Draining the fresh and grey water tanks

Peter Horvath · Nov 8, 2022

Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

66tim99 · Nov 8, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

Hmmm no you should just open those valves to dump the water. I have learned that the overhead control panel never shows anything other than partially full yellow waste tank. It's next setting is to show something like 'waste tank full' in text. The blue fresh water does increase incrementally.

Loz2286 · Nov 8, 2022

Strange one. They should empty without hindrance. The only thing I can think of is that if there's a dust cover on the ends of the outflows that should have been removed in the PDI. Have a quick look under to check. The fresh water empties behind the LH rear wheel, the grey water in front of it.

If there's still a problem, then straight back to the dealer for action. They're expensive vehicles, you're entitled to have them fully functioing.

GrumpyGranddad · Nov 8, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

Try removing the water filler cap when emptying the fresh water tank. Stopcock is in the rear cupboard.
Waste water stopcock under the sink. The display never shows empty. That’s normal.

California_Ocean · Nov 8, 2022

What GrumpyGranddad said. Remove the sink plug and open the water filler cap. All done in minutes.

dspuk · Nov 8, 2022

Ours empty straight away. Worth checking you don't have an air lock or were on a tilt. For the main water I’d tip a healthy amount of water just in the sink with a bucket and then empty grey. Also note the grey empty sign still looks like there is grey in it at a low level. Grey has two states. Full. Looks like a full image and empty. Looks like it has a low level of water in it. There is no image in between.

Hawthorn37 · Nov 8, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

Just as others say, loosen the fill cap to empty the fresh water. Also, just in case, open the boot and check no water enters the boot ( there is a known potential manufacturing fault - easy to sort out - by which water drains partly into the boot floor). If you want, you can lift out the Gaz bottle, shine a torch into the hole at the bottom of the Gaz bottle storage area, and see your water draining out. Don’t be alarmed when the water comes out in various places under the van, it’s part of “the design”!

66tim99 · Nov 9, 2022

Hawthorn37 said:
Don’t be alarmed when the water comes out in various places under the van, it’s part of “the design”!

Thanks for this, I had wondered

TwoDogs · Nov 9, 2022

It doesn't make any sense to have to loosen the filler cap...and I've never had to do that. If the cap was air-tight enough to stop the tank draining, the pump wouldn't be able to draw water against the vacuum created.
(And doesn't explain the waste tank problem).

Hawthorn37 · Nov 9, 2022

TwoDogs said:
It doesn't make any sense to have to loosen the filler cap...and I've never had to do that. If the cap was air-tight enough to stop the tank draining, the pump wouldn't be able to draw water against the vacuum created.
(And doesn't explain the waste tank problem).

By trial and error, it makes a huge difference to emptying the clean water tank. If you don’t loosen the cap, it will take around 30 - 40 minutes to drain. If you loosen it, about 5 minutes. So if you aren‘t in a hurry, fair enough.
The water filler cap makes no difference to draining the waste tank, but the sink drain plug probably does ( I’ve not tried to drain it with the plug in - why would you.?). What helps draining both tanks is having the van on a bit of a slope (down to the passenger side) but only marginally, unless you get the leak to the boot problem, then it makes lots of difference.

TwoDogs · Nov 9, 2022

Hawthorn37 said:
By trial and error, it makes a huge difference to emptying the clean water tank. If you don’t loosen the cap, it will take around 30 - 40 minutes to drain. If you loosen it, about 5 minutes. So if you aren‘t in a hurry, fair enough.
The water filler cap makes no difference to draining the waste tank, but the sink drain plug probably does ( I’ve not tried to drain it with the plug in - why would you.?). What helps draining both tanks is having the van on a bit of a slope (down to the passenger side) but only marginally, unless you get the leak to the boot problem, then it makes lots of difference.

Nope...mine takes about 5 mins with a the cap on. I've never bothered to take it off to see if it's faster without

Hawthorn37 · Nov 9, 2022

TwoDogs said:
Nope...mine takes about 5 mins with a the cap on. I've never bothered to take it off to see if it's faster without

Fair enough. I don’t believe my experience is unique - from other threads. Which Cali variant do you have out of interest (not shown on your profile)?

TwoDogs · Nov 9, 2022

Hawthorn37 said:
Fair enough. I don’t believe my experience is unique - from other threads. Which Cali variant do you have out of interest (not shown on your profile)?

T5.1 SE. I guess they might have changed the filler cap but I doubt it (or the drain)

Hawthorn37 · Nov 9, 2022

TwoDogs said:
T5.1 SE. I guess they might have changed the filler cap but I doubt it (or the drain)

Yes probably. With our 6.1 if you don’t undo the filler cap the water just dribbles out very slowly - that’s how I did it first time till I saw another post on the forum. Once you undo the cap it runs out fast. There are other comments where folks have drilled an air hole through.

