Black Tank Gage
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13612
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 6:49pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Black Tank Gage
Posted By: AUMAN
Subject: Black Tank Gage
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 3:37pm
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Need expert advice please. Emptied and flushed black tank on 190, but gage on bathroom wall says 3/4 full. Please advise as we are traveling across the country. Thanks, Mike ------------- mwsjr |
Replies:
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 3:52pm
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Many reports in various fora that black-tank gauges can't be trusted because the sensor gets some crud on it and misreports. We just used our black tank in our new 195 for its intended purpose over Memorial Day and flushed it out like crazy. Now it reports 1/3 full whereas it always reported empty prior to that. Guess those anecdotes are accurate.
------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 3:57pm
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Black tank sensors never work for very long. Most folks advice on here will be to ignore it. You can open the trap in the toilet without turning the water on and look to see if its getting full. If it is, dump it. Most folks fill the gray water tank first anyway so always dump both and you should be fine. Enjoy your trip! ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 4:19pm
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If I wanted a truly reliable measuring device for the black and gray water tanks, I'd cut a hole in the floor and put in a port with a dip stick for each to test them. But I don't. Like the Zen of trailer weight and balance, the Zen of knowing when your tanks ought to be needing a dump works fine. Just keep track of how much water is disappearing from your FWT and you can probably count on it being in the gray or black tanks. Since they're each the same size as the FWT, you'll probably have a good margin of error. If you're connected to a city water, well hopefully you're also connected to a dump line. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: 1016
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 7:07pm
Posted By: 1016
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 7:12pm
| Go to you tube and do a search on black remedies. There’s a man has a good video on how he keeps his tank gauge working. Can’t recall his video but I know he uses 5 gallons of water and x amount of dawn dish washing liquid and leaves it in there all time in between trips. He just as he enters the campground and dumps before he sets up. I full mine up completely as we pack up to leave and then dump it. 3 years no problem with it yet. |
Posted By: AUMAN
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 7:18pm
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Thanks all. Think it is working. Mike ------------- mwsjr |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 10:06pm
It's always working. The thing is you can never count on it working right. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: AUMAN
Date Posted: 02 Jun 2020 at 11:55pm
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That is hilarious! ------------- mwsjr |
Posted By: jerome
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2020 at 8:07pm
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Mine is never reliable as well. At a dump station, I met a guy who says he dumps a bunch of bags of ice down the toilet and just drives, and the ice corrects the sensor problem? I go out for 10-12 days, two of us and never have had it full. In appropriate places, I will get rid of some gray water and add fresh. I have quit trying to figure out the black tank gauge  ------------- 2018 RPod 180 2015 Ford F150 Super Cab 3.5L Eco-Boost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2020 at 10:04pm
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Ice does absolutely nothing but waste your time and money. See the video in this link if you think otherwise. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6acEmqvcw - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6acEmqvcw Go here and get information on the Bio-Geo method of tank treatment. It will work better than ice. https://www.trbowlin.com/bio-geo-method/ - https://www.trbowlin.com/bio-geo-method/ Or, use something like Happy Camper, TankTech's Rx, or Unique Products RV Digest-It (biological treatments) which will help. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2020 at 5:56am
As StephenH says, forget the ice. You've already solved the "problem" by the way you use the dump station. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2020 at 9:35am
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I tried ice. It was useless. So is putting a bunch of dish detergent in the tank. It just makes a lot of foam, but does nothing to clean off the sensors. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2020 at 12:53pm
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Have you tried the Borax along with the detergent as the bio-geo method linked above suggests? The video he has seems to indicate that it will work.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2020 at 1:06pm
I sold the trailer instead and got another that still has relatively clean sensors. It worked much better.  ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2020 at 4:51pm
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I agree ice is not the answer. Plus I suspect it could be rough on sensors. I use a wand, that is used thru the toilet, mine has worked for 5 years, as well as it can (the gauge). I think TP is the suspect. I keep the tank clean. So far so good. My OEM backflush never worked the valve was installed backwards in the shower wall. I ran a new backflush to the left side, and at least it is all on the same side. Recommend using chemicals and keep the tank flushed. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |