ChiMom
Somerset, NJ
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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I started the winterization process on my P-W Ford myself and now I'm stuck with a problem--Here's what I've done so far: 1) emptied FW tank via both openings under RV then closed the one plug and closed the petcock valve; 2) opened hot water faucet in kitchen before taking out anode rod in HWH--that water emptied nicely and I replaced the anode rod; 3) went inside and turned the HWH bypass valves as follows: on the H and C pipes going into and out of the HWH I turned the valve handles perpendicular to the pipes to close them off, then I turned the middle valve handle to be parallel to the pipe to open it for bypass water flow; 4) I took the sissy way out and poured 1.5 gals of RV antifreeze into my fresh water tank; 5) I turned on the water pump and opened faucets one at a time; NOTHING CAME OUT OF ANY FAUCETS, just a little sputter of water and foam and then nothing but sputtering noise. HELP! I left the pump on and a faucet open for a good 5 minutes but was afraid of burning out the water pump. Did I read somewhere that the pump may need to be primed? if so, how? or maybe not enough antifreeze in the tank? I am so frustrated. 
Barbara, Florence, Banshee (good chihuahua) and Rascal (bad chihuahua)
2007 Pleasure-Way Ford Excel TD: Miss Daisy
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My Roadtrek
Tucson, AZ.
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Joined: 03/20/2002
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That's not enough fluid in the tank to prime your water pump. You will need 5 plus gallons of anti freeze (about a 1/4 of your tank size) if you do it that way. I suggest winterizing from the suction side of the water pump.
Lots of info in the archives on how to do it.
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Handbasket
Asheville, NC
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Joined: 01/17/2003
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You _probably_ need more than 1.5 gallons of pink. The level of pink in the tank isn't covering the pump suction line, from the sputtering sounds. You _may_ be able to raise one side or end of the van on leveling blocks to get the suction point on the 'downhill' side, but I'd bet on the 'more pink' method if it already sitting level.
Jim, "Press any key to continue, or any other key to quit."
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Lynne Jayzee
Garden State Exit 0
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Joined: 04/01/2003
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Barbara:
I winterized my Excel the other day and used 3 gallons of anti-freeze, which I think is almost the bare minimum to get enough to run through kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet and exterior shower.
Also...I wouldn't (and didn't) replace the anode rod until the very end...just in case you didn't really bypass the hot water heater.
- LJZ
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ChiMom
Somerset, NJ
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Joined: 04/17/2007
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Thanks you guys! I'm off to find more gallons of antifreeze. This is the first time I've done this by myself and I needed to ventilate.
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John&Cathy
Climax, NY
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Joined: 09/03/2006
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I also put the antifreeze in the water tank - 2 or 3 gal. Then I park the RV on a small incline so that the left side is lower then the right. This make sure that the pickup in the tank is covered with antifreeze. Then I run the antifreeze through all the lines. Don't forget the outside shower or the shower trap in the bathroom.
Good Luck, John
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charles
Ohio
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Joined: 08/11/2002
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Also be sure it comes out of the inside shower head, and a little in each of the sink traps. For what it costs, more is better.
Nick
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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It would be well worth your while to install the winterizing valve so you can pump antifreeze directly from the bottle. Much faster and takes about 1/3 as much antifreeze and it's ALSO much easier to remove the oily taste from your water next spring when it's time to clean it out for use again.
2004 F-250 SCREW Long Bed (new)
OR 2004 F-150 HD (85,000 towing miles)
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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I'm with skip, get a winterizing valve and you can do the whole thing with one gallon of pink. easy to install and use. saves you money in the long run.
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What Next
Northern IL
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Joined: 10/11/2005
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Get the valve only takes me 1 gallon. If you have Farm Fleet nearby anti freeze is less than $3 now.
2005 LTV
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