TEMP GAUGE READINGS - Normal temp deg c.

[karlos]

thamks for the advice on this subject,

I didnt realise the factory temp gauge is a bit poo.

Worrying Now I have only had my bongo about a week.

Seems fine though -now a bit daunted, I have a long drive in it tuesday next week-

Does any body have a temp gauge in a 2.5td that reads in deg rather than a needle pointing red green etc.

I think I want to get one installed pronto now-What kind of water temp do these bongo's run at. ie does any one know when the thermostat opens.- deg c.

Hope I can get one in before that drive -mind you I dont supose it helps If I'm miles form home and it starts getting hot. I know it's had a head gasket 5,000 miles a go, new rad and water pump and seems ok! (I check fluid regular and will do so on the way down south)

[missfixit70]

Loads on the subject on the forum, just have a search, Hayn Callow's TM2 - http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk/ or just a cheap digital or analogue temp display form ebay or elsewhere, I've got one on the forward end of the exhaust side of the head, runs anywhere between high 80's & max temp around 106, It all depends where you're measuring from.
Stat opens at about 82 degrees centigrade.
Modify the existing temp gauge as per haydn Callows instructions or fit a Mason alarm -http://www.townace.plus.com/ie/ietemga2.htm - which modifies it & provides a settable alarm too

[karlos]

Cheers,

I will go down the ancillary gauge route, dont want a coolant alarm although I'm sure it works for others.

I will use water pressure - this will indicate coolant loss as well as water pump failer.

This is gonna be the next mod I do. " the data was bang on, thanks."

[haydn callow]

water pressure ???? how ???

[karlos]

I will use analogue gauges may need three, the ones with inturnal lcd are a bit expensive that are multifunction.

I obviously want accurate water temp (will probably do the mod suggested by hadencallow. as well as running a gauge with temp deg c, ) I dont want it to look to cluttered though. Was also intending oil pressure and maybe water pressure.

I do always check my coolant regular, surely a coolant alarm that works on levels - isnt it a bit late if the levels are dropping while driving if they were good when setting off? or is it that sensative and effective?.

I know water pressure goes up and down a bit with thermal expansion(although stictly speaking I am told you canot compress it thats why it's used for pressure testing high pressure cylinders and tanks-less explosive energy if it goes wrong) and if the waterpump is driven off the crank one way or another as it revs then water pressure will go up to. but generally if it starts to drop quickly will indicate burst hose loss or coolant of pump failer - not sure how bongo work's ie impeller or chain/belt driven water pump but I have seen engines wrecked because of pump related failer.

" Water pressure sender is untested on the bongo so may not work for one reason or another - I havent looked at expansion bottle or coolant system yet (i expect it has an overflow/vented cap) I presume the system does pressurise? "

Normally have a tee peice in the coolant pipe(similar to your kit Haden, but fabricated out of tigged ali, with samco hose) with something like a vdo sender - but that communicates with my stack dash-mulit fuction clock dial brain- I'm not sure if it sends digital or analog(resistance/voltage)signal? but it's not mechanical. Part of kit of sensors comes with dash package. NO I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT FOR BONGO- unecessary and to pricey.

Was installed in the car before I got it buy some guy whos son drives f1, "I'm not that sure yet!" I know oil pressure is straight forward.

I supose you could argue the water temp would rocket too. - Infact I'm probably over complicating things.

Infact I dont know why we run all this kit, once it goes wrong is gone wrong any way - I supose it's to help catch a problem before it does a lot of damage, My rebuilt car engine came from a guy who boiled it dry because the water pump lost drive!

It works on my car (the same as oil pressure)but my car tends to give similar readings all the time because it's always being used in the same way.

I'm just scared to see how many head gaskets go on the bongo, I dont want to be in the middle of no where when it happens towing a trailer,

I dont know what the AA etc do in that circumstance. Id be more worried about my trailer and it's contents than the bongo.

Is the head gasket a weak design or do people just forget to put coolant in or drive on with split hoses?

I had a look round my one because starter motor contacts failed - looks like it needs some tlc.-

Not used to seeing dirt and oil on an engine unless it's gone pop.

