Hi I am new to this forum ,brought my first Bongo last week ,a 1999 2wd diesel and am quickly finding my way around it .As it will be mainly used for long trips I am giving it a through going over .I have read lots on here about bleeding the cooling system and wonder if anyone has considered fitting a second bleed pipe on the other side of the thermostat so it would be posssible to bleed the system without having to run engine the up to full operating temprature.I have ordered a full set of silicon hoses for the engine new water pump and thermastat a low level water sensor and a temprature alarm.The engine has done 66000 miles and seems to be in excellent order
Thanks Mike
Cooling system
Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior
Re: Cooling system
Welcome !
I'm sure a 'techy' will be along soon.
My next job is the silicone pipe work,you'll soon
learn that fully stretched a Bongo's pipe work will
stretch from England to Australia (at least !)
Welcome abord !
I'm sure a 'techy' will be along soon.
My next job is the silicone pipe work,you'll soon
learn that fully stretched a Bongo's pipe work will
stretch from England to Australia (at least !)

Welcome abord !
Re: Cooling system
I've just had mine done £80-00 for the pipes and £170 for fitting bleeeding and pressure testing of the system also sniff tested again as I had a blowout on the M-Way two weeks ago now feel very confident in the Bongo
Sparky
Sparky
The Bongo has gone. Long live The Bongo
Hymer Camp Swing 544/Fiat Ducato 2.3jtd
Hymer Camp Swing 544/Fiat Ducato 2.3jtd
Re: Cooling system
For how many pipes?sparkymik wrote:I've just had mine done £80-00 for the pipes
Re: Cooling system
I wouldn't contemplate changing the system; such as with a second bleed pipe.
It's quite easy to run to the engine up to operating temperature, especially in this hot weather. In 32 deg C the other week I had the thermostat opening in about ten minutes just running on tick over. The accounts of how to get rid of the trapped air are very helpful on this site, and I think take into account the worst case of a winter day; which makes a big difference to the warm-up time.
The bleeding procedures just make sure you really put some heat energy into the coolant, so that the thermostat opens more than a crack, and that the velocity of the coolant is sufficient to drive air round the system.
Note that there is reference on this forum to the air scavenger function of the reservoir which allows for continual removal of small amounts of air in operation. The bleeding procedure removes gross airlocks at refill.
I had a burst hose on the driver side where it comes out of the engine. This is probably the most vulnerable as it is subject to the highest temperatures in operation, and residual heat from the engine when stopped. If it feels softer when squeezed than the other hoses then it may be on the way out.
Incidently there is masses of information on this forum about cooling problems, though not yet collated in one place.
It's quite easy to run to the engine up to operating temperature, especially in this hot weather. In 32 deg C the other week I had the thermostat opening in about ten minutes just running on tick over. The accounts of how to get rid of the trapped air are very helpful on this site, and I think take into account the worst case of a winter day; which makes a big difference to the warm-up time.
The bleeding procedures just make sure you really put some heat energy into the coolant, so that the thermostat opens more than a crack, and that the velocity of the coolant is sufficient to drive air round the system.
Note that there is reference on this forum to the air scavenger function of the reservoir which allows for continual removal of small amounts of air in operation. The bleeding procedure removes gross airlocks at refill.
I had a burst hose on the driver side where it comes out of the engine. This is probably the most vulnerable as it is subject to the highest temperatures in operation, and residual heat from the engine when stopped. If it feels softer when squeezed than the other hoses then it may be on the way out.
Incidently there is masses of information on this forum about cooling problems, though not yet collated in one place.
Re: Cooling system
Hi four large pipes in total from a guy in London on E-Bay in a nice hue of blue
Sparky

Sparky
The Bongo has gone. Long live The Bongo
Hymer Camp Swing 544/Fiat Ducato 2.3jtd
Hymer Camp Swing 544/Fiat Ducato 2.3jtd
Re: Cooling system
A fair bit of the info about cooling problems has been collated HERE IN FAQ's... worth reading before you consider modifying the system.Incidently there is masses of information on this forum about cooling problems, though not yet collated in one place.

Allans Garage retired. Try PGS (Plymouth Garage Services) or Mayflower Auto Services Plymouth