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09-20-2015, 04:06 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 28
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Black and Grey Water tanks reading empty but they're not!
So we brought our new to us camper home Labor day weekend, and parked it. Although we did not level it as we not using it just parking it to further inspect and repair. (Yay roof leaks that the previous owner said weren't there!)
When we brought it home after much checking at the previous owners home the black water read 1/3 full and the grey read 2/3 full.
Now after two weeks of being parked they both read empty?
I know they are not empty! I went in and flushed the toilet and can see stuff in there!
What gives?
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09-20-2015, 04:22 PM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Mid-Missouri
Posts: 67
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Now is the time to give both tanks a good flush and cleaning. You may also want to take a look at this video. Hope it helps.
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09-21-2015, 05:39 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 423
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10 lbs of ice in each tank and drive around the neighborhood like a 16 year old.
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09-21-2015, 10:27 PM
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#4
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tucsonrv
10 lbs of ice in each tank and drive around the neighborhood like a 16 year old.
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How do I get 10 lbs of ice into the grey tank?
The black tank I assume I just put down the toilet?
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09-22-2015, 07:08 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 423
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Sorry for the error, yes the black tank you use the toilet. In my grey tank I filled it up 1/2 full and added Calgon a lot of Calgon and it helped immensely. I then started using Happy Camper in both tanks but I still on occasional throw in some Calgon. Remember when you were a kid and your mo would sprinkle some in the tub and it was so slick you couldn't stand up in it?
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09-22-2015, 10:22 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Damon Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
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Have never seen tank sensors fail that way but.......
My tanks usually read 1/3 to 2/3 full after dumping.. This is because of moisture/slime on the side walls of the tank It is possible the side wall dried out and the sensors now read true and the tanks are empty.. IF you have an alternate method of checking (IE Look down the throat of the toilet,, Tap on the side of the tank) that would be best.
How sensors work.
Imagine a nail driven into the tank,, IF the nail is WET, then the tank is at least full to the level of the nail.
Well, that is EXACTLY how the sensors work, only it is a metal rod and installed in such a way as to insure it does not leak.. But that is Exactly how they work.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
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09-23-2015, 01:02 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 568
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I would just double flush each of them now and then when you go camping next and you will more than likely get a correct reading
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09-23-2015, 07:40 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 302
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I think that the ONLY time the tanks read correctly is when the sensors are first hooked up in the factory. At that time they all read empty, and that's correct (they are installed empty). After that the readings are rather unpredictable. Fill up the fresh water tank until it overflows. Then it is full. When no more water comes out it is empty. Between those two points it is a guess.
On some coaches you can see how much water there is in the fresh water tank (it is made of a translucent material). Black and grey tanks are generally made of an opaque material so you can't see.
Some people report good results with the See-Level system. Others don't.
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09-24-2015, 03:59 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 28
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Well, this seems to be a very odd anomaly indeed! Both tanks were full, the black water tank was full FULL!
I spoke with my local RV shop, who are very nice and awash with information. After I had posted this I added a 12oz of digester per their instructions...still nothing. Then when I spoke with them today the had me shut off the water an open the toilet valve and describe what I could see.
What I could see was the nastiness and yuck one could imagine! Then they asked "how much pipe or tank can you see?"
My response "tank or pipe???"
She was full up!
So I went and dumped the tanks, looked down the toilet again, and the nastiness and yuck still existed!
I filled the bowl and flushed, and did this again and again and again and well...you get the point. None the less my tanks are now empty and while there I filled my grey water about 1/2 way up and the the gauge registered accordingly.
__________________
1994 Dutchmen 26' Classic two bedroom
2006 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 crewcab 5.7L
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09-24-2015, 04:05 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Dayton, OH
Posts: 1,136
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Let me get this right. Someone sold you a motor home with full black and grey water tanks?
__________________
2007 Winnebago Journey 36SG and 13 Honda CRV Toad,
e-Trailer XHD Towbar (Demco), Blue Ox baseplate, SMI Stay N Play brakes
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09-24-2015, 05:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Mass
Posts: 292
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Tuff to buy used from other people especially rvs a good inspection from roof to floor takes some time people buy to quick then find all the problems that the owner did or didn't know
Rich,24
2014 wildwood 27rlss
2005 Chevy 2500HD crew cab
__________________
Rich,242014 wildwood 27RLSS travel trailer
2005 Chevy Silverado 2500HD crew cab
2005 GMC Sierra 3500 single cab dump
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09-24-2015, 06:50 PM
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#12
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,199
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Try this
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09-25-2015, 07:42 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 423
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I have used every chemical made for 20 years and started using Happy Camper and finally a no smell product that works.
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09-25-2015, 06:51 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Upstate New York
Posts: 3,722
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After our last 5er, I don't ever believe the lousy/cheap level gauges supplied by an OEM. I installed a set of SeeLevel level devices that worked perfectly. Jump ahead and we have a new 5er - and again lousy level readers compounded by a black tank that drains slowly. That tank drain problem will be 'corrected' and SeeLevels installed for next season. I also made up a flushing tool using a nylon barb fitting and a lawn irrigation sprayer head from Home Depot (the 180 degree version works best) plus a sacrificed elderly 1/2" ID water supply hose. Usually after a good flush out, the level gauges work for a couple weeks.
__________________
Dave W
2011 Ford F250 6.7 Lariat CCLB, Gone but not forgotten
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (sold it!)
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