Cooling System mystery

[ScubaBongo]

Afternoon all,

Checked the Bongo just before we went on holiday (start of December, before the cold snap) to find that there was no coolant in the plastic expansion tank. EMPTY.

Still, continued on hols, and only got back last weekend. Had a look this morning (hoping I had imagined the whole event) and no, it's still empty.

So I'm thinking, either:

1. Previous owner had the wrong antifreeze concentration in there... so it froze, expanded, and probably killed the radiator, and lost the fluid. (I know, I should have checked concentration when I bought the Bongo in August, but it had just been serviced, and I never got round it.)

2. A rubber hose finally died (while the Bongo was parked up??) and fluid dumped (my driveway is gravel, so I wouldn't really notice any leak while parked).

Or

3. Something else that I haven't thought of, but you guys might have....

In addition, now that I've had a good look in the expansion tank, it does look a little red/brown in there.

Not sure what to do first. Refilling with coolant looks like a fairly fiddly process from the factsheet (and a pointless waste of cash if its all going to end up on the driveway). Don't want to test the systems integrity with water as if any does remain in there, it'll probably freeze and cause more problems.

There's a Bongo Specialist about 2 miles away (ADS, South Liberty Lane, South Bristol - anyone tried them?) so I'm very tempted to just let them have it... although I can't drive it 2 miles dry, can I?

Be nice to know what I'm dealing with first, I might do the job myself, especially if it's expensive.

Any sugestions on where to start? Don't want to make a bad situation worse, but want the Bongo back on it's feet by Spring! It was trouble free in the 1000 ish miles I did in it between Aug-Nov.

Thanks in advance

[missfixit70]

Lift up the seats & look underneath, as well as under the bonnet, check all the hoses for swelling or pinpricks, you may see a staining where it's leaking from, check around the rad too. It'd probably be worth getting some coolant & topping it up, see how much has gone & see if it does leak from anywhere.
If you're not confident about bleeding the coolant after looking at the factsheets, is there anyone local to you on the forum that may help?. If not I'd give the garage a ring, I think ADS have been mentioned on here, wouldn't risk driving it even that short distance IMO if you're not sure about it.

[Matt&JoyBongling]

Just checking that you were looking for the coolant level on the left hand side of the tank (where the max / min mark is) rather than the right hand side where it is topped up; I nearly made a mess of my pants a few years ago when I checked my expansion tank and it saw it was bone dry. I was about to top up when I realised that the design of the tank means that half of the tank can look dry but the water level is fine.

[missfixit70]

Good point guys, this may help - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ck&start=0

[haydn callow]

If the tank was ever empty you would have overheated long ago...You must be reading the level wrong somehow.
ADS Automotive are good

[haydn callow]

Ah ! think I misunderstood.....you didn't go on hols in Bongo....That fooled me...
Jut find the leak and get it fixed before you go ANYWHERE.

[ScubaBongo]

Thanks for the replies, and sorry for the 'holiday confusion' guys- no the Bongo hadn't been used since end of November, when it was fine on a 50 mile round trip.

Matt & Joy: good point, and you were right, I was referring to the right hand side, but it seems dry in the left hand side too (hard to see as the plastic has discoloured, but it looks empty).

I've had a good look around the engine bay (both seats) and under the bonnet, and can't see any evidence of a leak (other than the lack of fluid!).

I'm going to have a go at refilling the system. Is there any logic in trying to 'top up' the system first, before going through the full coolant change procedure in the factsheet? Just thinking that it could be a quick/easy check, to see how little coolant remains (could be that the coolant has only just dropped below the expansion tanks level, as oppossed to having drained completely from an ice expanded rad, which is my pessamistic worst fear).

Cheers

[haydn callow]

Don't risk just trying to top up.....If there is coolant in the tank (IT MUST BE ABOVE THE LEVEl OF THE OUTLET PIPES) then O.K......try shining a torch inside to see the level....if in any doubt then do NOT just top up and hope for the best.
Have pm'd my phone Number if you want a quick run through the bleed procedure.

[ScubaBongo]

It's below the level of the outlet pipes, so proper coolant change it is.

Hadyn- thanks for the offer, much appreciated. I'll hopefully get this done Friday afternoon, so if (when!) it all seems too confusing, I may take you up on your offer . Cheers.

Anyone know of any deals on coolant at the moment?!

[haydn callow]

One thing is for sure....IT MUST BE DONE RIGHT....or it can mean big bucks

[ScubaBongo]

Set about refilling/checking the cooling system over the weekend, and was going to fit my new coolant alarm too (from Hadyn's sale).

Spoke to Hadyn on Friday too, who gave me a few tips (thanks Hadyn).

Unfortunately, when I got the air intake off, it was all too obvious that the crimps on the top plastic tank of the rad have started to fail. Topped up with water, (about a litre I think) and more water slowly seeped out of the crimps.

Realising I was out of my depth (I've changed a rad before, but it seems more serious on the Bongo- WHY did it fail in the first place, old age, or high pressure?) I called in the experts. ADS in Bristol (details in members area) are going to test the cooling system for leaks, and advise me of the situation (is it just the rad, or are there darker issues here- please, nobody say that 4-letter 'H' word yet).

Fingers crossed. Should hear from them midweek....