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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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 Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject: Whew, that was close! |
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It has been butt ass cold in PDX and I have been off work and in Santa Fe. I just am getting ready to go to work tonight and I realized that I need to top off my gas tank, put the chains in, and....something else.......
Oh Yeah.....Dump both fresh and gray water tanks.
Went to the garage and backed the 91 Westy out (after warming the AT tranny up for a minute to make it move, common cold weather issue)and went to unscrew my caps. One cap open, water flowing....second cap open, drip drip drip........stop drip!
Drove up to the gas station and on the way back I noticed a freezing trail of water behind me! Water is good. Replacing tanks sucks, BTDT 2x on previous purchases.
If you already have not winterized, please do so. Whew, that was close~
Disclaimer: I am not a dumbass, I have been very involved in other things and make it a point to do this in late September on "regular years". 
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Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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1621
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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Already done, but thanks for putting that one out there.
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'85 Westy |
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PDXWesty
Samba Member
Joined: April 11, 2006
Posts: 6245
Location: Portland OR
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the reminder! I'll have to empty mine today.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto |
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ak_runner
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2007
Posts: 231
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for reminding people, I have to drain mine in September. Actually the first thing I do when we get into the driveway after a trip is reach under remove the cap and shut off the propane.
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AK_Runner
`87 Westy Syncro |
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Shastaclimber
Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Northern California wilds
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Winterize? What are you talking about? |
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etc
Samba Member
Joined: August 04, 2009
Posts: 35
Location: Lakewood, CO
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Do you typically just drain your tank or do you pour in the antifreeze goo like you would a full sized RV. My parents, who have a 5th wheel, suggested pouring in the goo, but I thought I'd be fine if I just drained the tank and the line. In any case its been like 1 degree here the past couple days in Denver so I'm SOL if I should have done more. |
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ak_runner
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2007
Posts: 231
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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All I do is drain the tank but I do so several weeks before it gets cold enough to freeze and any residual water evaporates. It helps that I live in what is considered a dry climate.
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AK_Runner
`87 Westy Syncro |
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JPrato
Samba Member
Joined: December 15, 2006
Posts: 791
Location: Livonia, NY
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Emptied our tank AND took the chemical toilet out from under the back seat. I usually forget that and pull it out frozen solid (the fresh water section) in December.......
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Joe
87 Syncro Tin Top project
84 Westy, 2.5L Subaru power
06 Subaru 2.5 turbo in waiting
46 Cessna 140 |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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| dobryan wrote: |
| I've never done any anti-freeze 'goo'. Just drained the tank and run the pump until the lines are 'empty'. I also add a little bleach to the tank and run the pump before I drain the tank so that the tank and lines are disinfected for the winter as well. |
Bleach in both. Tried The antifreeze once and forgot to purge the next spring. I make it a habit to not drink my onboard water without boiling first(always bring drinking jugs)....
But one drunken night, I drank some antifreeze water. Nassy!
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Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10371
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:48 pm Post subject: Re: Whew, that was close! |
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| carterzest wrote: |
......
Disclaimer: I am not a dumbass ..... |
I may well be in regards to winterizing the fresh water tank 
Nuts.
I had read of adding vodka to the tank and running it through the pump. Meant to do that.
Thanks for the reminder.
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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carterzest
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 3842
Location: Eagle, ID/Sun Valley, ID
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 5:20 am Post subject: Re: Whew, that was close! |
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| Vanagon Nut wrote: |
| carterzest wrote: |
......
Disclaimer: I am not a dumbass ..... |
I may well be in regards to winterizing the fresh water tank
Nuts.
I had read of adding vodka to the tank and running it through the pump. Meant to do that.
Thanks for the reminder.
Neil. |
I parked next to a westfalia at a show once and the guy was selling mixed vodka drinks out of his sink pump. I thought that was nasty due to my previous experience mentioned above, as well as years on sailboats drinking tank water in the middle of the ocean. Vodka may be a good alternative to antifreeze? Evaporates quick and no aftertaste. Bleach and water, rinse out early spring and water is pure, clean and semi-fresh!
