bit sluggish up big inclines

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:07 pm

hi all, bought my first freda on friday went camping in it to the lakes,great drive, very comfy. just thought i ask a question of some one with a bit of techie no how, found the freda a bit slugish up them big inclines on m6, would drop to 60 mph with foot down, wondered if this is normal,has i know it is a heavy car,it is 2.5 diesel auto. thanks.

Dabs · Post by **Dabs** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:13 pm

Hi Platty,
Think this is common with a Bongo the feeling of sluggishness after driving other cars.Have You tried some injector cleaner in your diesel it does tidy things up a bit.
I find that I have adopted a different way of driving since getting a Bongo I look further ahead on the road especially on motorways when hills are coming and try and get a head of speed up before it.

In a straight line on the level it does suprise a lot of other drivers as to its speed but I agree going up hill can be a bit sluggish.

Im sure others will comment too on this.

Dabs

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:26 pm

Cheers Dabs, Did the same as you on the way back, looked ahead and built up some speed. Just wanted peace of mind that i've not bought something with a problem. Thanks for your fast reply.

Platty

jimsmimm · Post by **jimsmimm** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 2:31 pm

could be worth while having the fuel strainer out for a quick clean with a cotton bud... its often lurking behind any sluggishness..ten min job...... you do have to remember however that you are driving a two and a half ton brick....

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 4:18 pm

This thread was just titled 'freda'. Probably not the most useful title for getting the assistance/advice you need, platty, so I have changed it to something a bit more descriptive.

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 4:51 pm

cheers m8, no probs.

shakey · Post by **shakey** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:29 pm

platty, when did your Bongo have a full service, air, fuel, oil filters etc. I regularly drive M6 Lancaster to Tebay across to A66 and Scotch corner to Sunderland and mine climbs hill like a cut cat, admittedly with only two of us on board, but if I boot hard it at the bottom of Ravenstonedale i'm showing 60mph at the top. I agree on the injector cleaner and strainer. Your vehicle could have done a lot of short running and then stood about before sale.

Shakey

Bingabanga · Post by **Bingabanga** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 7:34 pm

I dont understand these comments. Two ton brick yes but with 130 BHP mine just goes uphill without effort and like stink on the flat. I have driven for more years than I care to admit and had great variety of vehicles. Suggest you must have blocked filters or non operating turbo or the accelerator pedal hits the carpet before max. or something. Sluggish!! I must make sure Mr Bongo doesnt see this!

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:03 pm

Mine is very good on hills too. I certainly notice the difference after driving my works Escort van, which really is sluggish on hills. The Bongo would leave it standing. My Bongo will still accelerate from 60 mph to overtake lorries, going up a hill on which the Escort would be flat out at 50 mph with a following wind.

I often wonder what my Bongo would go like if I disconnected the EGR valve. Must try it sometime.

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:26 pm

maybe it is me, i am use to driving vans sprinters mostly,the average on comments seems to be about 60mph up long inclines it might be ok after all, will try injecter fluid, serviced friday all filters changed and cambelt etc, thanks

trevd01 · Post by **trevd01** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 8:47 pm

platty345 wrote:maybe it is me, i am use to driving vans sprinters mostly,the average on comments seems to be about 60mph up long inclines it might be ok after all, will try injecter fluid, serviced friday all filters changed and cambelt etc, thanks

Most of us have probably been passed by a Sprinter doing 100mph+ on the motorway!

Many Sprinters have less than 130bhp (lots of different engine options, some quite modest bhp), and are taller than a Bongo - but they are very fast on the flat.

Depends what's in the Sprinter, of course - daresay an empty one might weigh less than a Bongo with all the seats in?

I can't say a Bongo is sluggish, but the power/weight ratio is nothing to get exited about. I find it perfectly acceptable up hills, 70+ on the way up to Penrith on the M6, for example - plus can average about 80mph in comfort, (on Autoroutes, say).

A service with all the fuel system cleaned?

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 9:04 pm

must b something iffy with mine then , just got back from penrith could not get to 70+ up hills, av 2 give the guy i got it off a ring or take it to the guy in bury 2 av alook at.

Post by **Simon Jones** » Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:00 pm

I find that our van is not great on hills, unless you take a massive run up at them. The air & fuel filters have been changed, but not yet cleaned the filter by the pump. I think Bongo performance is very subjective. A lot of people rave on about amazing performance, yet 0 - 60 in about 17 secs is hardly pant-wetting acceleration when compared to you're average family hatchback.

I think it would be an interesting excercise to get a couple of vans/owners together & either take turns to drive them, or have a bit if a trip along a few dual carriage ways & see how they perform when driving in convoy.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:12 am

Hi Platty, methinks something is amiss!

Ive yet to encounter any hill that,in any gear the revs drop below 2400 RPM if the gradient is entered at 2500RPM.

The bongo may not have the top end power to shame a ford GT, but it does possess BAGS of torque!

A sprinter is no quicker than a bongo.

I've seen off a supercharged Merc before now (and i have witnesses,and from a standing start)

Its interesting that you say your bongo has recently been serviced,i bet the air filter cover hasn't been properly secured,or the filter isn't housed properly,or even slipped sideways a little?

When i met you've been bongo'd recently at knutsford services,we both exited the services at around fifty, then was cruising at 85-90 within fifteen seconds or so... We both have diesel bongo's.

I'm certain that something is amiss...somewhere...

petebee · Post by **petebee** » Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:55 am

Hello Platty345 when I cllected my Bongo from the dealer fully serviced etc. I was slightly disapointed with its performance especially on inclines.Had a problem with the temperature gauge and while investigating the sender unit [under drivers side] spotted a dangling vacume pipe.
After replacement was amazed by incredible increase in power and still am.
I think its worth checking yours, good luck.

bit sluggish up big inclines

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