and I think it's back on topic now. Apologies to some of you whose polite replies were deleted with the rest of the tangent conversation.

And to anyone who wants to have a debate about using a compressor, you're welcome to start a new thread and keep it civil.

[dedmiston]

Apologies to the OP. This thread really turned into garbage. I'll do some cleaning...

It seemed like such a simple question too.

[Dave_H_M]

I think you should have a cold one and not get into the ozone layer.

Relax, I am leaving my antifreeze in till I see what happens down the road.

[Tvov]

I suggest getting the RV "summer ready" to at least make sure all the systems are working. Do any repairs now.

Heck, you might want to do some "driveway camping" (using your camper while it is at your house) this summer just for the fun of it!

[magicbus]

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
I drain the pink stuff out of my lines immediately after winterizing so nothing is left in the lines and it makes flushing much faster in the spring.

This is what I do. The pink stuff did its job which is to remove water from the system. After doing that there is no reason to leave it in the lines so I drain it right out.

Dave

[wilber1]

I would drain and flush the system but leave the heater bypassed and re winterized if necessary.

Antifreeze is cheap, water leaks can be expensive.

[aftermath]

I doubt very seriously that leaving it in is going to cause any trouble for you. It might lose the ability to prevent freeze up by a few degrees but I wouldn't worry too much about that either.

I would question why you would do this in the first place. Just flush it out of the lines and be done with it. If you have it in your HW tank then you have some issues to deal with. Don't allow it to get into your tank.

[Nv_Guy]

I would drain and flush simply because leaving it in year round isn't what it was formulated for or how it was intended to be used.