Toilet Seal?

[PC Conner]

We had to leave FL in DEC to assist a family member with chemo-therapy.
Just went to FL for a week (last week).

Checked toilet to see about water remaining in the bowl. No water. I poured some cooking oil into the bowl. It drained out pretty quickly.
So, due to having to get back to CO, simply closed the toilet lid and made a promise to address it when I get back to FL permanently.

So, here are my questions . . .
1. Will anything rejuvenate the seal or do I have to replace it?
2. After making sure I have a working seal, if I pour some pink RV water line anti-freeze into the toilet bowl, will it keep the seal flexible, and will it evaporate?
Hoping it won't evaporate and it keeps the seal more supple. Seems like it should.

What do you think: Is pink RV antifreeze in toilet bowl a good idea vs either water or cooking/vegetable oil?

[gandttimes]

I have this issue ossasionally and I know that one of these days I'm going to have to replace the seal but in the mean time, grab a jar of Vaseline and a pair of rubber gloves.
Make sure the water is turned off to the toilet at the valve and depress the pedal.
Once there is no more water flowing into the bowl, and the flap is open, put a glob of Vaseline on your finger and spread a thin layer all around under the lip where the water drains and then release the foot pedal.
Operate the pedal a couple of times and turn the water back on or just pour some water down.
Usually keeps mine working for the summer.

Originally Posted by PC Conner

We had to leave FL in DEC to assist a family member with chemo-therapy.
Just went to FL for a week (last week).

Checked toilet to see about water remaining in the bowl. No water. I poured some cooking oil into the bowl. It drained out pretty quickly.
So, due to having to get back to CO, simply closed the toilet lid and made a promise to address it when I get back to FL permanently.

So, here are my questions . . .
1. Will anything rejuvenate the seal or do I have to replace it?
2. After making sure I have a working seal, if I pour some pink RV water line anti-freeze into the toilet bowl, will it keep the seal flexible, and will it evaporate?
Hoping it won't evaporate and it keeps the seal more supple. Seems like it should.

What do you think: Is pink RV antifreeze in toilet bowl a good idea vs either water or cooking/vegetable oil?

[Fungus]

First make sure that the seal closes properly. We thought we had a leaky seal. Turns out that one of the two pivot points had popped out. It is difficult to tell from the seal but it will look very slightly shifted.

Seal replacement is easy and does not require removing the toilet. I had already bought a new seal so I replaced it.

For winterizing, I pour a little olive oil on the seal.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Do NOT use vaseline or any petroleum based lubricant.
Get some RV seal lube, fill to cover the valve, let sit for 24hrs. May need several applications. Plumbers grease is also an option.
Plus..Do not leave RV antifreeze in the bowl. I did and had to remove the toilet to replace the valve after two winters.

Bob
🇺🇸

[PC Conner]

THX for reports on toilet seal concerns and best practices.
When I am back in FL I will try the rejuvenate suggestion and use with olive/cooking oil.
pc

[Gene]

I've left RV antifreeze in the bowl every winter for 14 years without problems. Most likely black water seals get nasty with TP and solids and have to be cleaned periodically—this includes toilet, black tank knife valve and sewer hoses. Some eventually have to be replaced. Grease helps, make your choice which one to use.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Gene

I've left RV antifreeze in the bowl every winter for 14 years without problems.

Me too.

[PC Conner]

Originally Posted by Gene

I've left RV antifreeze in the bowl every winter for 14 years without problems. Most likely black water seals get nasty with TP and solids and have to be cleaned periodically—this includes toilet, black tank knife valve and sewer hoses. Some eventually have to be replaced. Grease helps, make your choice which one to use.

THX.
One comment said not to use RV Antifreeze. I assume it doesn't evaporate, not sure that is accurate (but since I don't have a bottle of RV Antifreeze I can't see the water content. Water based antifreeze seems unlikely). Wondered if it will leave a pink stain. Will check for both pivot point (that is something I think I need to see, You Tube videos only show a hand repositioning the pivot point) and possible obstruction preventing closing properly.

[Gene]

I’ve not had antifreeze stain anything. But maybe some plastics do stain and some seals do deteriorate depending on antifreeze used. Many toilets and sinks and antifreezes over the years. You could use water on the toilet seal to keep it wet. It will freeze, but not break anything because it is not contained in a small space. You can leave a little water in the tanks for the same reason. Plumbing lines can freeze and break with water in small space however.

We have used lubricants in black and grey tanks to keep knife valves lubricated, but eventually forgot to.

My guess the usual problem is something stuck in the seal.

[Fungus]

Forget about rehabilitating the seal. Replacing the seal is very easy. It won’t take you more than 10 minutes. DO NOT remove the toilet. If the YouTube video is more than 6 minutes then they’re doing it wrong. I think I bought the new seal Amazon.

[Gene]

There is more than one toilet seal. The one we are obsessing on seems to be the one for the knife valve that lets stuff out of the toilet into the black tank. There is one I think at the bottom of the toilet to keep stuff from leaking on the floor. If there isn't, why not? There is a toilet valve in the pipe to the toilet—that opens when you step on the lever. That valve can freeze when you don't make sure it is empty or full of antifreeze when winterizing and I think that requires the removal of the toilet on at least some trailers to replace it (it must have some seal in it too).

That puts a ceiling on seals for toilets.

[mikeinca]

I had the same problem because I didn't check the water level in the bowl and allowed it to dry up during a hot spell. After prematurely ordering a new seal I decided to remove and inspect the old one. It looked fine so I cleaned it, applied a coating of plumbers grease and reinstalled.

The toilet has not leaked since and now I have a reminder in my phone to check the water level once a week just in case. Oh, and I also now have a spare seal...