Kernowboy · Nov 10, 2022

No need to open the cap on my 6.1, or the 2 x T6 before that— just open the valve and stand back as it flows out.

ardm17 · Nov 10, 2022

Kernowboy said:
No need to open the cap on my 6.1, or the 2 x T6 before that— just open the valve and stand back as it flows out.

Same with our 6.1 - open the valve and keep your feet well back...

I understood that there was a small 'breather' pipe running from the top of the tank to somewhere close to the filler cap. Maybe some vans don't have this, or it is blocked? Could put a strain on the water pump?

GranddadBeattie · Nov 11, 2022

I have to remove the filler cap to get the fresh water to empty, the grey flows freely when I open the valve. Both take about 5 mins from full. As others have said, display never shows empty.

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

Alistair Hardy · Nov 11, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

Tricky look at hand book

G3WRT · Nov 11, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

blimey my one year old one I have not even tried. Help needed before i do.

Brianandjoy · Nov 12, 2022

In 4 years I’ve never allowed 1 drop of water to go down the sink,we wash up in a bowl and tip it away,saves a lot of trouble and mess,didn’t fancy greasy dirty washing up water going down the sink into a tank

GrannyJen · Nov 12, 2022

I've had a blocked outlet before on the waste tank, probably due to me driving along with the drain valve open and getting rubbish in there. Resolved by man at dealers service department stripping down and cleaning.

I've never had fresh water drain problems. Open using handle in gas cupboard, watch it flow out being careful not to wash shoes in the process. Taking off the water filler cap should improve drainage rate but is not necessary to achieve the objective of allowing water to drain from the tank.

For it to be a problem on both tanks on a new vehicle suggests someone has not removed plastic wrapping somewhere. Whatever the cause, new vehicle = back to the dealers, their problem, sort it please.

Anthony1 · Nov 12, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

I had a similar problem with the fresh water tank. As others have said here, open the filler cap. As soon as I did, it emptied. There must have been a vacuum in there.

andrew bazeley · Nov 12, 2022

Peter Horvath said:
Hi,

I have a new T6.1 ocean. I filled the water tank with fresh water, played with the sinks just to test it out. Then I tried to empty it by turning the valves to open, but nothing comes out, even if I drive with the car. It starts bubbling like sucking air, but nothing comes out and the water is still there. I emptied it out using the shower, now it shows empty water tank, but I have grey water tank that is filled. Also opened the valve under the sink and I hoped something would come out. The display shows the grey water tank is not empty I do not know what to do.

Searched forums, I will try to stick something through the pipe for grey water, but it is a new car, so nothing should be stuck and I only put clean water down the drain (from the sink). Is there something else I need to do in order for the tanks to empty, in addition to opening the valves under the sink (grey) and next to the gas tank (fresh tank)?

Thanks!

In the 14 years I've had my Cali, the waste water pipe under the car has often failed to drain after opening the valve, if not done very regularly. I've concluded that this is due to an airlock. I've tried blowing air up from a bicycle pump, and even sucking using a vacuum cleaner! In the end, the only way I ever succeed is by crawling under the van and blowing hard up the pipe with my mouth! It always works! I'm not suggesting you all do this!

edocali · Nov 12, 2022

andrew bazeley said:
In the 14 years I've had my Cali, the waste water pipe under the car has often failed to drain after opening the valve, if not done very regularly. I've concluded that this is due to an airlock. I've tried blowing air up from a bicycle pump, and even sucking using a vacuum cleaner! In the end, the only way I ever succeed is by crawling under the van and blowing hard up the pipe with my mouth! It always works! I'm not suggesting you all do this!

Does anyone have a picture of the waste water outlet ?
Rather than mouth blowing I'd try with a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner.

Resfeber · Nov 14, 2022

edocali said:
Does anyone have a picture of the waste water outlet ?
Rather than mouth blowing I'd try with a wet-and-dry vacuum cleaner.

Here you go.
Just in front of the rear passenger side wheel

Draining the fresh and grey water tanks

Peter Horvath

66tim99

Loz2286

GrumpyGranddad

California_Ocean

dspuk

Dave

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

66tim99

TwoDogs

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

TwoDogs

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

TwoDogs

Hawthorn37

Retired, and working hard at it

Kernowboy

ardm17

GranddadBeattie

Alistair Hardy

G3WRT

Brianandjoy

GrannyJen

Anthony1

Too young to be old

andrew bazeley

edocali

Resfeber

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