FRF 2011 e450 2561s, water leak unidentified location

[73bronco]

Hi, question first then story, how hard is it to install and or find a replacement fresh water tank that fits? How hard to chase a leaking pipe under shower area?

Just finished replacing waste water valves, thought it was second to last project before leaving to Ak. Used street water vs water pump. Didnt use pressire reducer. I know its 70 or 80psi, never an issue before. I then Notice water dripping off left rear shock, from about toilet area.

No visible leak around toilet or floor, toilet is on raised step. Toilet is opposite side of exterior shower setup. Think maybe our two nights in freezing conditions blew a pipe. Probable not.

Check watertank, no obvious signs of leak, however, it's empty, it was 1/3rd full starting 200 mile drive home, no evidence of leak after getting home. So it drained while driving. But is there a drain in floor under tank? Last time it leaked in water tank area, from pump, it came out passenger side about 2 feet back from current leak opposite side.

 

[BehindBars]

Since you’ve had freezing weather lately, you might check the strainer cup (if you have one) on the fresh water pump inlet. It cracks easily, and it would eventually drain the FW tank. That being said, I have no idea where your pump is physically located, and whether water could escape that area.

If you want to try to find leaks, in my experience 70 or 80 PSI will do it. I don’t trust my Sunseeker to withstand more than 60 PSI, as cheap as the plumbing is.

 

[73bronco]

Thanks. I cut corners not using pressure regulator during waste valve tank filling. I know for fact it withstood 90psi months ago. Good idea, I'll check cap.

Tank under bed, pump 1 foot above bottom of tank and next to tank. First glance it did not look wet, I'll fill tank see what I get.

 

[73bronco]

Update first try finding leak, 50 gallons in tank, house pump on, no leaks noted.

Might just be overpressure a fitting, my guess, shower faucet, its right above leak area noted. Luckily, access port in bedroom wall to check. Checking. No leaks at fittings using pump pressure.

So, this saves me $600 in replacing a tank. One step closer to Ak

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

Might just be overpressure a fitting, my guess, shower faucet, its right above leak area noted. Luckily, access port in bedroom wall to check. Checking. No leaks at fittings using pump pressure.

You may have a leak under the shower. There are pipes under there.
There should be an access port near the floor on the front of the shower.
Our pipe under the shower came loose and a flexible friend managed to get it fixed. It was almost impossible to get under there.

 

[73bronco]

Right now after 8 hrs of 50psi off pump. no leaks. Hoping this is end, bought a second pressure regulator to run in series. Last week rv camp had over 100psi, and regulator crept up to 60psi. In series I'll have two valves to stop overpressure assets them to run at 40psi, plenty

 

[73bronco]

Also about tanks, unless you have a rig still being made, you will have to find a manufacturer, of which there are a few. But, 4 week order to ship plus shipping time.

Alternate is to do what I was ready to do, Buy a smaller tank that fit that they had or could have in a few week's.

 

[73bronco]

Think i found culprit, i pulled exterior shower panel off, the hose connecting to cold side is a braided pvc hose attached using a pex clamp, which in my mind a no no, has a very slow drip, wetting interior wood side wall, ot noticeable all these years till I hit it with 90 psi. Fixing with hose clamp. Pressure testing. While doing this, found all faucets leak a little, replacing all with new.

So they build 90,000 dollar rvs to last 5 years then?

 

[73bronco]

verified the leak is back after reinstalling outside shower, the hose fitting leaks. ordered new one, different color, dont care, the white ones are on back order at three places.

 

[73bronco]

Nope, I fixed leak at exterior shower, cut off Pex clamp over braided hose using 1/2 inch barbed to 1/2 inch pipe then 1/2 inch toilet hose to shower, no more leak, there.

2 days of 45 psi pressure, a few drips a minute still by rear of wheel well, under shower area.


I’m betting, same braided old hose has shrunk, and wherever they join real pex fitting, they are leaking. More endoscopy.

 

[73bronco]

Located leak, it is braided hose on a pex fitting. Bad news, It was to far to reach under the shower, and to far from under bed. I had to cut a 6x6 inch hole in floor in the walkway between the bed and bathroom.

There it was, dripping away, the hot water T fitting branching off to outside shower, the braided part, the pex hose tight as all get out.

I am impressed how thick the floor is, 3/8 OSB then 2 inches of hard foam, then fiberglass. I take it the same stuff used to build the body.

Unfortunately, FR gets a fail from me, having to cut through carpet padding and floor to fix a crappy design.

bottom is toward bed in back, left is toward drivers side wall about a foot away, top is wall to shower.

 

[dcheatwood]

Man, I hate to hear this. I developed a leak dripping from under rv near drain tube, only when fresh tank has water. No leak with dry tank and on city water. Going to tackle that later this weak. Also, last trip, living room 12v furrion TV went out. Blew inline fuse. Outside TV works inside so has to be the TV itself. And rear upper clearance lights are going out. Pulled on off today and it was rusted out bad. The weep hole (screw driver pry hole) was on top of the lights allowing water to enter. Shopping for 5 new ones tomorrow. Big trip coming up so getting it ready. 2018 forester 3011ds.

 

[73bronco]

hope you get it fixed. If it only leaks tank full, It has to be the drain line or drain fitting, the drain line valve, or anything up to water pump.

Finally happy no water leak, checked with 90psi for a few hours all access holes open. nothing. To get that result, I did have to do a 9pm Home depot run to replace the new pex fitting with valve that did leak. No more valve. No more leaks.

I'm 14 days from leaving for Ak, via AlCan. Sitting in Parker Az for last test camp. Air works good, needed heater this AM packing up in Northern Az.

There is a bar at the campground, I plan to use it.