Winterizing/Oil in the gas line/misc talk

[Success101]

Merry Christmas one & all! Hope this message finds everyone well.

Have an 86 Soverign that we are attempting to winterize. Have put anti-freeze in, but water pump does not seem to be pumping like it should & did this summer. Am thinking the pump might bad. When we turn pump on, you can hear it running, but it is not pumping like it is supposed to.

Another item, we are thinking there might be oil in the gas line, any suggestions for blowing the lines out?

If there is anti-freeze sitting in the lines, is this a bad thing? How can we flush them out?

Any help or suggestions or ideas please let me know.

Thank you
Carole

[Minno]

Hi Carole,

Where did you put the antifreeze? In the fresh water tank? If yes, then you probably don't have enough in the tank for the pump to pick it up and pump through the system.

Did you look for a winterizing tube on the pump, or located really close to the pump? It's purpose is to stick the open en dof the tube into the jug of antifreeze and pump directly from the jug so you don't have to put the antifreeze in your tank. If installed, they are located on the input side of the pump, and there should be two valves. One goes to this tube, and the other one in in the line from the fresh water tank. To use the tube, close the valve from the frash water tank and open the valve that goes to the tube. Then run the pump to fill up the water lines with antifreeze. You'll also want to look for a winterizing bypass set of vavle by the water heater so you're not pumping 6 or 10 gallons of antifreeze into the heater tank.

This is the short version of directions for winterizing. There are many threads on this topic as well. This one is pretty good I think: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f459...eam-70171.html

On to your other question. Why do you think there's oil in the gas lines? And you mean the propane lines, right?

Chris

[Success101]

Thank you Chris!

I am being told that putting the hose into the gallon of antifreeze & it would not even pump out of the bottle of antifreeze.

Yes, I meant propane lines...sorry!

Thank you
Carole

[r carl]

Originally Posted by Success101

Another item, we are thinking there might be oil in the propane line, any suggestions for blowing the lines out?

Any help or suggestions or ideas please let me know.
Thank you
Carole

I got to ask, why would there be oil in the propane line?

[pmclemore]

Carole, if you are referring to a hose at the water pump (not a regular line that you disconnected), then there is likely a valve where the hose connects to the water pump that you need to turn. This valve allows the winterizing hose to work.

Good luck - Pat.

[Minno]

There should be 2 valves. Close the one that comes from the fresh water tank, and open the one that goes to the tube you stick in the bottle.

Chris

[Dave Park]

Trace amounts of oily residue in propane lines are not an issue - however, if there is enough to pool it could represent a problem. Is it pooling?

[Success101]

This is an unknown problem for us. We bought the camper used & the oil was found when cutting a crimped line. We were wondering if this was a common problem?

Thank you to everyone!

[Dave Park]

Propane is a petroleum by-product (or natural gas processing, which is not relevant here) - it is a specific fraction and no fraction is 100% pure. Over time, a very small amount of the heavier fractions will settle out and make a light, oily residue. Over many years, this residue can become quite thick, even tar-like. It is non-hazardous.

[TG Twinkie]

Oil in the propane line is not uncommon, I think is is part of the process of putting in the smelly stuff.
Getting to your pump problem. You can use a bottle of RV antifreeze to winterize, it will take a couple of gallons or so. If you have drained your fresh water tank and the pump has sucked in air. You need to reestablish the prime of the pump. Take piece of hose long enough to reach the bottom of the bottle and connect it to the intake of the pump, make sure the hose is full of anti freeze. Then disconnect the discharge hose from the pump. Run the pump just long enough to see if you get a good flow out the discharge. If you do get a good flow then reconnect the discharge hose to the pump and open a faucet and turn the pump on. If it works and you have used all of the anti freeze in the bottle you may have to reprime the pump again. To prevent this just shut the pump off before the antifreeze level is too low and add more antifreeze to the bottle you are pumping from.