Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-17-2019, 01:12 PM   #1
Wayne & Colleen
Established Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Bellingham
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #22579
Tank smells

2018 3160 RL. We are getting awful smells from our toilet. I have flushed water down the air vent thinking it might be blocked by something. Does not seem to help. We have tried the UNIQUE RV DIGEST-IT product. I’m thinking that isn’t helping the smell. We have had no trouble with this in the past. Just started a month ago. I’ve tried flushing the tank but still a awuful sweat Oder unlike the natural smell of outhouses. Any thoughts?
 
Wayne & Colleen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2019, 01:55 PM   #2
Bum
Established Member
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Williamstown, NJ
Posts: 15
M.O.C. #24028
Are you sure it is coming from the toilet? We had a 2014 Reflections that had a bad smell when we were in Florida last winter. I discovered that there were two, " 1 1/2" Plastic Mechanical Plumbing Air Admittance Vents " one under the kitchen counter and one under the bathroom counter. They go bad, your camper is much newer, but worth checking. They are not very expensive, I changed both. Easy fix if that is your issue.
__________________
Wayne & Patti Bumm / 2019 Montana 3121 RL / 2001 F250, 7.3 Diesel, 8' Bed, Stable Loads, Extra Leaf ea. side, Rancho Shocks
Bum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2019, 04:40 PM   #3
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
We use Happy Camper, but that doesn't sound like your problem. If the vent line is clear to the roof and the smell is coming from flushing the toilet, do you think the smell is coming up from the tank or is it the water in the flush. If there is a connection for the washer nearby, that is not in use, the water trapped in those connections may need to be flushed.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2019, 06:31 PM   #4
prndl
Montana Master
 
prndl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 949
M.O.C. #19630
You have sufficient water in the black tank to start with?

As my friend found out, (not to be gross) if someone pees in the shower only once the gray tank will go sour in hours. Try some tank chemical in the gray.
__________________
2011 2955RL Gen-Y Executive Kingpin
2022 GMC 2500HD Duramax/Alison
4X4 Crew Cab/Standard bed.
prndl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2019, 03:12 PM   #5
Wayne & Colleen
Established Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Bellingham
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #22579
Toilet venting

3160 RL 2018 Full Time
Toilet does not vent properly
Awful smell after flush
Not your normal septic smell almost sweet ugly
Tried Unique RV Digest-it
Poured water down vent stack
Replaced vacuum check valve on flush system
Flush and run
What could it be ?
Wayne & Colleen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2019, 04:30 PM   #6
Butch & Kathy
Montana Fan
 
Butch & Kathy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: West Melbourne
Posts: 310
M.O.C. #18980
I fought this problem with my 3160 for two years. I cannot explain it but when I replaced the toilet with a Dometic 320 a year ago no more smell and I do not use any chemical treatment except couple of tablespoons of Ridx.
__________________
Butch and Kathy
2016 3160RL Legacy, Sailun S637, Centramatic Balancers, 2-T105s, Amish Refrigeration, ARPrv, SoftStartRV, FlexArmor roof
2016 F350 6.7L SRW
Butch & Kathy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2019, 04:39 PM   #7
Wayne & Colleen
Established Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Bellingham
Posts: 25
M.O.C. #22579
Quote:
Originally Posted by Butchy View Post
I fought this problem with my 3160 for two years. I cannot explain it but when I replaced the toilet with a Dometic 320 a year ago no more smell and I do not use any chemical treatment except couple of tablespoons of Ridx.
Thanks for the info. It’s worth a try
Wayne & Colleen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-25-2019, 05:27 PM   #8
team bradfield
Montana Master
 
team bradfield's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 525
M.O.C. #19994
we had the same problem a couple years ago SOB, did some research and went with powdered laundry soap and pine sol, 2 cups powder, 1 cup pine sol. Treated it 2 times, (1.5 full black tanks) and it cleaned up for us
__________________

