chainegang
connecticut
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Joined: 09/05/2005
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Looks like the responses are split 50/50. I'll add an opinion that might break the tie. From my experiance, just blowing out the lines and NOT adding antifreeze runs the risk of drying out the seals or at least subjecting them to drying out which shortens their life expectancy. This I learned the hard way with my marine toilet having left it without solution over winter. Just replacing the water in the lines by pumping in antifreeze is sufficient. Existing water in the lines is pushed and or mixed with the solution. When the antifreeze comes out of the taps as the same pink color as went into the system then protection from freezing to the -50 degrees F will exist. The blowing out process removes every bit of water out of the system but then adding antifreeze seems to me to be redundant. Without blowing out the lines, the residual water in the system after the intial pumping of antifreeze till it exits the taps will in the worst case senario dilute the antifreeze to half of it's protection rating ie 25 below freezing.
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Roadfrog
Chilliwack, BC Canada
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Joined: 04/27/2001
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Quote:Without blowing out the lines, the residual water in the system after the intial pumping of antifreeze till it exits the taps will in the worst case senario dilute the antifreeze to half of it's protection rating ie 25 below freezing
Exactly. Like regular automotive antifreeze, plumbing antifreeze is designed to protect when diluted. If you are running the taps to the point where pink comes out of all the taps, you've removed most, if not all, the water. Especially if you start at the tap farthest from the pump and work inwards to the closest tap. Even that is overkill...but whatever floats your boat.
Cheers
Chris
1999 Winnebago Itasca Spirit 29N
1988 Campion Allante 195
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Jimfromvirginia
Virginia
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I blow out lines and no longer use pink stuff. Of course I live in Virginia so the winters are mild. I used the pink stuff one season (from Walmart) and the next season the water tasted funny. Have not had a problem since. I do not think there is a disadvantage of one over the other, but if I lived in extremely cold weather, I would use the RV antifreeze to be safe.
2006 Rockwood 8315SS towed by Ford F350 4x4 Diesel
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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If you only blow, you risk some backflow into a low spot in plumbing. If it fills pipe at that point, it could freeze and burst. Per Murphy, it will happen behind a wall. Personally I will not risk that to save 2 gallons of antifreeze at under $4 a gallon.
Many happily do it, but it would be just my luck .....
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Chuck&Gail wrote:If you only blow, you risk some backflow into a low spot in plumbing. If it fills pipe at that point, it could freeze and burst. Per Murphy, it will happen behind a wall. Personally I will not risk that to save 2 gallons of antifreeze at under $4 a gallon.
Many happily do it, but it would be just my luck .....
My thoughts also so I blow and suck ... DID I JUST SAY THAT ... anyway you know what I'm talking about and it's all clean. Had too many encounters with MR. MURPHY over the years at the most inconvenient times.
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
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RVJimofOregon
Central Oregon Coast
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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Is it better to blow out the water with air pressure or use antifreeze?
Jim
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Thanks for the good information. Never though of doing both but that the way I think I will go
Jim
Jim & Joyce
Central Oregon Coast
2000 Fleetwood Discovery 36T Diesel Pusher
2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
2007 Prius
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murffdog
Poughkeepsie, NY
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