Thunder Mountain
Lost in the Four Corners
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Joined: 02/09/2005
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Our 2016 Winnebago Journey has had occasional issues with the tank sensors not going back to empty since it was new. But they would eventually clear. Well on this 110 day outing, they both went bonkers. After emptying, the gray wouldn't go below 2/3 and the black was stuck at 1/3. I believe part of the problem was that we were stationary for two months.
So, upon departure, I did the cup each of Calgon and Dawn on mostly full tanks. Sloshed down the road for a few hours on some twisty Colorado roads. Got to the campground and dumped the tanks. Both of them registered empty.
Guess I'll just start doing this near the end of each long trip for good measure.
2016 Winnebago Journey 40R
2018 Rubicon
1982 FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser
2020 Keystone Outback 327CG
2020 Dodge Ram 2500
Polaris RZR XP 1000
4 Cats
3 Dogs
1 Bottle of Jack Daniels
Two old hippies still trying to find ourselves!
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Dusty R
Charlotte Michigan 48813
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Joined: 04/05/2003
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The sensors that come in the tanks are actually electric probes that pock into the tanks. They get coated and then will not conduct the low voltage power that shows the level in the tanks in fractions. RV tank Sensors are electronic
strips that are stuck to the tank and give read-outs in % to a circuit board on the wall.
Just do a Google search. A little expensive but to me well worth it.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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Joined: 06/22/2005
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Dusty R wrote:The sensors that come in the tanks are actually electric probes that pock into the tanks. They get coated and then will not conduct the low voltage power that shows the level in the tanks in fractions. RV tank Sensors are electronic
strips that are stuck to the tank and give read-outs in % to a circuit board on the wall.
Just do a Google search. A little expensive but to me well worth it.
actually the factory sensors work the opposite of what you outlined. when they are not in contact with a liquid which provided a electrical path to ground they are off. Problem is if crud gets on the surface and on the sides of the tank there is a electrical path to ground even though they are not submerged. Hence the light up.
I agree the most foolproof solution is something like the sealevel system which I have, more accurate, zip troubles.
dishwasher detergent, vinegar, calgon seem to help keep the factory sensors working, dishwasher detergent has good grease cutting capabilities, better than clothes washer detergent. Vinegar is a mild acid which will help desolve crud on the sensor or tank walls, calgon softens the water and then keeps calcium etc. from building up on the tank walls.
But then the sealevel system doesn't care about any of that and it is easy to install. But not inexpensive,
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2015.5 Denali 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison passed on to our Son!
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johnhicks
Wandering below the Gnat Line
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Joined: 08/29/2013
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I recently had to replace the grey tank in my 30-year-old MH. The black and fresh tanks have the original sensor system which is foil tape at various intervals on the tank; it's still working fine. The new tank has the dreaded through-wall system, so I added the sensor reader to work with it.
Almost invariably after dumping it still reads at least 1/3; after several days it dries out and indicates empty. Ridiculous.
If it gets to be a real problem I'll try the Mopeka "sonar" sensor.
-jbh-
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