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Topic: Overflowing gray tank in 2002 30" IB - is this pipe gap standard? (Read 171 times) previous topic - next topic
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Overflowing gray tank in 2002 30" IB - is this pipe gap standard?
Hi Guys,

Include photos below. I recently heard some "running water" sounds in the bathroom while draining the sink in the kitchen, Am in a 2002 E450 30ft Island Bed. When I exited the vehicle I noticed soapy water from the sink was dripping down the left read just behind the back wheel - exactly where the bathroom is located. I took the velcro/wood cover off, next to the toilet bowl, and noticed what is shown in it the pictures below. There is a vertical black pipe that goes up from the gray tank all the way up and out the roof of the RV. There is a 1/4 inch gap in the pipe on a join right where I am pointing with the mole grips. My gray tank was totally full, and the overflow was leaking out of this small gap and escaping under the vehicle.

I initially assumed a broken pipe or missing washer, but then though - there must be some kind of overflow for the gray tank... so maybe this is it? My sensor was showing the tank as full as I'd left the tap running for a long time while doing something else. So the grey tank had filled up and was leaking out of this gap.

So my long-winded question - should this gap be there? or is there a problem - some movement has created a gap in the pipe? And if this gap is not meant to be there, where is the overflow from the gray tank?
Re: Overflowing gray tank in 2002 30" IB - is this pipe gap standard?
Reply #1 –
As far as I know, there is no overflow port on the sewage tanks. That pipe is probably meant to be a vent pipe to the roof. There should be a vent pipe for the black sewage tank too. When you over filled your gray holding tank, the fluid must have gone up the vent? I would normally expect the gray tank to overflow into my shower which would be the lowest drain in my midbath floor plan.

I don't see the "gap" you are pointing to but perhaps your holding tank sagged a bit causing separation from the vent pipe?
Steve K

2003 Mid-bath
Re: Overflowing gray tank in 2002 30" IB - is this pipe gap standard?
Reply #2 –
As Steve noted, there is no overflow in either the black or gray tanks. Just an inlet and a vent. Either tank if overfilled will simply back up into the coach. If the backup is leaking out of the ABS pipe, you'll need to patch it. Here's a photo of my black tank. The large hole is the inlet and the small one connects to the vent pipe which exits through the roof.
jor
09 27' MB
10  Suby Forester
 
Re: Overflowing gray tank in 2002 30" IB - is this pipe gap standard?
Reply #3 –
In my rig I use a 'Sewer Solution'  Valterra SS01 Sewer Solution All-In-One Macerator Waste System       to fill the tank to back flush it and then reverse the flow to empty the tank. I once forgot to stop the black tank fill in time, and it does exit off of the roof! The toilet and seals didn't leak, and it had been dumped and refilled a few times (small tank). I caught it right away, so not very 'black' and not much water.
   There is a rubber 'doughnut' seal in the top of the tank(s) that the vent pipe goes through. That allows some movement. I think a little liquid might seep through that fitting onto the ground if the tank were full.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB