Post
by GICarey » Wed May 27, 2009 10:12 pm
So, bank holiday weekend. What a scorcher!
Few journeys during the week, all fine, and then drove the Bongo 100 miles down to Kent again Saturday evening, on Sunday morning I grabbed a 5 litre container of anti-freeze from Halfauds, and the step-father and I "had a play". First attempt was opening the tap in the bottom of the new radiator and filling the header tank. Fluid started to turn pink after about an litre had been pushed in. Damn. Still 4 litres to go.
Then decided to drain from the bleed hose, again, pink rather quickly, but we persevered, and got the entire 4 litres in, without much/any of it coming out. Upon testing with the floaty-ball specific gravity thingy, the water coming out was pretty much all water, dyed pink by the litre of coolant i'd got in there during the week (that dye goes a long way!), and the 4 litres going in from the header tank didn't find its way to the bleed hose. Ran the car up to temp with header cap off and bleed hose open (per the bleed instructions), just to be on the safe side (no major burps from either location, however - as expected, nothing we did ought to have let air in).
Ended with a little too much coolant in, plan was to drain it when I got home using my Pela.
Sunday afternoon, drove the 100 miles home again. Fookin warm, air con blasting, etc, and then an accident on the M25 caused me to sit stationary with aircon blowing for 5 mins before shutting down for the following 2 hours.
Decided to wander on the motorway for a while (the novelty always takes me), and noticed a wet puddle under the Bongo - appears that, upon shutting down, no more pumped circuilation & cooling meant the water warmed up a bit too much and pushed itself out of the header tank - oh well, level set & no need for the Pela pump then. Slight concern, given what had gone before, but fingers crossed for when I could start up again.
Remiander of the journey fine, as was a 20 mile each way trip to the local National Trust site with misses & dog on the Monday.
So - all in all, Im starting to build up a little confidence in the Bongo again. Another couple of weekends (don't go anywhere in it during the week) and I think i may start to forget all about it!
Will keep fingers crossed, and thanks to everyone for all the sympathy/support/advice!
Gav.
