How often do you clean out your roof drains?

[TripleBee]

I have always had water running through the drains, even with roof closed.
Just the last few years the outlets were blocked by gunk.
Now I opened the outlets, no water stays at the top anymore.
I don't know while driving, as then, due to the speed and position of the seal, it is almost impossible to get water in. Just while standing still with closed roof, the water starts entering under the roof, and then draining front and back.

 

[briwy]

Also, the wiper arms are ++tricky to remove. I was just about to order a removal tool when I saw this video and it worked liked magic So want to share it.

No way would that have worked on ours. Depends on the age of the van I suppose. I would also be wary of thumping a wiper resting on the glass. I got the nut off, dosed it with penetrating oil and left it for a couple of hours. Put the nut back on a few turns, lifted the wiper up and held it and then gently tapped the nut with a small hammer. Took about five minutes but it eventually came off.

 

[pchmlk]

No way would that have worked on ours. Depends on the age of the van I suppose. I would also be wary of thumping a wiper resting on the glass. I got the nut off, dosed it with penetrating oil and left it for a couple of hours. Put the nut back on a few turns, lifted the wiper up and held it and then gently tapped the nut with a small hammer. Took about five minutes but it eventually came off.

I was very skeptical and was about to buy a puller tool. It works extraordinarily well however.

 

[Perfectos]

Don't forget to clean out your roof drains before winter and make sure they flow freely.

I check mine at least twice a year, despite this , Checked mine today whilst checking and cleaning the roof & roof seal. one front roof drain was blocked with detritus, a large syringe of water sorted it out before it caused an issue.

 

[AcapulcoLoco]

Don't forget to clean out your roof drains before winter and make sure they flow freely.

I check mine at least twice a year, despite this , Checked mine today whilst checking and cleaning the roof & roof seal. one front roof drain was blocked with detritus, a large syringe of water sorted it out before it caused an issue.

Must have a look at mine, I've never cleaned mine out and my van gets covered in tree sap, leaves, acorns and twigs so it's probably going to be bad. A stitch in time and all that....

 

[Habokjes]

Since they seemed to be blocked pretty easy, espacialy when camping in forest or areas with lots of trees, about four times per year. Same goes for the air inlet under the bonnet, there is a lot of leaves and other debris gathering there.

 

[Perfectos]

Must have a look at mine, I've never cleaned mine out and my van gets covered in tree sap, leaves, acorns and twigs so it's probably going to be bad. A stitch in time and all that....

Tree crud is exactly what blocks the front drains.
Clean the crud away , then gently flush with a large syringe and a bit of pvc tube

 

[Viktorgeorge]

Tree crud is exactly what blocks the front drains.
Clean the crud away , then gently flush with a large syringe and a bit of pvc tube

Perfectos is 100% right on this. I do this at least twice a year and use a syringe like this (with the plastic tube trimmed 45 to degrees at the end and to around 150mm length):

https://amzn.eu/d/3MH8pZe

 

[Perfectos]

Ali express et at el = very cheap

 

[Daveb999]

Completely forgot about this, will check tomorrow as like most many of my stop offs are under trees etc.

 

[KevH]

I own up to visually checking but never actually cleaning them out, so I must do this soon, thanks for the nudge.
What size syringe and tubing works best?

 

[WelshGas]

I own up to visually checking but never actually cleaning them out, so I must do this soon, thanks for the nudge.
What size syringe and tubing works best?

The smaller the syringe the higher pressure that can be generated. 100 - 200 mls works well.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

I own up to visually checking but never actually cleaning them out, so I must do this soon, thanks for the nudge.
What size syringe and tubing works best?

My syringe is 100mm and the tube came with it as it does in the link at #33. Mine works fine though If I was buying off that link again I would buy a larger one probably 250mm or even 350mm. The @Perfectos link takes you up to 500mm and is very cheap, so I am going to order at 500mm one and see how I get on - the more gentle low pressure detergent/water solution flushing the better I would suggest in particular to maintain the front drains.

EDIT: went off Ali Express once I tried to sign up, ended up with a 550mm from Amazon on the link in #33, but strangely that now shows 350 as the largest so presumably the 550 is sold out.

 

[Viktorgeorge]

The smaller the syringe the higher pressure that can be generated. 100 - 200 mls works well.

Are you sure you need "higher pressure" @WelshGas? I accept if you have a blockage you might need to push it through harder, but this post is about maintenance and it strikes me that a longer flush is more important than pressure. Currently I do my 100mm syringe twice, then move on, but perhaps 500mm would make more sense. I am mindful of others who have managed to separate that hidden pipe joint with bad consequences, and I would not use air pressure, for example.

I am going to experiment with both sizes 100mm and 550mm. I do recognise that your post is technically correct in hydraulic terms @WelshGas .