Should I empty water tank during Winter?

[FlyingTuga]

Hi there,

we have bought a new Cali, and are new to cold countries (we leave in Munich now).
we were wondering if we need to empty the water and waste water tanks due to the risk of freezing.
Thanks

 

[Blubus]

Yes

 

[WelshGas]

Hi there,

we have bought a new Cali, and are new to cold countries (we leave in Munich now).
we were wondering if we need to empty the water and waste water tanks due to the risk of freezing.
Thanks

Yes, and drain the Water tap and pipe work As per the Handbook.

 

[FlyingTuga]

Thanks. Unfortunately I got the handbook in German. Need to order an English version. Anyone knows if there’s an e-version or the handbook?
Thanks

 

[WelshGas]

Thanks. Unfortunately I got the handbook in German. Need to order an English version. Anyone knows if there’s an e-version or the handbook?
Thanks

See here for methods to drain water tap and pipe work.

2 ways to disable the water pump.

Vw advise you to disable the water pump, by removing the fuse, feeding the sink tap so that you can lift the tap handle and allow the water in the pipe work and tap to drain back into the tank, therefore avoiding frost damage. There appears to be 2 ways to do this 1. Remove the fuse under the...

vwcaliforniaclub.com

 

[Denzilgts]

Before the colder weather started I drained half the tank then added a dose of Milton for a few days . The driving around made sure it splashed around inside the tank.
then after a few days drained out the main tank and purged through to the tap ... all done

 

[RonB]

I don’t drain the tank/system now, preferring to wire the van up when cold weather is forecast and plug in a small oil filled radiator to keep the temperature above freezing. Important to open all cupboard and wardrobe doors, plus remove rear cupboard bottom shelf above water tank/gas cylinder to allow warm air to circulate everywhere. Although we don’t use the van much in winter, at least it’s ready for action if we do use it.

First time I drained tank and tap plus removed fuse as per VW handbook, in spring time I found pump had seized and didn’t work. VW garage had to fit new pump but weren’t sure what had happened, suggesting perhaps pump itself had frozen.

 

[gurik]

[QUOTE = "FlyingTuga, příspěvek: 391659, člen: 20890"]
Ahoj,

koupili jsme si novou Cali a jsme novými v chladných zemích (nyní v Mnichově odcházíme).
přemýšleli jsme, jestli musíme vyprázdnit nádrže na vodu a odpadní vodu kvůli riziku zamrznutí.
dík
[/ CITÁT]

Yes

 

[momo44]

Thanks. Unfortunately I got the handbook in German. Need to order an English version. Anyone knows if there’s an e-version or the handbook?
Thanks

Thanks. Unfortunately I got the handbook in German. Need to order an English version. Anyone knows if there’s an e-version or the handbook?
Thanks

If you send me an emailadress, i send you a copy via google drive (75 mb)

 

[momo44]

If you send me an emailadress, i send you a copy via google drive (75 mb)

My email : olaf.mourant@+++++.com

 

[momo44]

My email : olaf.mourant@+++++.com

 

[WelshGas]

Email addresses are automatically trashed by the Forum software as a security device to web robots targeting it. If you really want to show your email take a photo of it and upload that.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Can I ask a possible silly question...?

If you empty the tanks and run the tap until no further water emits...?
Wouldn’t this system now be empty instead of pulling fuses etc.
Or am I missing something...?

 

[flying banana]

Can I ask a possible silly question...?

If you empty the tanks and run the tap until no further water emits...?
Wouldn’t this system now be empty instead of pulling fuses etc.
Or am I missing something...?

Problem doing that is you risk running the pump too long without water going through the impeller and it may knack the pump

 

[soulstyledevon]

Problem doing that is you risk running the pump too long without water going through the impeller and it may knack the pump

Fair comment.
This is what I’ve done last year and this year, being mindful not to run the pump to long...

 

[MartG]

Once the pump has run dry, it's not a positive displacement so leaves the pipework still full, so I think removing the power (fuse) allow water to drain backwards to the tank, from the left open tap, so that there is no chance of the pipework bursting.

 

[jeff]

Fair comment.
This is what I’ve done last year and this year, being mindful not to run the pump to long...

I have done the same for the last 10 years without any problems then I leave the water tank valve half way.

 

[FlyingTuga]

If you send me an emailadress, i send you a copy via google drive (75 mb)

Thank You My e-mail address is FlyingTuga@outlook.com