Gray Water "meter" incorrect reading?

[phoeg]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Gray water still smells and has food particles in it that will cause ants, etc. Any RVer should respect the environment and dump only in designated, approved dump stations. There are those emergency situations whereby bleeding a little gray water off becomes necessary....but not in a park or campground!! He wants to dump his gray tank right next to you?? Pretty disgusting and that also says he will dump his black tank on open land when no one is looking.

Yeah, it just didn't feel right to me.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by phoeg

Same here! I'm a bipartisan crank! LOL

..."Birds of a feather"...

[Miramar Owner]

Like others have said, the gauges are not really accurate. The more you camp the better you'll get at knowing how long you can go. I have 100 gallons of fresh water and 41 each of gray and black holding. I can visually check the fresh water level, although the gauge for it is relatively accurate. When I get to 1/3 remaining of fresh water I know my tanks are getting full. I use a portable tank to dump some of the gray/black water into and transport to the dump station behind my Jeep.

I never fully empty at the campground. I am fortunate we have a rest area on the Interstate close to home, with a dump station. I empty my ice cube bin into the toilet a couple hours from home and when I dump at the rest area the gauges read empty.

After dumping I always add a few gallons of water to both holding tanks along with the additive for the black water tank. I have done it this way for years and feel my gauges work as designed...not extremely accurate but close enough.

[phoeg]

Originally Posted by Miramar Owner

I empty my ice cube bin into the toilet a couple hours from home and when I dump at the rest area the gauges read empty.

After dumping I always add a few gallons of water to both holding tanks along with the additive for the black water tank.

Miaramar Owner (or anyone else) Thanks for the tip. Regarding above: If I read that correctly you dump the cubes prior to the "gunk dump", correct? I will have about a twenty minute drive to the dump station.

As for the post-dump additions, yep, I have that habit now. ;-)

[Miramar Owner]

Yes...I dump the ice cubes through the toilet into the black water before I make my final dump. If your tank is full, this may not have much impact. But as I mentioned in my previous post, (if my tank is full) I dump a portion of my holding tank into my portable unit throughout my stay.

The many thing is I want the tank to register empty when I am done. If you leave "stuff" stuck to the walls inside your tank, it will be very difficult to get it off. You can also use the back flush feature, if your RV has one. That does a good job as well. The ice cubes is just easy to do and generally works.

By the way, I love Oklahoma. What a fun, friendly state to visit.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Ice cubes work...I've done that for a couple years now. Drain tank leaving 1/4 or so full then add ice. Drive to next location dump site. the partially full tank floats the ice around and knocks off the "chunks".

[phoeg]

Thanks, everyone for the helpful feedback. We dumped the tanks today and it was probably good we did. I paid the sanitation district $5 for piece of mind! [emoji18]

The gray tank indicator shows empty, but the black tank showed ⅓ full while still at the dump station. I'll do the ice cube dealie next time. [emoji1303]

[Tupelo Kid]

Originally Posted by Laco

Those indicators are notoriously inaccurate. As they age, the sensors collect debris on them and will often light despite there being a low liquid level in the tank. I just kind of know how long we can go before having to dump tanks, and only use the indicators as a rough guide. You can try filling your tank with water, or almost full add some cleaner, then drive on a rough road with lots of curves. That may help, at least temporarily. With the black tank, the drill is to fill it half or so, add lots of ice cubes, and drive for awhile. Again maybe a temporary fix.

On this note, mine started reading incorrect as well.
I have a friend that works for a local pull behind camper sales / service business
and he tells me the same thing about paper clogging the sensor.

His action of correction is to place water in the tank,
then add 10 to 20 pounds of cube style ICE direct into the toilet.
Then drive the MH around for a little bit.
He said the ice sloshing around will bump things on the sides
of the tank and usually solve the problem.
Guess I'll try this soon.

[philvickie]

For gray tank, use dishwasher detergent. Fill tank half full with clean water, dump in 3 or 4 hand fulls of the detergent. It will scrub the tank as you drive and there are no suds.

[Miramar Owner]

Dish washing detergent is a good idea because of no suds, but I have to say I've never treated, cleaned or had any issues with my gray water tank.

Just a funny side note...my daughter ran out of dishwashing detergent one time and squirted a little Dawn into the dish washer. It didn't take long before her kitchen floor was covered with soap suds. What a mess.

[Laco]

Those gauges are notoriously inaccurate. I really never depend on them, just know that we can go five days or so on the black tank, and usually leave the gray valve open as long as we are connected in an RV park.

[sky_blue]

Originally Posted by philvickie

For gray tank, use dishwasher detergent. Fill tank half full with clean water, dump in 3 or 4 hand fulls of the detergent. It will scrub the tank as you drive and there are no suds.

Here is my question: If the sensors are not working, how do you know when the grey tank is "half full"?

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by gbrown

Here is my question: If the sensors are not working, how do you know when the grey tank is "half full"?

...Start with a one-cup measuring cup...

[phoeg]

Originally Posted by gbrown

Here is my question: If the sensors are not working, how do you know when the grey tank is "half full"?

Some mathematical perspective…



Some people see the gray tanks as half full, some see the gray tank as half empty. Either way that's twice as good as an overflowing black water tank!