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Topic: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank! (Read 423 times) previous topic - next topic

Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Since I had my wet bay all torn apart, checking for leaks, I looked up and the two 1 1/2 PVC lines that go into the grey tank, I noticed a few drops from one that was right at the elbow that hooks to top of grey tank.  Couldn't be in a worse spot.  Does anyone know how that elbow is attached to the tank?  I am hoping that there is a threaded coupler on the tank and that will make a simple fix, at lest for me.  Don't know why FOT would run those all in hard PVC instead of a rubber flex fitting that would have some give to it.  With all those wonderful hwys and byways we have now, it is a wonder the whole thing is not leaking at every joint!

Photos coming!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #1 –
Guess a call to FOT is necessary!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #2 –
I think the pipes insert into a rubber grommet but I can't say for sure.  How/where is your pipe leaking?  Do you have a picture?
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #3 –
I can get a photo George , but can't see the top of the tank and no sure if anyone could make sense of it if I do.  If there is a rubber connection, that is a great thing.  Can cut the PVC and glue new together and should be good to go.  Again, it is just a drip every now and then, but am assuming it will get worse over time.  Thanks for the reply.  the black and grey tanks have rubber clamps coming off the tanks themselves, so maybe, here is hoping!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #4 –
With low water flow / pressure on large diameter PVC drainpipes, we have made permanent repairs with gobs of GE Silicone sealant.

Long time ago, found a leak in a horizontal shower-drain pipe at an almost unreachable location under bathroom sink area. When coach was manufactured, a screw holding trim board went into the PVC pipe.

Reaching in we dried & cleaned pipe with alcohol and smathered the area with Silicone sealant and it never leaked again.

BTW, we discarded our angled trim pieces that visually-closed off the top of the holding & fresh water tanks. Hiding potential leak areas only benefit manufacturer and buyer. Important we have access and can see all the stuff that is on the top of the tanks.

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #5 –
Update;  called FOT and spoke with Chad in Tech and he said that Foretravel installed rubber boots on top that the PVC inserts into.  Will pick up some PVC piping and fix this, as it could only get worse.  I also like the idea of leaving the top section open from now on for easier access and checking for leaks, etc.  Good call Barry!  Thanks George, you were right on the rubber!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #6 –
With no pressure on it, JB weld would hold forever.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #7 –
Quote from: AC7880 –
With no pressure on it, JB weld would hold forever.

Indeed it would.  Local car dealership repaired a molded gas tank evap leak with it and warranteed the work.
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: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #8 –
Another option similar to JB Weld is Plastic-Aide.  Works fantastic on PVC, can actually hold something like 250 PSI. It really is an amazing product.  I used the stuff to patch the holes left in the roof when the old sat dish was removed. Worked great. It's a good product to keep in the tool box.

Waterproof Plastic Repair Kits Fixes cracked ABS PVC Acrylic Wood More
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Leak at elbow near top of grey tank!

Reply #9 –
I also second the idea of removing those panels so you can see what's behind them permanently. Some people I guess just don't want to see the tanks but I do. It's how I tell how full my water tank is before it gets to the overflow. And I store my black tank hose there now as well. Could not have done that before. I also second repair before replacement. That's a really tough spot to get into Joe and I know that I would have so many dropsies that it would be a better idea just to try to repair it first. That could get into a whole can of worms.
On my coach the basement was replaced by someone in nacogdoches that will remain nameless, and they didn't always do the best job of putting parts back together again. Case in point was the problem DSD and I found when I wanted to replace the black tank rinse. They blocked the black tank rinse with a PVC pipe that should have only went down a little bit but they had it way down into the tank. A hole saw fixed that. Thanks Scott!
I like to go by the kiss principle these days. Sounds like JB weld or something else is your best option for now.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired