Community Forums

Capt Joe · 06-28-2009, 08:51 PM

We picked up our MH today after our son and his family used it for a few days. They had smell that came and went...and when we dumped the tanks it came REAL strong. I dumped as usual with a longer flush on the black tank than I usually get to do (nobody at the dump so I had all the time I wanted). I treated both tanks with OdoBan and after some ventilation with the FantasticFan and open windows, we got the smell to a tolerable level and headed home...about 125 miles. By the time we got here, the smell was mostly gone but I was just out there and have a smell again.

I need to inspect the holding tanks in my 2004 Winnie Brave 32V. I have been fighting a bad and inconsistant smell in my motorhome for quite a while by doing most everything that has been suggested and that I have thought of without actually getting to the tanks to look for leaks, bad grommets, seals, etc.

I've tried multiple chemicals in both tanks, tried no chemicals, Geo treatment with fabric softner and Dawn, replaced the vacuum breakers, installed Extreme Vents ( http://www.coilnwrap.com/more/Xtreme-Vents.htm )on both vent stacks, checked for plugged vent stacks, vinegar, etc, etc.....So now I want to physically inspect the tanks.

Talked with Winnie service the other day and they said there was a plate in the top of the plumbing compartment that you could remove and see the gray tank to look at the seals, grommets, etc....Well, I can find no such thing on my unit. Tonight, after getting home, I started looking around and in my LP compartment, there is a plate with screws holding it in. I took all of them out that I could get to and was able to get my little Milwaukee Video Inspection Camera stuck up in ther and it does appear to be a tank end. I also bent it a bit and looked with a flashlight and see the end of a tank. It was damp in there and the plate was pretty rusty and it did smell a bit. Does anybody know if this is the best/only inspection location on my MH to check the holding tanks?

One of the biggest problems now it getting the last two screws out to completely remove the plate and see if I can get a good look at the top of the tank in there. The foward edge of the plate still has two screws in it but they are covered by the body panel that goes over the rear wheel. I removed a couple of screws that hold that end of the body panel but it appears to be held on at the top by ????? (don't know what). I would really like to get this plate off to see if I can find a leak or something that could be causing my odor problem and to also clean this plate up and paint it with some Por15 or something similar to keep it from rusting away. Anybody know how to get the body panel off?

We are taking our grandsons off for a week starting next Sunday, July 5, and would sure like to get this done ASAP. I've also got to install my new Zantrex Pro !000 Watt Inverter this week too....and get a new well put in at my house, etc, etc.

Would certainly appreciate any and all suggestions, thoughts, help in solving my problem.

Thanks,

depchief · 06-29-2009, 09:19 PM

Have you tried to back flush the tanks with the hose connection found on some of the clear plastic fittings. You could connect a hose and put the pressure in the tank and then drain. Also put the hose in the toilet and let it flow. Watch the flow to see what comes out, you might be very surprised at the amount of solids you will dislodge. Do this on both tanks. I sometimes feel the black tank wash connection does not cover the entire tank.

Jackm · 06-29-2009, 09:41 PM

Holding tank smells are essentially mysteries that usually have a root cause. Could you give us a little more information. When is the smell at its worst? Do you have a tank rinser? Was the smell a problem before your family used the RV? The reason I ask is that is some cases, the smell can come from a leak in the connection between the tank and the toilet or the vent pipe. In this case, an inspection may not show the cause. Just trying to narrow it down.

Jack

W8RLM · 06-29-2009, 09:46 PM

I had a similar problem on my Journey. Found out that the vent pipe had come out of the black water tank, and there was black water residue in the holding tank area. Had to remove the tanks, flush out the compatment with bleach, purchase new styrofoam for the tanks to sit on and reinstall the tanks. The vent pipe is now held down with new hose clamps that are fastened to right angle brackets attached to the floor. The vent pipe only extends a couple of inches into the black water tank. Winnebago can tell you how far the pipe should be in the tank.

You might try a right angle screw driver (from hardware store) to get the rest of the plate loose.

Good Luck

W8RLM - Bob