Expansion tank overflow?

manners · Post by **manners** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:41 pm

Just been on my first long trip in the Bongo temp gauge always goes up to half way (12 0'clock) but no further. Checked the coolant level before setting off and was right, on returning a day later checked again and was a bit low so topped it up and set off 20 miles later stopped for an hour to return to a puddle under the Bongo that had run out of the breather pipe on the expansion tank, looking at the rust on the second battery tray it has been doing this for some time as the tray was also full of coolant. After arriving home (150 miles) the expansion tank is totally empty as my warranty does not cover any damage caused by over heating should i be worried and return the motor as it is a fault that was there when a bought it but has only become apparent after a good run?

nfn · Post by **nfn** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:51 pm

You should return it to the dealer as soon as possible. Hopefully the dealer will fix it with no quibbles. It sounds as if you have been very diligent in watching the coolant level and temp gauge -- if the head gasket is shot (or worse), I doubt that it is your fault. Good luck, and keep the list posted as to your progress.

patmckenna · Post by **patmckenna** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:19 pm

Hi Manners

I've sent you a pm

Pat

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:56 pm

I would expect any decent dealer to do the right thing and sort it. Seems plenty of evidence it has been doing it for a while i.e. before you bought it.

Good luck, keep us posted

Mike

manners · Post by **manners** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 pm

Cheers for the pm Pat. A bit of an update dealer thinks its an air lock and taking it back tomorrow. After a forum search checked a few more things oil OK no mayo' drove it round for about ten minutes then stopped no sign of leaks temp gauge showing 5 to 12 cooling fan running! Bottom hose cold so kept squeezing top then bottom hoses till bottom started to get warm then eventually same temp as top, temp gauge still showing same fan stopped running!

waycar8 · Post by **waycar8** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:41 pm

manners wrote:Just been on my first long trip in the Bongo temp gauge always goes up to half way (12 0'clock) but no further. Checked the coolant level before setting off and was right, on returning a day later checked again and was a bit low so topped it up and set off 20 miles later stopped for an hour to return to a puddle under the Bongo that had run out of the breather pipe on the expansion tank, looking at the rust on the second battery tray it has been doing this for some time as the tray was also full of coolant. After arriving home (150 miles) the expansion tank is totally empty as my warranty does not cover any damage caused by over heating should i be worried and return the motor as it is a fault that was there when a bought it but has only become apparent after a good run?

are you sure it came out of the breather pipe?, i checked mine took the lid off to see as my expansion bottle is dark yellow. looked inside, the coolant level was fine so i put the cap back on and set off.

arrived at destination (wirral meet) and stopped one night and then went into town do do some bbq fodder shopping, pulled up at the supermarket noticed some dripping, looked under bonnet and expansion tank was empty saw where coolant was leaking from

when i put the cap back on after checking the level, it didnt go on right, so the coolant was comming out, topped up with water, for the time being untill i got home, bought some coolant bled the system putting in neat coolant.

everything been fine since, no overheating no coolant loss.

manners · Post by **manners** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:02 pm

Update No2: let her cool down again, top hose still warm bottom hose cool, checked coolant level OK and cap fitted correctly

drove about two miles checking heater half way belted out hot air but had to set temp to 32 but according to searches this seems the norm. After the two miles top and bottom hose same temp so coolant seems to be circulating now if it wasn't before, expansion tank level the same. Do you think just squeezing the hoses could of freed the blockage/airlock?

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:07 pm

Yes when I bleed the coolant system I squeeze all the hoses and it is suprising how much air can be trapped in the system, I do this with the expansion cap off and also with the bleed pipe bung out and the hose raised

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:44 am

It's sounding like you have a blockage(s) somewhere either silt or air or both. Doesn't sound critical yet but as a matter of urgency you should look at flushing the cooling system and backflushing the radiator before you get a real and costly overheating problem. Recharging the coolant requires a bit of extra time and care compared to most vehicles but the procedure is covered in the manual.

Vanmanerik · Post by **Vanmanerik** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:58 am

I think you will be OK from now on, you have removed the airlock which now allows your coolant to circulate.

You are now a member of a small privilidged group of Bongo owners whose bottom hose actually gets hot!

A survey I did a few months ago showed that most Bongos did not get their bottom hose hot, the owners were OK with this as they think the Bongo was designed to be cooled by the excess pipework and the two heaters dissipated the heat adequately without the engine radiator being required.

So long as you can feel the bottom hose getting hot after the engine has warmed up it shows your coolant is circulating as it should and thats a good sign..

But beware of leaks, small leaks are the worst as they creeep up on you and suddenly the temp guage shows 'VERY HOT', the worst offender seems to be the bleed pipe under the passenger seat, it runs over the alternator and around the hatchway and terminates with a plastic bung. This can chaff around the area where it passes over the alternator and then drip, drip away out of site.

Carry a few litres of coolant with you just in case wherever you go, in the meantime go for a few runs just to get your confidence again and see that you are not going to overheat and enjoy your Bongo.

If you are in the High Peak there is a good guy called Ian Taylor not far from you at Cheddleton who specialises in Bongos.