I did buy it cheap hope it's gonna be a good one - survived so far, thats a good sign I hope-

Think I will have to get the degreasant out - I want to take all terminals of and clean them and make every thing mint - a give it a proper service, glow plugs etc. I hate my self for it!

[dandywarhol]

I will use analogue gauges may need three, the ones with inturnal lcd are a bit expensive that are multifunction.

I obviously want accurate water temp (will probably do the mod suggested by hadencallow. as well as running a gauge with temp deg c, ) I dont want it to look to cluttered though. Was also intending oil pressure and maybe water pressure.

I do always check my coolant regular, surely a coolant alarm that works on levels - isnt it a bit late if the levels are dropping while driving if they were good when setting off? or is it that sensative and effective?.

I know water pressure goes up and down a bit with thermal expansion(although stictly speaking I am told you canot compress it thats why it's used for pressure testing high pressure cylinders and tanks-less explosive energy if it goes wrong) and if the waterpump is driven off the crank one way or another as it revs then water pressure will go up to. but generally if it starts to drop quickly will indicate burst hose loss or coolant of pump failer - not sure how bongo work's ie impeller or chain/belt driven water pump but I have seen engines wrecked because of pump related failer.

" Water pressure sender is untested on the bongo so may not work for one reason or another - I havent looked at expansion bottle or coolant system yet (i expect it has an overflow/vented cap) I presume the system does pressurise? "

Normally have a tee peice in the coolant pipe(similar to your kit Haden, but fabricated out of tigged ali, with samco hose) with something like a vdo sender - but that communicates with my stack dash-mulit fuction clock dial brain- I'm not sure if it sends digital or analog(resistance/voltage)signal? but it's not mechanical. Part of kit of sensors comes with dash package. NO I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT FOR BONGO- unecessary and to pricey.

Was installed in the car before I got it buy some guy whos son drives f1, "I'm not that sure yet!" I know oil pressure is straight forward.

I supose you could argue the water temp would rocket too. - Infact I'm probably over complicating things.

Infact I dont know why we run all this kit, once it goes wrong is gone wrong any way - I supose it's to help catch a problem before it does a lot of damage, My rebuilt car engine came from a guy who boiled it dry because the water pump lost drive!

It works on my car (the same as oil pressure)but my car tends to give similar readings all the time because it's always being used in the same way.

I'm just scared to see how many head gaskets go on the bongo, I dont want to be in the middle of no where when it happens towing a trailer,

I dont know what the AA etc do in that circumstance. Id be more worried about my trailer and it's contents than the bongo.

Is the head gasket a weak design or do people just forget to put coolant in or drive on with split hoses?

I had a look round my one because starter motor contacts failed - looks like it needs some tlc.-

Not used to seeing dirt and oil on an engine unless it's gone pop.

I did buy it cheap hope it's gonna be a good one - survived so far, thats a good sign I hope-

Think I will have to get the degreasant out - I want to take all terminals of and clean them and make every thing mint - a give it a proper service, glow plugs etc. I hate my self for it!

you're right about not being able to compress fluid but you can expand hoses! If you are unlucky enough to loose coolant then the temperature will rise and will therefore raise the pressure in the system and your pressure gauge will show that, if you're always keeping one eye on all your gauges as well as the road ahead....................

Why not keep things simple and have an audible warning tell you when things are amiss?

[missfixit70]

I will use analogue gauges may need three, the ones with inturnal lcd are a bit expensive that are multifunction.

I obviously want accurate water temp (will probably do the mod suggested by hadencallow. as well as running a gauge with temp deg c, ) I dont want it to look to cluttered though. Was also intending oil pressure and maybe water pressure.

I do always check my coolant regular, surely a coolant alarm that works on levels - isnt it a bit late if the levels are dropping while driving if they were good when setting off? or is it that sensative and effective?.

Do you check your coolant every time you turn your ignition on? the coolant alarm does - yes it is that sensitive.

I know water pressure goes up and down a bit with thermal expansion(although stictly speaking I am told you canot compress it thats why it's used for pressure testing high pressure cylinders and tanks-less explosive energy if it goes wrong) and if the waterpump is driven off the crank one way or another as it revs then water pressure will go up to. but generally if it starts to drop quickly will indicate burst hose loss or coolant of pump failer - not sure how bongo work's ie impeller or chain/belt driven water pump but I have seen engines wrecked because of pump related failer.

