Thetford Flush Tank grunge

AGOG
AGOG Forum Participant Posts: 58
edited June 2022 in Caravans #1

Hi All, 

Caravan serviced before trip. At first halt electric flush didn't work. On arrival at end destination removed pump from cistern and rotated the pump impeller. Works fine. However, removal of pump revealed hideous slimy grey grunge all over pump and tubes and I daresay body of tank. Drain off was slow so cleared that with application of fine jet on air awning hand pump. Only thing I can get here in France is Bicarb of Soda which has been left in tank 24hrs. Not wholly convinced this will have done much. Any thoughts please??

PS sure I caused with over enthusiastic use of pink fluid - more is better .... NOT

Comments

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,668 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #2

    For the notorious "black bits" , Thetford suggest diluted bleach, whether that would work with slimly grey gunge is another matter.  You could try Puriclean if you have access to some, it is also good with the black bits.

    Ditch the pink, and save money too,  plain water is fine.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #3

    "sure I caused with over enthusiastic use of pink fluid - more is better .... NOT"

    None at all is best, as Kj suggests. Pink flush is the work of the devil causing black algae in flush water.

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
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    edited June 2022 #4

    Over a number of years it has been proved by my own observations that the worst culprit is the Thetford pink additive.I have been using the elsan product with no black "gunge" for a good number of years but I do use it sparingly.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #5

    In our present van, all of our water, including the toilet flush, comes from the inboard tank - so there's no option to use pink stuff. I was a bit concerned to start with when the tank was fitted by the dealer with this system, but I now prefer it and haven't missed the pink stuff and the header tank at all. Makes life that bit easier in not having to fill up a separate tank.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,668 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #6

    Our previous van(1998 model) had no flush tank either, flush water was drawn from the aquaroll.   When we sold it, we had a frantic call late on the following Friday evening from the purchaser, asking us where he should put the pink!

    Current van has a flush tank, and an on board tank, just a pain to have 2  lots of water to fill, we are forever running out of flush water.

    We tried the pink as there was a bottle with the van, but soon gave it up.

  • eribaMotters
    eribaMotters Club Member Posts: 1,193 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #7

    Since I first saw it fir sale I've used a dash of the green stuff in the flush, just enough so you can see a colour change and no more. We have not experienced any gunge issues.

    A lot of folk say you do not need an additive, using the argument that thd loo at home does not use it so why bother in the can. The problem ad I see it is your home toilet uses several litres of water in a flush so that rinses way any unseen residue in the bowl. The Caravan toilet uses a few squirts so to my logic needs a helping hand.

     

    Colin

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited June 2022 #8

    Quite understand your point, Colin, BUT I've developed a different technique !!

    When the toilet water electronics started giving problems {  again } I totally abandoned the system and, instead, I just use a quick squirt from the Shower-head !!  It's more powerful, it's directable and a darn sight more efficient, especially if followed by a dash of 'Todays choice' of Zoflora !!

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,138 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #9

    Having had numerous models of van toilets over near 50 years, both the split cubes and the cassette models, we have never used the pink flush. The only time our loos saw pink was when a dealer put it in and the only time we experienced black gunge was in second hand vans where the previous owners had used it. Once it all cleared we had no more gunge problems and have never had any issues at all in using just water. 

  • Amesford
    Amesford Club Member Posts: 685 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #10

    we have only had a problem  with black bits etc in the flush tank using the pink stuff that is when i didn't empty it and that was years ago the flush tank is always emptied prior to leaving site  disposed of correctly thus less weight and we have never had any problems since 

  • AGOG
    AGOG Forum Participant Posts: 58
    edited June 2022 #11

    Many thanks for all comments, plain water it is from now on. Do wonder if grunge will  slowly disappear but in doing so, cause pump to clog again. Time will tell.

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited June 2022 #12

    It is possible to get the top of the tank off and scrub round inside with a rag and cleaning agent of choice to remove build up of gunge. Depending upon make and model of course!