Prestone Antifreeze Odor

[TomS]

Dewinterized our new trailer after using Prestone antifreeze, We have a strong 'alcohol' like odor in the water lines. Used baking soda and let it sit for 12+ hours no change. Been 'full time' in it for a month now and odor persists. No response from Prestone on the issue. Looking for ideas on getting rid of the lingering odor.

[flybouy]

Don't use backing soda. It's good for odors in the air, not in water. Mix up a bleach water solution and run that into the water lines with the wh in bypass. Let it set for a few hours then thoroughly flush with clean water. If the odor pursists you can buy a water deoderizer additive, Camco is just one brand.

[bsmith0404]

Have never used Prestone RV waterline antifreeze before so not sure if that’s normal with that brand, but as mentioned, use blew h to sanitize your fresh water system. Check your owners manual, there should be a process/recommendation for your RV. It doesn’t take much, typically only about 1/4 cup for every 15 gallons mixed in your fresh water tank. I normally do 1/2 cup with 1/3 fill on the fresh tank, but I have an 80 gallon tank. Then I’ll run two tanks if fresh water through after the bleach mixture. Two 80 gal tanks is probably overkill, it’s just the way I do it.

[JRTJH]

First, did you use Prestone "RV antifreeze" or Prestone "automotive antifreeze"... I know, I know, but you'd be surprised how many people use the "yellow stuff" rather than the "red stuff".....

Next, did you pour the antifreeze into the fresh water tank? If so, it takes "literally hundreds of gallons of water" to flush all the antifreeze out of the FW tank. When you drain that tank, there's always 3 or 4 gallons left in the tank. So hypothetically, if you've got a 40 gallon fresh water tank, there's 10% antifreeze left in the first flush, then 5% in the second flush, then 2.5% in the third flush, then 1.25% in the fourth flush.... 1.25% is enough to impart an "odor and taste" in the water lines.....

Also, remember that the low point drains (unless you purged them on de-winterizing) still have anti-freeze in them. As water flows past the low point drain fittings, the "venturi effect" will draw that undiluted antifreeze from the low point drain and up, into the water lines (both hot and cold)...

So, open both hot and cold low point drains and turn on the trailer water pressure to push all the antifreeze out of the lines. Do the same with the outside shower faucet.....