The "Black Pearl"-2017 3731FL Legacy Package
2017 F-450 Platinum, 6.7 PSD
team bradfield is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2019, 05:30 AM   #9
MaxwellD
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Tyler
Posts: 186
M.O.C. #20704
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne & Colleen View Post
3160 RL 2018 Full Time
Toilet does not vent properly
Awful smell after flush
Not your normal septic smell almost sweet ugly
Tried Unique RV Digest-it
Poured water down vent stack
Replaced vacuum check valve on flush system
Flush and run
What could it be ?
Similar issue for us was mostly solved by a wind vane attached to the top of the bathroom vent pipe. Seems to help keep the sewer gases from downdrafting back into RV (if that is even possible). But I like wind vanes anyway so I put it on. The other thing that might be at play is the bathroom vent fan. If it is on when you flush you will certainly draw tank gases into the rig when the ball valve is open and the vent fan is on. I have also discovered that if my sewer drain hose is straight into city sewer, it seems that sewer gases make their way into the rig. So, when I put the sewer hose on, I usually fashion a pea-trap into the hose so there is a block of sewer gases from entering the black tank.
Not to be gross, but a previous post mentioned that urine in the gray tank will sour the grey tank. I disagree. Urine is sterile unless you have an infection, it should not sour the grey tank - which is generally recommended to stay open anyway (unless you are boon docking). Maybe one of these suggestions will help.
__________________
Maxwell and Beverly Dow
2018 3730FL 2020 Ram 3500 Dually SWB
"Prairie Schooner"
MaxwellD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2019, 09:17 AM   #10
Eagleback
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Full Timer In Naples, Florida
Posts: 1,049
M.O.C. #15731
Is your tank vents right next to your bathroom roof vent and then that vent is open? Ours is, Enough said.
__________________
2017, 3500 Ram Big Horn, 4x4, Crew Cab, DRW, Aisin Transmission, 4:10. Curt Q20, 2014 Mountaineer 331 RLT, Sailun's on the rv and truck.
Eagleback is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2019, 09:27 AM   #11
Montajmahal
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Montana
Posts: 65
M.O.C. #23285
Regardless of what you may find mechanically I highly recommend using Happycampers tank treatment. It is the only thing I will use and have been for about 10 years. The product just works like no other.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	EDFB429D-180B-447A-819A-0DA8328B27A1.jpg
Views:	60
Size:	262.1 KB
ID:	4338  
Montajmahal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-26-2019, 09:20 PM   #12
Slow Hand
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Livermore
Posts: 492
M.O.C. #17391
We have been fullm timing out front of the house. We are doing a complete remodel Popcorn removal paint and new floor. Furniture is in the garage.
We started noticing the awful smell. I thought it was the toilet and dropped in another orange thingy but still had smell. Problem was the galley tank. We are truing not to use to much water because I dont want to move the RV and dump the tanks. I had the cover on the sink and I needed to remove it and wow. I got a bottle of deodorizer from the RV store. Poured in the whole bottle and it's working. So check the galley tank.
Slow Hand is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2019, 06:24 AM   #13
WeBeFulltime
Montana Master
 
WeBeFulltime's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
Yep, gry tank odors can be as bad (almost) as the black.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD


Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
WeBeFulltime is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-27-2019, 09:25 AM   #14
drknapp
Montana Fan
 
drknapp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redlands
Posts: 460
M.O.C. #9135
We use Happy Camper too. I also have taken some, dissolved it in some warm water and put it in the gray tank also. Stuff works great!
__________________
2011 3150RL
drknapp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-31-2019, 01:10 PM   #15
steiny93
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: fargo
Posts: 185
M.O.C. #17461
we fought this same issue with our current montana when new (ours was also much worse when we were dumping the tanks)

our issue was a leak at the toilet
tell tale was that the toilet wouldn't hold water in the bowl if you left it (it'd drain into the black tank within a few hours)

dealer swapped out the seal or the entire toilet (I dunno which) but the problem is totally gone
steiny93 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 07:26 AM   #16
Beauty2018
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Bernalillo
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #22915
Happy Camper tank deodorizer

Tried yesterday to order Happy Camper on Amazon and the reply was they don’t know when they’ll be able to fill the order. Tried other sites on the web and couldn’t find Happy Camper.
Beauty2018 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 07:47 AM   #17
Montajmahal
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Montana
Posts: 65
M.O.C. #23285
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beauty2018 View Post
Tried yesterday to order Happy Camper on Amazon and the reply was they don’t know when they’ll be able to fill the order. Tried other sites on the web and couldn’t find Happy Camper.
www.happycampersworld.com
Montajmahal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-01-2019, 08:03 AM   #18
Beauty2018
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Bernalillo
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #22915
Thank you
Beauty2018 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 05:37 AM   #19
GregN
Montana Master
 
GregN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: San Jose
Posts: 526
M.O.C. #6790
Are you leaving the black tank valve open or is it closed?
__________________
2006 Montana 3650RK with Improvements.
2014 Ford 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LB Dually & Hadley's.
GregN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-02-2019, 06:18 AM   #20
Beauty2018
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Bernalillo
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #22915
Closed
Beauty2018 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:15 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.