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09-12-2017, 04:47 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 247
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Winterizing Toilet Bowl Seal
I have a Dometic 310 toilet.
As part of my winterizing process, I have always left a few inches of antifreeze in the toilet bowl to keep the seal wet.
Last year, when I opened up the RV for the season, ALL the antifreeze had drained, which resulted in a dry seal.
I replaced the seal, using petroleum jelly to lubricate.
QUESTION: To winterize, would it be better to load up the seal with petroleum jelly, OR use antifreeze as I used to do?
__________________
2011 Ford F250 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL (SOLD)
2011 Keystone Cougar 318SAB (SOLD)
2022 Ford F350 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL
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09-12-2017, 05:02 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,995
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The antifreeze serves two functions. First it maintains the seal moisture to prevent it from drying out and second, it provides a "water seal" that helps keep the black tank gasses from creeping up into your trailer's bathroom.
I suppose using Vaseline would be OK, but, for me, I've been pouring about 2" of RV antifreeze into the toilet bowl for probably 30 years and so far it's worked well for me. YMMV......
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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09-12-2017, 05:07 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 247
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JRTJH, Thanks for your reply. Do you have a preferred antifreeze?
__________________
2011 Ford F250 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL (SOLD)
2011 Keystone Cougar 318SAB (SOLD)
2022 Ford F350 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL
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09-12-2017, 05:34 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,995
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There are many brands of RV antifreeze and I have no "brand preference". There are two types of RV antifreeze: ethanol or propylene glycol. I won't use ethanol and only buy propylene glycol antifreeze. It's a little more expensive (about $1 per gallon more) but it has less "aftertaste" and "aftersmell", is easier to flush from the system and seems to "remain liquid" longer than ethanol based antifreeze.
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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09-12-2017, 05:56 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Downey, Ca.
Posts: 344
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JRTJH
I won't use ethanol and only buy propylene glycol antifreeze.
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Agree. Ethanol evaporates easily and is harmful to some materials such as rubber.
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09-12-2017, 06:13 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Northville NY in the Adirondacks
Posts: 2,128
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I live in the Adirondacks on a 30+ mile long lake. There are thousands of summer homes and camps all over the area and the entire park. The hardware stores and outdoor stores here stock RV antifreeze by the pallet full. Literally, tons of the stuff gets used every fall up here. The local outdoor store here is carrying Peak brand and selling at $10 for three gallons. It's the propylene glycol formulation and works very well.
We seem to have this same conversation several times a month and the answer is pretty much the same every time. No specific brand has ever emerged as a "best" choice. Buy what you can locate locally at a good price. Just make sure it's rated to a low enough temperature for the winters where you are. Stuff that only goes to -5F doesn't sell here at all. It's got to be good to at least -20F and preferably -30F.
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'11 Cougar 326MKS loaded with mods
'12 Ford F250 SuperCab 6.7 PowerStroke Diesel
Amateur Radio: KD2IAT (146.520) GMRS: WQPG808 (462.675 TPL 141.3)
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09-13-2017, 02:58 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central New Jersey
Posts: 247
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Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'll be buying propylene glycol antifreeze!
As usual, this forum is "the best", because members are so willing to help.
__________________
2011 Ford F250 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL (SOLD)
2011 Keystone Cougar 318SAB (SOLD)
2022 Ford F350 XLT CCSB 6.7 DIESEL
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09-21-2017, 07:59 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 438
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I use Walmart RV antifreeze since 2008 without issue. I find that if I use too little for the seal that in the spring it appears to have leaked, but I think it has actually evaporated. Try using a bit more.
__________________
Bill
2015 Ram 1500 Ecodiesel
2015 Cougar 26RBI
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10-04-2017, 03:32 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 806
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I use Gain liquid fabric softener all the time in the toilet. Smells good and works good.
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10-04-2017, 05:13 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Downey, Ca.
Posts: 344
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^^^^^ So......, what do use in your washing machine?
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