Leaking waste water pipe

[Cavilln]

Hi

Hope someone can help me. We just returned from three weeks in France where we had to use bottled water as we discovered on day 2 that the waste pipe was leaking.

The leak is almost definitely coming from a rusty part of the waste pipe (in the lower left hand cupboard) just behind the waste stopcok tap (ie the red one that determines whether or not you dump your waste). Has anyone else had this problem? and is it easy to replace? If the whole section is available (ie the stopcock and the pipes connecting to it) then it looks like a case of just a few screw-thread fittings to replace.

also - and apologies in advance if this seems dumb - this same section also seemed to be leaking when we had a full tank of water but were not using the sink. it appeared that we were leaking clean water from the same place. or am i going mad? obvs the first step is to replace the leaky section and check it all our

finally, if too tricky to fix, where could i take it? I have a local (stockport) caravan fixer but the manchester van centre only does the mechanical bits

thanks

nick

 

[WelshGas]

I'm a little confused. Are you leaking from the Waste tank? or Fresh Water tank? as the two are not physically connected, But the fresh water supply pipe to the tap does pass close by.
I would suggest the following first.
1. Empty fresh water tank.
2. Fill waste tank via sink and check for leaks. Leak - then fix. No Leak - then carry on.
3. Empty Waste Tank.
4. Fill Fresh Water tank. Check for leaks. Leak - then fix. No Leak - then carry on.
5. Run tap and check for leaks from tap pipe connection and pipe to water tank that runs at rear of kitchen units.
VW have set up a network of Californis specialist Van Dealerships. See here.

http://www.thevwcalifornia.com/buynew/

 

[AlanC]

Hi Nick,

I don't think that fresh water tank is connected directly to the waste water tank in any way, except indirectly via the tap in the sink.

If you are leaking fresh water, that could be because the drain stopcock on the fresh water tank is not fully closed. It drains via the gas bottle container vent and not via a specific pipe, so tends to spill around the splash guards under the van. This water appears to be draining out of all sorts of different places, so could look like it was coming from the waste pipe.

The waste tank, on the other hand, does clearly drain from the pipe that sticks down just ahead of the N/S rear wheel.

The waste water tank stop cock is all metal and the piping to it, on the right, is plastic, so I guess you need to change the stop cock and/or the jubilee clips round the plastic piping. There is a plastic overflow pipe from the waste water tank that connects to the drain side of the stop cock.

If you can do it, a photo would help here.

Alan

 

[Cavilln]

Sorry guys for being confusing. The leak is definitely from the waste ie it leaks when water is poured down the sink. The leak is from the rusty part in this pic: just behind the stopcock

 

[WelshGas]

By the look of things that should be replaceable insitu.
Just need to get the part.
SMG might be able to help, but no discount as you are not a VIP member.

 

[Hotel California]

View attachment 9789

how old is your Cali , has it always been yours , by the looks of that pic my first thought is that it needs a lot of TLC!
Rust on the water drain , corrosion and dirt in the bottom of the wardrobe.

 

[Cavilln]

Hi Hotel Cali. This Cali is ten years old and one owner before me. It is in pretty good condition you are just looking at the rusty bit! I am worried about the rusty pipe and the priority is to get that replaced. and I think the rusty marks etc in the bottom of the cupboard are all part of the same problem ie water sitting around down there before we noticed it.

the owner before us was fastidious. said they did not ever fry anything in the van in case it marked the upholstery. seat covers on everything...

 

[Hotel California]

Ok , so need to sort that , out maybe was a bit to hard on your Cali's condition...
Guess if your handy just take the part out and look in your nearby for suppliers , take it to compare with the replacement and if exact fit it in.
Company's doing central heating for houses or plumber supplier is where i would look first.
Or maybe one who does camperequipment for selfbuilders.

 

[AlanC]

I think that the part that is rusting is the steel support bracket for the stop cock.

The stopcock it's self is brass, which won't rust. The pipe and the union connected to it are plastic and also won't rust.

I am no plumber, but I think the white plastic union, which mounts through the support bracket, is not seated into the stopcock correctly and is seeping water as soon as the waste tank is used. The bracket is getting wet and rusting.

That union will need to be undone, cleaned, and re-seated. You may need to used PTFE tape around the threads to achieve a watertight seal.

Alan

 

[WelshGas]

I think you are correct AlanC. As you said the rusty bit is in fact the support bracket.

 

[Cavilln]

AlanC I think you are a genius. I have been fiddling around and staring at it for so long and I could not work out why there would be a metal seal and how it would rust and leak. But of course it is the other way around: the leak has caused the rust.

How to fix it is easier said than done as I cannot get the bracket off. But I will work on it and now I have a better idea what the problem is I feel half way home.

thanks a lot for all the advice everyone who replied.

btw WelshGas your comment made me become a VIP member! ta

 

[AlanC]

Takes a deep sweeping bow...

Alan

 

[smilingit]

I am struggling as well to get the stopcock valve undone as the lever came off. Any idea of which tool can be used to unscrew the parts as there is no space to manouvre with standard plumming tools.

Many thanks

 

[WelshGas]

I am struggling as well to get the stopcock valve undone as the lever came off. Any idea of which tool can be used to unscrew the parts as there is no space to manouvre with standard plumming tools.

Many thanks

If the handle has come off why do you need to remove the valve in total?
The handle is only held on by 1 nut or is there something wrong with the valve as well.

 

[smilingit]

Unfortunately the center pivot/linchpin of the lever broke and there is no way to screw kit back as that should be tightened by keep the part in place from the inside. So the whole valve needs to be removed

 

[WelshGas]

Unfortunately the center pivot/linchpin of the lever broke and there is no way to screw kit back as that should be tightened by keep the part in place from the inside. So the whole valve needs to be removed

I see. Can’t help you with which tools to use, but this is a schematic of the fittings.

I would plan on disconnecting Part 11. Unscrew 8 and then the valve assembly.

 

[Wesel]

You will probably need to use keys like this

 

[smilingit]

Thank you so much for the drawing - very very useful. I assume you have the service manual - does it also say which type of valve they use exactly?

Will try later today!

 

[Azteccamper]

Thank you so much for the drawing - very very useful. I assume you have the service manual - does it also say which type of valve they use exactly?

Will try later today!

In fairness, WG is superb in giving this type of info and advice. Top man.

 

[calikev]

Here is the part number

 

[smilingit]

thank you. Tried today but unfortunately part 8 doesn't unscrew, just turns without unscrewing and now even leaking a bit as waste tank has water. A bit of a nightmare - will try and see if a plumber can help