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Old 11-12-2019, 11:13 PM   #1
fredetteb
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How much antifreeze

I'm about to winterize our 2018 381TH for the first time and don't know how much antifreeze to buy. Since we have been full-time we've always managed to stay in warm locations, but this year we are going to store the RV and stay in a "real house"

I've winterized other RVs we've owned but this will be the first time with this one. I just don't know if I should get 2 bottles or 20? Any one have any idea?
 
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Old 11-13-2019, 02:47 AM   #2
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The first time I did my 345rl I used 4 bottles that included the drains. I just did it for 4th time and used 2 1/2 which included the drains.
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Old 11-13-2019, 05:43 AM   #3
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I use 1.5+/- gallons in our 343RL. If it had 2 bathrooms, probably would have used one more gallon.


Make sure the line to the HW heater is blown out before you isolate it - I got at least a surprising pint of water out this year even after draining the system, driving over 100 miles from a CG on bumpy I-87 with all of the drains and faucets open
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Old 11-13-2019, 06:49 AM   #4
fredetteb
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That's how I've winterized in the past, blow out the lines and add some antifreeze for extra protection. Good point about the WH though.

Do either of you have the residential fridge? If so how to get the ice maker cleared?


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I use 1.5+/- gallons in our 343RL. If it had 2 bathrooms, probably would have used one more gallon.


Make sure the line to the HW heater is blown out before you isolate it - I got at least a surprising pint of water out this year even after draining the system, driving over 100 miles from a CG on bumpy I-87 with all of the drains and faucets open
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Old 11-13-2019, 07:57 AM   #5
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I use nearly 4 gallons. But I don't attempt to minimize usage. I let it run thru each faucet until it runs good and pink and puts antifreeze in the P traps. And the clothes washer hot and cold lines take quite a bit plus making sure I get it in the washer drain P trap. And then there is the toilet, and the black tank flush line, and the outside shower lines. No more than it cost I don't worry about using too much.

I use the propylene glycol antifreeze rather than the cheaper ethanol based antifreeze.
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Old 11-13-2019, 09:02 AM   #6
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We don't have the res fridge or non res series with ice maker so no idea about how to do that gadget. Also, if you have a washer, that will need some extra attention and more antifreeze;




I also don't try to minimize use of antifreeze. Two gallons max is all I need for this 5er. The last one needed three. This includes all faucets running pink plus the toilet. If you have a Dometic toilet, make sure that you have some pink in the vacuum breaker (a 50 buck part) and spray hose if equipped. Then some in the P traps but that's usually what I've collected in the check color bottle



The outside shower line gets some pink through it as well. Some say that the black tank flusher needs some but this is the first year in 40 plus I did that too.


Two gallons for our's with a simple system, single toulet, no washer or ice maker, dish washer, etc is all it takes. I generally buy 3 but save it unopened for the next year.
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Old 11-14-2019, 09:45 AM   #7
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At the end of the ice age i flush the lines with fresh water and put as much of the antifreeze back in the bottles as I can for next year. I hook up the hose, turn on the faucet and put the pink stuff back in the bottle. I watch to see if the color changes and stop filling the bottle and let it run to clean it all out. I do this in each faucet till I get them all. I reuse it next year. Mine only uses 2 gallons.
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Old 11-14-2019, 10:10 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W View Post
I use 1.5+/- gallons in our 343RL. If it had 2 bathrooms, probably would have used one more gallon.


Make sure the line to the HW heater is blown out before you isolate it - I got at least a surprising pint of water out this year even after draining the system, driving over 100 miles from a CG on bumpy I-87 with all of the drains and faucets open
Never quite understood why someone would want blow out their water lines if they have seen what can come out of a compressed air tank. Sure if you got a good filtered compressor. But then still why ????

I usually go thru about three to four gallons, not a big deal. Not once in 12 year years have I bothered with that water heater, isolate it ,and be done ,nor the black tank flush . JMHO, but it works okay for me. I know many that do it the same way.

For what its worth , I drain the low points , with all valves open. Close all the valves, proceed with pumping antifreeze to each faucet, outside shower, toilet, washer hookups, until running pink, pour some in the traps , and be done .

Just can't see blowing crappy dirty air into those lines if not using a very good filtered compressor, and many of us do not have one of those.
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Old 11-14-2019, 10:15 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by Slow Hand View Post
At the end of the ice age i flush the lines with fresh water and put as much of the antifreeze back in the bottles as I can for next year. I hook up the hose, turn on the faucet and put the pink stuff back in the bottle. I watch to see if the color changes and stop filling the bottle and let it run to clean it all out. I do this in each faucet till I get them all. I reuse it next year. Mine only uses 2 gallons.

Well, thats pretty economical for a $2.50 worth of antifreeze per gallon
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Old 11-14-2019, 11:35 AM   #10
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Never quite understood why someone would want blow out their water lines if they have seen what can come out of a compressed air tank. Sure if you got a good filtered compressor. But then still why ????

