Community Forums

drczap · 04-01-2015, 06:12 AM

I found white powder on pavement immediately below our Coleman basement heat pump. It appears to have a "blast pattern." Please see picture.

Service tech at large RV dealership in Fort Myers inspected heat pump and found no visible clues. Tech checked heat pump performance, and cooling was up to specs.

Maybe heat pump is not source. The Cummins 400HP ISL 8.9L engine is also above the suspect powder.

Here are some potential clues

We have 2005 Winnebago Vectra MH.
We were workamping at Convoy Point Visitor Center in Biscayne National Park near Homestead in south Florida from January 1 to April 1, 2015. There were lots of noseeums, ants, and mosquitos, but otherwise not a lot of other insects. There are lots of geckos.
We were on 30amp hookup. There is a chance RV tech tested heat pump while hooked up to 50amp.
White powder appeared sometime during afternoon March 29 on hot humid day with heat pump running. I shut down heat pump immediately, and did not run it until we arrived at RV shop.
The last time I ran MH engine was for about 60 minutes about 1 month before white powder appeared.
We had Freightliner in Chaffey SC inspect MH and perform annual maintenance November 2014. Had plastic tank replaced with metal coolant reservoir. All fluid levels OK April 1st.
We have 2005 Winnebago Vectra.

So, everything seems to be working fine now. I'm just concerned that white powder is a symptom of a future problem

Your advise would be very much appreciated

JFXG · 04-01-2015, 07:04 AM

I assume this pattern is in line with the outlet vent of your heat pump, so you had a steady stream of very hot, very humid air hitting the ground that was already hot and damp, in the shade. I don't think it is dust that blew out of your heat pump. Too damp for that. Possibly some kind of mold or mildew, or just some weird bio-chemical thing, precipitated by the hot vent air in a hot environment. You go sub-tropical and there's no end of strange crap just grows out of nowhere.

flaggship1 · 04-01-2015, 07:55 AM

Must have been a strong blast to have blown you out of your sandals... watch out for pop tops.

I agree that the stuff probably grew from, rather than blew out of the system.

530ktm · 04-01-2015, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaggship1

Must have been a strong blast to have blown you out of your sandals... watch out for pop tops.

ecurb74 · 04-01-2015, 04:31 PM

When is the last time you serviced your air dryer. When the filter goes bad it releases white powder throughout the air system. It's a royal pain to get rid of. If you can bleed off one of your air tanks and see if the white powder comes out. I just replaced my air dryer because of the desiccant filter inside that went bad. Good luck!

palehorse89 · 04-01-2015, 04:43 PM

Is your battery compartment right above this residue ?

scep · 04-02-2015, 04:58 PM

Maybe your heat pump has a cocaine problem?

Doubtful the motor did that. I would run the heatpump and try and follow the air exhaust with my had to see if it aims for that site.

DA_BUS · 04-02-2015, 06:18 PM

Looks like whatever made it was blowing right to left or the exhaust was directed that way....

bigdog · 04-02-2015, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 530ktm

X3.. Nice taste in sandals,but mine are almost always on my feet.

flaggship1 · 04-02-2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdog

X3.. Nice taste in sandals,but mine are almost always on my feet.

So I guess you don't have Coleman basement heat pumps either.

fastcat · 04-02-2015, 08:46 PM

I guess this is an obvious question but: are you SURE it came from your coach?

flaggship1 · 04-02-2015, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastcat

I guess this is an obvious question but: are you SURE it came from your coach?

Uhhhh. Uhhh. Excellent question. There was a stain beneath my coach right where my shower is. Neighbor climbed under - and said it's oil - no leak from above. His wife promptly told us, that spot was been there long before you got here...

But since the OP was blown out of his sandals by the blast - I think it may be his...

sjholt · 04-02-2015, 08:52 PM

I wonder if it was below the battery compartment.
I put baking soda under and around the house batteries to prevent corrosion.

MJFZ · 04-02-2015, 08:59 PM

I had the opportunity to look under my brothers 2005 Vectra today. See picture below. The white powder in your picture looks to be just below the fan grate, and alongside the exhaust muffler. If your 2005 Vectra has the optional Splendid washer/dryer; it is located just above the heat pump. I would check to make sure your Splendid does not have a small leak that has left the residue on the pavement. I would also look up and inside the heat pump grate to make sure you don't have any foreign objects or water stains that could be driving the galvanizing off the heat pump and onto the ground.

Mike