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Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror! |
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Vanagon Nut
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2008
Posts: 10371
Location: Sunshine Coast B.C.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:32 am Post subject: Re: Whew, that was close! |
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| carterzest wrote: |
I parked next to a westfalia at a show once and the guy was selling mixed vodka drinks out of his sink pump. I thought that was nasty due to my previous experience mentioned above, as well as years on sailboats drinking tank water in the middle of the ocean. Vodka may be a good alternative to antifreeze? Evaporates quick and no aftertaste. Bleach and water, rinse out early spring and water is pure, clean and semi-fresh! |
Hah! Funny.
Yup. Just suggesting that the wodka could make a good antifreeze. Especially for the lines and sink pump. I have only read of this, but my understanding is that it's possible the pump could be harmed by water freezing.
Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
1988 West DIY 50º ABA
VE7TBN |
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msinabottle
Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2005
Posts: 3492
Location: Denver Area, Colorado
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject: Grog in the Tank |
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I had a chat with the folks at West Marine, where I buy a lot of stuff for Winston. Apparently, quite a few boat owners pour a bottle of cheap vodka into their vessels' water systems at the end of the season, then celebrate returning their craft to commission with the resulting water.
I'm with Dave, I drain Winston, although I don't usually run the pump afterwards. You can't be too careful, though. I'd hate to damage the tanks, hoses, or sensors.
Best!
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'Winston,' '84 1.9 WBX Westy
Vanagon Poet Laureate: "I have suffered in
many ways, but never, never, never in silence."
Last edited by msinabottle on Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:38 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Williamtaylor33
Samba Member
Joined: September 07, 2007
Posts: 1545
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 8:44 am Post subject: |
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I acccidently let mine freeze up one time but it seems that the only damage was to the pump. So now when my van is gonna sit in cold temps for awhile I just drain the tank.
But its a non-issue where i'm at now. Its supposed to be 70 degrees all week and sunny. 
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89 Bostig powered syncro westy |
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bac914
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2008
Posts: 112
Location: Denver
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| 2010 Reminder to drain those tanks...I lost my pump to negligence last year...hoping to prevent that for anyone else this year.... |
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walnutplanter
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008
Posts: 64
Location: Walla Walla, WA
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the reminder! |
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snowsyncro
Samba Member
Joined: January 11, 2009
Posts: 1557
Location: East Preston, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:54 pm Post subject: |
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| carterzest wrote: |
| dobryan wrote: |
| I've never done any anti-freeze 'goo'. Just drained the tank and run the pump until the lines are 'empty'. I also add a little bleach to the tank and run the pump before I drain the tank so that the tank and lines are disinfected for the winter as well. |
Bleach in both. Tried The antifreeze once and forgot to purge the next spring. I make it a habit to not drink my onboard water without boiling first(always bring drinking jugs)....
But one drunken night, I drank some antifreeze water. Nassy! |
I don't care who you are...that's funny right there. I like the vodka idea.
RonC |
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10248
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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The "RV antifreeze" is not the same as anti freeze for the engine. It's essentially a sucrose (edible) and water mix with some dye so you can see it. I highly recommend spending $4 for a gallon of this and putting it in your tank and pumping through the pump until it comes out the faucet. That protects the whole enchilada including the drain/trap. It doesn't taste nasty the next year. Don't use antifreeze in a water system - it can kill you and does leave a nasty taste even if properly removed in the spring if the tank absorbs some.
DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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DAIZEE
Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010
Posts: 7552
Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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I think it is often referred to as Plumbing Anti freeze. Gosh I dont even know if I have water in the tank. Its my opinion that draining and leaving taps open is all you need to do. Pretty simple system and not overly extensive. Except for any pumps!!! They are vulnerable.
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'09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
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84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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