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jato View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3325 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Wintering question
    Posted: 03 Nov 2019 at 5:56pm
Was at Menard's yesterday to pick up a couple things and lo and behold a sale on the pink RV antifreeze, only $ 1.97/gallon.  So I picked one up; now I will be good for another 8 years.  I was pleasantly surprised that it is only $ 1.20 more than what I paid for my last gallon 8 years ago.  OTOH that is a price increase of over 100% ouch.
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Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Nov 2019 at 1:58pm
I buy mine at O'Reilly's or Auto Zone. NAPA has it too.
Mike Carter
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2702 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Nov 2019 at 9:31am
You don't even need to go to Camping World to get it. If you have a Home Depot nearby, you can order it online and pick it up at the store.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
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Kup-Pod View Drop Down
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Posts: 153 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Nov 2019 at 9:00pm
One of the things to keep in mind is where you live and what your winter is going to be like.  We can get periods of time here where we can reach -30 to -40 so for that reason I always bypass the water heater, drain it by removing the anode (and then put it in loosely as already noted), do a flush of everything with RV antifreeze including the flush line for the black tank.
Also, don't forget the outside shower, so often people overlook this and end up cracking the valve.
I just returned from storing our RPod for the winter. Perfect timing since as I drove away from storage I encountered a major snowfall and slush covered roads.  Yes, winter is coming! :-(
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1452 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Nov 2019 at 5:15pm
You're probably fine with out it where you are but NO, you do NOT want to use auto antifreeze.  What you want is clearly labeled RV antifreeze.  It usually $3 a gallon, plus or minus.  You don't want to drink it but you won't die if there's some residue left in the pipes after you flush it out of the system in the spring.

TT
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TearlessTom View Drop Down
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Posts: 85 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Nov 2019 at 4:40pm
Hey guys I know I live in the south  and this seems like a silly question but what kind of anti-freeze are y'all talking about.  I've never seen any in the RV section of Walmart. Haven't really gone to any dedicated RV stores.

I'm pretty sure you are not talking pet friendly auto anti-freeze.  We are having a cold snap now. Getting to low 40's at night. I think I am safe without it. 
Tearless Tom
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3325 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2019 at 3:01pm
TT is correct as usual.  For the past 7 years after blowing out the lines with compressed air I measure a total of 16 oz. RV antifreeze and pour into the 2 sink and 1 shower trap on my 177.  I leave a little left  to pour into the toilet, to keep the seal moist throughout the winter months.  So here I am on year 8 finally going to use up my 1 gallon of RV antifreeze that I purchased in 2012 for 79 cents.  Don't even have a clue what RV antifreeze costs now but am sure it will be more than what I paid for it 8 years ago.
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'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1452 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2019 at 10:00pm
The protocol for antifreeze is to first get as much water out of the sytem as possible.  Pump off, open all valves, remove the caps from the low point drains and the fresh water tank.  Let the water run out.  (The method is different for blowing air out under pressure.)  With all pressure relieved from the system, remove the anode from the water heater, let it drain.  Put the WH bypass valves in the winter bypass positions.  Don't guess.  Different Pods have different bypass methods.  For most older Pods the outer valves are closed and the middle valve is open.

With all water out of the system, close all valves and cap the low point drains.  Put the antifreeze suction hose in a jug of antifreeze, open the valve on the suction hose, turn on the pump.  Now it's handy to have a helper.  As the antifreeze is sucked up, opne one valve at a time until pink starts coming out.  Sink hot, sink cold, shower hot... outside shower, toilet.  It might take more than one jug of antifreeze.  Turn off pump, close the suction hose valve.  Poor a little antifreeze in the toilet and leave it.  Pour about a cup in the shower and sink(s) traps.

Some people do nothing more than blow out all of the lines.  The bottom line is, however you do it, all water must be out of the lines and valves.  Either way, antifreeze in the toilet and traps is important.

TT
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JoeSaint View Drop Down
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Posts: 42 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2019 at 8:08pm
I had closed only one of the valves, the bottom one. I closed off both to bypass the heater and blew it out one more time. Then I ran RA thru lines and into drains. I think it went well. Do I leave the low point drains open or closed..
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1452 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Oct 2019 at 9:45pm
Make sure you know how to turn the valves on the water heater.  In case you don't know, you do not want antifreeze in the water heater or the fresh water tank.  There are plenty of people who can help if you have any questions.

TT
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