" Water pressure sender is untested on the bongo so may not work for one reason or another - I havent looked at expansion bottle or coolant system yet (i expect it has an overflow/vented cap) I presume the system does pressurise? "

Dubious as to the effectiveness of being able to glean useful data from water pressure with it being a pressurised system. A fair proportion of coolant issues are airlock/overpressure situations, I think you may be pointlessly reinventing the wheel with this as an idea, but it'd be interesting to see what results you get.

Normally have a tee peice in the coolant pipe(similar to your kit Haden, but fabricated out of tigged ali, with samco hose)

Haydn's coolant alarm for the bongo doesn't have a T-piece in a coolant pipe, just a wire connected to a terminal screw tightened into a small hole drilled into the header tank

with something like a vdo sender - but that communicates with my stack dash-mulit fuction clock dial brain- I'm not sure if it sends digital or analog(resistance/voltage)signal? but it's not mechanical. Part of kit of sensors comes with dash package. NO I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT FOR BONGO- unecessary and to pricey.

Was installed in the car before I got it buy some guy whos son drives f1, "I'm not that sure yet!" I know oil pressure is straight forward.

I supose you could argue the water temp would rocket too. - Infact I'm probably over complicating things.

Yup nothing wrong with thinking outside the box , but it'd be worth spending a few weeks trawling the forums to check over what's already been discussed/tried etc

Infact I dont know why we run all this kit, once it goes wrong is gone wrong any way - I supose it's to help catch a problem before it does a lot of damage, My rebuilt car engine came from a guy who boiled it dry because the water pump lost drive!

It works on my car (the same as oil pressure)but my car tends to give similar readings all the time because it's always being used in the same way.

I'm just scared to see how many head gaskets go on the bongo, I dont want to be in the middle of no where when it happens towing a trailer,

I dont know what the AA etc do in that circumstance. Id be more worried about my trailer and it's contents than the bongo.

Is the head gasket a weak design or do people just forget to put coolant in or drive on with split hoses?

In some cases yes hence the Mason Alarm, Coolant alarm etc. Bear in mind these vehicles are up to 15 years old with a mid mount engine 17 aged hoses, I think about half a dozen metal pipes, 2 heater matrices & a rad, etc. It's an Ally head on a cast iron block, therefore won't withstand overheating too well due to the different expansion rates. Add in to that the fact that the old Jap coolant may not have been flushed out properly & mixed with the european spec stuff, can be a bit destructive - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=28754 .The amount of head problems you read about on here is relatively small compared to the general ownership though, people don't generally come here to say I've had no problems it's all running great, it's like a casualty dept

I had a look round my one because starter motor contacts failed - looks like it needs some tlc.-

Not used to seeing dirt and oil on an engine unless it's gone pop.

I did buy it cheap hope it's gonna be a good one - survived so far, thats a good sign I hope-

Think I will have to get the degreasant out - I want to take all terminals of and clean them and make every thing mint - a give it a proper service, glow plugs etc. I hate my self for it!

Go for it, nothing wrong with that at all, only way to get to know it all properly, you may be interested in replacing your hoses with silicon, one of the members on here - Flippa has had most of them made up - http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/silicone- ... QQ_armrsZ1 - just give him a shout if they aren't all listed.

[missfixit70]

You'll probably also want to look at disabling the egr, then cleaning out the intercooler, pipework & inlet manifold, fitting a K&N air filter & thoroughly cleaning out the ATF it's filter & cooler.

[karlos]

I've only had this thing a little while (hence hitting the site hard with questions and info/when i'm all sorted I will rarely post) not had a good chance to look it over and address any issues. The problem is this is the one thing I probably use the most.

I have nt made my mind up on a few things yet. but its all in the pipe line - I just hope the bongo behaves long enough for me to get round to it - point taken about the pressure issue.

I still need to look into it more, I dont want to experiment just do what works in a cost effective fashion.

I'm not that clued up on the pressure isssues, only solutions that have worked for a different environment and I appreciate it probably is not suitable for this one.

[splitpin]

I have a digital temp display with sensor attached to head on drivers side near front, normal running temp shows between 85 and 95 c , used to go a bit higher than that until I blanked EGR.