WINTERIZING ISSUES-Black "ink" stuff

[Harleyjohn]

HELP!
I recently (May '10) bought a '92 LY (33') and began winterizing it by attaching an air supply (35psi) to the city connection. After alternating opening the water taps, shower, lav and sink, I began getting very black colored fluid from all taps. It didn't have any noticable smell but flowed so much that i re-connected the city (home) water to fill the lines and flush again. I repeated the air flush and again found the black ink.
I frequently checked my air supply, an 8 gal compressor for liquid and found none.
Any ideas????

[Harleyjohn]

I also should state that this is my first attempt at winterizing the LY. I also need to figure out how to drain the toilet and flush the water lines with rv anti-freeze. The area at the water pump is v. crowded any help on getting the pink stuff into the lines?

[CanoeStream]

Hi John. Wow! I wonder if there would be enough slime on the waterline walls to produce this much color? Putting air in at the city connection shouldn't be generating any output from the fresh water tank. Have you been using the fresh water tank? Has that water looked okay?

Maybe the PO wasn't using the fresh tank & line sanitizing method written in the manual. This method with dilute bleach could eventually clean up waterlines. I was seeing some red algae on a white plastic part in my kitchen faucet -- two bleach treatments and it is still there. I'll keep at it...

But I'm amazed you're seeing so much black. My old Argosy tank was translucent plastic under the front gaucho. Some light got in there and generated a lot of green algae. That took removing the tank and some fairly aggressive treatment before I got it under control.

[CanoeStream]

To get RV antifreeze into your lines, most people use a bypass valve and flexible tubing installed on the fresh water tank side of the water pump. See the first thread here -- Winterizing, Storage, Carports & Covers - Airstream Forums

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Harleyjohn

HELP!
I recently (May '10) bought a '92 LY (33') and began winterizing it by attaching an air supply (35psi) to the city connection. After alternating opening the water taps, shower, lav and sink, I began getting very black colored fluid from all taps. It didn't have any noticable smell but flowed so much that i re-connected the city (home) water to fill the lines and flush again. I repeated the air flush and again found the black ink.
I frequently checked my air supply, an 8 gal compressor for liquid and found none.
Any ideas????

That black stuff, is from the water filter cartridge that has broken down.

Andy

[Harleyjohn]

THANKS Andy, I didn't know I had a water filter! I'll look, but don't remember seeing one under the double bed. I saw a small "somethnig" just ahead of the pump, could that be it?

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Harleyjohn

THANKS Andy, I didn't know I had a water filter! I'll look, but don't remember seeing one under the double bed. I saw a small "somethnig" just ahead of the pump, could that be it?

Could be under the galley cabinet.

I should have said water purifier.

Andy

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Harleyjohn

HELP!
I recently (May '10) bought a '92 LY (33') and began winterizing it by attaching an air supply (35psi) to the city connection. After alternating opening the water taps, shower, lav and sink, I began getting very black colored fluid from all taps. It didn't have any noticable smell but flowed so much that i re-connected the city (home) water to fill the lines and flush again. I repeated the air flush and again found the black ink.
I frequently checked my air supply, an 8 gal compressor for liquid and found none.
Any ideas????

Since it only happens when the air compressor is attached, it is possible that your air hose has lubricant from the air compressor in it or that the hose is old and chemically breaking down.
Good luck,
Ken

[Harleyjohn]

Thanks guys! Think I'll remove the purifier from under the galley and get a new air hose and do this again!. I assume that since I don't have the manual for the purifier I'll be able to bypass it with the cartridge out.