Water Loss in bongo

[mike2564]

Hi, Ive had a happy year with my bongo, I had the radiator hose replaced a few months ago, bled the system and last week noticed the temp go really hot then cold, when i stopped there was a gurgling sound from the expansion tank. I topped this up with anti freeze only to have to top it up again a few days later. I cant see any leaking, and im now worried it may be the head gasket? the water is a mucky brown... I cant see anythink by lifting the oil filler cap, no froth ? would it froth? my real reason for asking does anyone know a decent bongo friendly garage close to coventry, birmingham at a push... ? how much would a replacement head gasket cost to fit on average? thx Mike

[stilldesperate]

Hi Mike,

Just topping coolant up, if air has got into the system, will, generally, not solve the problem. Before assuming the head gasket, bleed the system properly. I'm sure a member local to you will be able to recommend a garage.

SD

These are Haydn Callows instructions for bleeding:

Bongo BLEEDING Instructions (use yourself or INSIST your garage follows them)




NOTE.. (Before you start) Get a large funnel and cut the spout so the bleed tube will push up into it nice and tight.. Don't take the bung out of the pipe yet.

1..remove the plastic air scoop from under the bonnet.
2..remove the pressure cap off the expansion tank.
3..remove the pressure cap from the rad and fill to brim if it is not already full.
4..replace rad cap.
5..fill the expansion tank to the FULL line.
6..release the rad cap till coolant overflows and tighten rad cap.
7..top up expansion tank to FULL
8..under the passenger seat ..find the coolant bleed tube...remove the bung and push up into funnel.
9..half fill the funnel with premixed coolant.

Note..by raising/lowering the funnel and adjusting the engine revs you will from now on be able to control the level of the coolant in the header tank & funnel.
At no point from now on allow the funnel to empty or the header tank to drop below FILL.

10..start the engine...switch on heaters.....rev to 2500 for 3 mins....idle for 1 min.
11..keep repeating this cycle until the heaters blow hot and switch the heaters off.
12..carry on with the rev 2500/idle cycle..raising and lowering the funnel...you will have to do this for about 30/40 mins.....UNTILL THE BOTTOM HOSE GETS GOOD AND WARM..(stat open).

Once this happens carry on till all bubbles stop and replace the bleed tube bung (wear gloves..very hot)put the bung in as coolant is flowing out so no air can sneak in.

Top up the tank...replace the tank cap.....go for a drive and keep a eye on coolant levels for a few days....should be o.k. If job was done properly.

THE SECRET IS TO GET THE BOTTOM HOSE HOT WHILST BLEEDING (STAT OPEN)

ANY PROBLEMS PHONE ME 01458 270230 AND ASK FOR HAYDN.

[dobby]

Mike

I know this is the wrong answer but the only garage we've used in the Midlands is Ian Taylor at Market Drayton. Have a look in the members area to see if there is one in the area near you:
Use this link:

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... arages.csv

Suggest that you get the car trailered/recovered to a garage. Sniffer testing or CO detector fluid is the only sure way to know if the head has gone best done by a garage.

A word of caution on Head gaskets - only buy the Mazda ones and also the head and block need checking for level/distortion.


There'll be some more advice along in a minute

[wonkanoby]

its not unusual im afraid for the replacement of one hose to lead to a leak in another

and unless you get it up in air and under trays of

with engine hot and running leaks can be hard to find

which hoses have been changed so far

[mike2564]

Thanks perople you have allready given me some good ideas, The hose i replaced (well my garage ) was the one under the drivers seat on the top me thinks, I took the car away and it overheated on the way home... I have tried bleeding it before using the pipe under the passenger seat was ok for a bit... ... Its annoying i can smell fluid but cant see it leaking... will monitor very closely, Will take it to my mechanic see what he thinks.. Its the colour ive put loads of pink coolant in and its now brown? with bits in... worse case cinario anyone know the aveerage cost for the gasket replacement?

[dobby]

I took the car away and it overheated on the way home... I have tried bleeding it before using the pipe under the passenger seat was ok for a bit...

Sounds like it needs bleeding properly by a bongo friendly garage.

Hope it's not the head, if it is then £1200 seems to be quoted a lot, I spent a bit more than that and had a Rad and all the hoses done Not sure what just a gasket would cost.

[wonkanoby]

the next most likley to leak is hose comes of engine over top of starter motor

and the bleed hose by block

are you sure it was bleed right

[Doone]

I took the car away and it overheated on the way home...

Had it over heated before the hose was replaced?

the water is a mucky brown...

The water (coolant) should not be a mucky brown... is the radiator OK? And was it a mucky brown before the hose was replaced?

[haydn callow]

Did the Bongo overheat before you took it in and had the hose replaced ??? If so then there is not much you can fault them on......
If it had not overheated before going into their care for the new hose and it overheated on the way back from that garage visit then perhaps you could go back to them and ask how they bled the cooling system after fitting the hose....If they do not mention the bleed hose/pipe under the passenger seat then I'm afraid it is really down to their lack of knowledge of Bongos.....Could well have cost you a cylinder head...Budget around £2000 fo this job and go somwhere else.
The reason your coolant has turned "muckey" brown is the internal "boil up" when this happens all the "crud" in the bottom of the Engine/Radiator gets stirred up and mixed in.
Sorry not to be more positive but that's the way I see it.......This is why it is so IMPORTANT to find a Bongo Garage when messing with the cooling system

[mike2564]

Hi all after a lot of looking found a small leak in radiator, some rad weld is not working a.ok, how lucky am i... will be keeping the bongo now for the summer yippee.... thanks all for your help...

[haydn callow]

Are you saying you found a leak in the radiator and fixed it with Rad Weld ??
Not a good idea.