Sewer holding tank

[neely butler]

Many of y'all have offered help during my many problems and I thank you once
again. My latest, you will recall, was my leaking sewer tank. It was
resolved by a local shop removing the tank and replacing the threaded nipple
through the vent pipe serving the kitchen sink where it enters the tank.
When we got her home, the tank supposedly being empty, the wife and I
decided to check to determine the actual capacity of the tank. We filled a
three gallon bucket with water with a garden hose and noted the time
required. One minute and 18 seconds to fill the bucket. Then we filled the
tank through the commode, time required to fill was 7 1/2 minutes. This
computed to be 17 1/4 gallons. The owners manual says it holds 40 gal.
What did I do wrong??
Neely B. TN

 

[chuck blanford]

Neely

Were you ever able to confirm that the tank is indeed empty, and does not
contain solidified solid waste? As I recall a previous post, it is possible
for solids to accumulate if one leaves the drain valve open, allowing
liquids to exit without accumulating enough volume to discharge the solids
simultaneously.

Chuck

- -----Original Message-----
From: Neely Butler
To: GMC chat
Date: Sunday, February 21, 1999 1:23 PM
Subject: GMC: Sewer holding tank

>Many of y'all have offered help during my many problems and I thank you
once
>again. My latest, you will recall, was my leaking sewer tank. It was
>resolved by a local shop removing the tank and replacing the threaded
nipple
>through the vent pipe serving the kitchen sink where it enters the tank.
>When we got her home, the tank supposedly being empty, the wife and I
>decided to check to determine the actual capacity of the tank. We filled a
>three gallon bucket with water with a garden hose and noted the time
>required. One minute and 18 seconds to fill the bucket. Then we filled
the
>tank through the commode, time required to fill was 7 1/2 minutes. This
>computed to be 17 1/4 gallons. The owners manual says it holds 40 gal.
>What did I do wrong??
>Neely B. TN
>

 

[roger black]

Neely,
Just by chance, do you have two tanks, ie, gray and black water? Go look
underneath and feel safe, there is no big dog chained to a pick up truck on
your driveway now.

Roger

 

[neely butler]

Chuck,
I emptied the tank and made every effort to completely flush it out before
taking the coach to the shop to have the tank removed. I don't think it
possible that 20 gals of solids could have remained in the tank unnoticed
while they worked on it. I have since flushed it out again using Pine-Sol
as one suggested. If this winter weather will ever give it up I hope to try
it again. Ordered a new sending unit from Cinibar to install ASAP. Will
have to completely empty then. Thanks
Neely B
- -----Original Message-----
From: Chuck Blanford
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Sunday, February 21, 1999 3:34 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Sewer holding tank

>Neely
>
>Were you ever able to confirm that the tank is indeed empty, and does not
>contain solidified solid waste? As I recall a previous post, it is
possible
>for solids to accumulate if one leaves the drain valve open, allowing
>liquids to exit without accumulating enough volume to discharge the solids
>simultaneously.
>
>Chuck
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Neely Butler
>To: GMC chat
>Date: Sunday, February 21, 1999 1:23 PM
>Subject: GMC: Sewer holding tank
>
>
>>Many of y'all have offered help during my many problems and I thank you
>once
>>again. My latest, you will recall, was my leaking sewer tank. It was
>>resolved by a local shop removing the tank and replacing the threaded
>nipple
>>through the vent pipe serving the kitchen sink where it enters the tank.
>>When we got her home, the tank supposedly being empty, the wife and I
>>decided to check to determine the actual capacity of the tank. We filled
a
>>three gallon bucket with water with a garden hose and noted the time
>>required. One minute and 18 seconds to fill the bucket. Then we filled
>the
>>tank through the commode, time required to fill was 7 1/2 minutes. This
>>computed to be 17 1/4 gallons. The owners manual says it holds 40 gal.
>>What did I do wrong??
>>Neely B. TN
>>
>

 

[john dolan]

Neely...

> When we got her home, the tank supposedly being empty, the wife and I
> decided to check to determine the actual capacity of the tank.

I obviously don't know the answer to this mini-mystery for sure, but it
might be helpful if I listed some observations and possibilities:

1. Some folks at the local shop may have put water in, to check for leaks
and the person that told you that it was empty did not know about that?

2. I would be tempted to figure out a (neat and clean... as well as
environmentally friendly) way measure the output (now that you know you
have a full tank).

3. If the effluent is mostly clear water, maybe run the sewer line to a
55 gal drum in a ditch with the motorhome squatting slightly or on an
incline?

4. Measure the water level in the drum with a stick long enough to reach
the bottom through the hole in the top.

5. If you were going by the holding tank gauge on the "Monitor Panel", I
would have someone watch the gauge as you dump and take readings every 5
or 10 seconds until the water stops, and then you will know how well
calibrated your gauge is.

- --
Regards,
John 74 Glacier near Washington, DC.