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Topic: yellow stains (Read 709 times) previous topic - next topic

yellow stains

Got coach out of storage Last Monday.  Have been doing small things and service.
This AM went to put some things in and found many yellow stains running down the door to the fuel and propane tank.  Looks like rust but everything in the hinge area is stainless, also looks like diesel fuel stains but there is no way diesel fuel can climb of inside of the door to hinge are.
I tried to rub out the yellow stains with both a rubbing compound and a cleaner with very little success.
Any one else run into this ? I am completely mystified as to what it is.  If it was on all  the bays doors I would look to some kind of contaminate washed down by the rain but it is only on the fuel bay door.
Gary B

Re: yellow stains

Reply #1 –
Gary,
Yes, hinge is aluminum but look deeper under there and literally under the wall and you will see an 1-1/2" steel angle that joins the wall to the floor.  I hate to say it but you could have a water leak that is inside the wall and escapes through a rolok that is bolted into the wall.  It could be a leak in the above window framing.  Or it could be from just a screw in the drip edge that the awing is attached to or even a leak in a screw for the vertical trim that covers the front cap.  The water might have to travel laterally for a while before it finds an escape path.  After the next rain I would look in the cabinet above the passengers seat with a flash light and look at the end of the wall tube that is exposed and check for moisture.  You might even park the coach nose down so if there is water it will run to that end.  The possible pathways are endless but I think the entry points are limited to the exterior trim pieces and windows.  Also check inside the joint between the floor and wall to see if moisture is present.  On my coach I removed, cleaned, reinstalled with sealant every drip edge screw and made sure sealant squeezed out of each as I screwed it back in.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho

Re: yellow stains

Reply #2 –
John, You may be right. Whats frustrating is that it appeared overnight.  We have had  rain almost every day for the last two weeks with no effect, then this AM and no rain late last night then its there. I will recheck for leaks as you say, hope I find something quickly as the stain appears to be permanent.
Gary B

Re: yellow stains

Reply #3 –
Gary,

Can you post a photo?  When I hear "yellow stains" on an RV, I start wondering about a fridge ammonia leak... 

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: yellow stains

Reply #4 –
John and Steve, Johnyou are right its a water leak, I did not realize that there was an angle iron up under the door hinge, it is wet.  No telling where its coming from, I can't get on the roof t'day but what seams I can see from the ground appear to be tight.
Steve, The YELLOW is definitely rust, see above.
We have had a lot of rain and I have never had a leak, something has changed and I will have to find it.
Thanks for the ideas guys.
Gary B

Re: yellow stains

Reply #5 –
About those yellow rust stains....

I get them periodically on the basement door next to driver's seat.  Source is water running off roof, some of it dropping onto the end of a Zip awning spool, and then down to door.

Davis FSR (fiberglass stain remover) will lift the stain.  Almost effortlessly.  I apply some to affected area, let it set, wipe or rinse it off.  Multiple applications sometimes necessary.  Finish with some of the same polish you use for the rest of the coach.

Bought my Davis FSR at West Marine.
Bob Mulder
02 U270 3610 / 06 CRV
Spokane, WA