Nothing but clean compressed air exits my Ingersoll-Rand shop air compressor with a double Sharpe filter system. It was set up to paint automobiles.http://www.sharpe1.com/sharpe/sharpe...In-line+Filter and http://www.sharpe1.com/sharpe/sharpe...line+Coalescer



Additionally, if I, like many others were to use a little oilless pancake compressor, there is zero chance of anything but some condended water - and that's only if the tank hasn't been drained and even that's no big deal
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Old 11-14-2019, 11:39 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave W View Post
Nothing but clean compressed air exits my Ingersoll-Rand shop air compressor with a double Sharpe filter system. It was set up to paint automobiles.http://www.sharpe1.com/sharpe/sharpe...In-line+Filter and http://www.sharpe1.com/sharpe/sharpe...line+Coalescer



Additionally, if I, like many others were to use a little oilless pancake compressor, there is zero chance of anything but some condended water - and that's only if the tank hasn't been drained and even that's no big deal

I disagree, there is alway moisture, and whatever is in that tank, trust me I have drained oilless compressors ,I have one, and no its not just contended air.
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Old 11-14-2019, 11:44 AM   #12
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Several years ago the first time out in the spring, I used the black tank flush .... and flooded the inside of the trailer. I found the anti siphon valve nipple broken off and the body cracked. Only thing I can think of that would have done that is freezing. Apparently I did not run antifreeze thru it that year. See pic below. Zoom in and see cracks in the body of the valve.


I completely removed the valve and tied the lines back together and now use an external anti siphon valve. In the second pic you can see after the valve was removed and also see the pink stuff in the lines after I had winterized it.
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Old 11-14-2019, 12:05 PM   #13
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I disagree, there is alway moisture, and whatever is in that tank, trust me I have drained oilless compressors ,I have one, and no its not just contended air.

You do it however way you you are comfortable with - but don't suggest to me that my way is wrong. I along with many thousands of others are happy with using a compressor. Like I said, no big deal. If I was concerned about a little contamination, I'd live in a bubble room with air locks, etc. since every bit of the earth's air, water and soil have been contaminated with junk you can't even pronounce
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Old 11-14-2019, 12:28 PM   #14
fredetteb
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Very good advice from everyone.

How do you get antifreeze into the black tank flush line? Since it's an isolated system, the normal winterization lines don't connect. Perhaps fill a hose and then use the air compressor to "blow" the antifreeze through?
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Old 11-14-2019, 01:11 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by fredetteb View Post
Very good advice from everyone.

How do you get antifreeze into the black tank flush line? Since it's an isolated system, the normal winterization lines don't connect. Perhaps fill a hose and then use the air compressor to "blow" the antifreeze through?
I run antifreeze thru the outside shower until I see pink stuff from both the hot and cold lines. Then I connect the outside shower hose to the flush connection, open one of the shower faucets, and let antifreeze run thru the flush line until I feel it has passed all the way thru.
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Old 11-14-2019, 01:25 PM   #16
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I would think whatever antifreeze you get in that black tank line will immediately drain right back out. That's its entire design being mounted up high with the valve.

I think our first camper with the black tank flush was around '07 or '08. I have never even attempted to winterize that line in all those years on several different campers.
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Old 11-14-2019, 01:25 PM   #17
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Right! I totally forgot about that. Good answer.


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I run antifreeze thru the outside shower until I see pink stuff from both the hot and cold lines. Then I connect the outside shower hose to the flush connection, open one of the shower faucets, and let antifreeze run thru the flush line until I feel it has passed all the way thru.
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Old 11-14-2019, 02:51 PM   #18
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I run antifreeze thru the outside shower until I see pink stuff from both the hot and cold lines. Then I connect the outside shower hose to the flush connection, open one of the shower faucets, and let antifreeze run thru the flush line until I feel it has passed all the way thru.



...and how I did ours.


The other questionis will it drain into the black tank - probably unless there is a dip (inadvertant trap) in that line added by the installer at the factory.
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Old 11-14-2019, 04:31 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by fredetteb View Post
I'm about to winterize our 2018 381TH for the first time and don't know how much antifreeze to buy. Since we have been full-time we've always managed to stay in warm locations, but this year we are going to store the RV and stay in a "real house"

I've winterized other RVs we've owned but this will be the first time with this one. I just don't know if I should get 2 bottles or 20? Any one have any idea?
Now I admit, I'm a pretty cheap guy myself. So my question is way are you worried about how much to buy. Just buy a case. Its not like you will never use it again or it will go bad. Its $2.58 a gallon at Walmart.
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Old 11-14-2019, 05:55 PM   #20
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You do it however way you you are comfortable with - but don't suggest to me that my way is wrong. I along with many thousands of others are happy with using a compressor. Like I said, no big deal. If I was concerned about a little contamination, I'd live in a bubble room with air locks, etc. since every bit of the earth's air, water and soil have been contaminated with junk you can't even pronounce

I do whats comfortable, did not suggest it was wrong. I said WHY !!!!!. Yup, we got some dirty,air, but I don't need to coat my water lines with oily water.

I just think people need to be aware of what they are blowing into those water lines, will it hurt probably not, but why !!!

Lets get back to the why!!. If I thought for one second they needed to be blown out, I would do it. I open the two low points, open up everything that I can ,and that lets the air in , and that lets the low point valves to drain even more. I get very minimal water coming out, before I see antifreeze.

As far as the water line to the water heater I can see the purpose of using air there, and I also see one pointing out the anti syphon valve on the blank tank flush freezing ,now thats something I can listen too.

I just don't see the wisdom in blowing out something thats going to get filled with antifreeze, if there is I missed it . I have a friend that does not want to use antifreeze ,so he blows out the lines , I get that .
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