Coolant leak Crisis!

[Blueskai]

....About Bongo coolant systems.

[Blueskai]

Old radiator out. New radiator in. Rain stopped play.
Will get back to it this evening and hopefully finish the job. Fingers crossed on the collant replacement. It is going to be a long noisy evening, methinks.

[Blueskai]

It's me again, fresh from annoying the neighbours with my coolant shenanigans.

Radiator changed, Coolant drained pipes connected, just over 10 litres replaced.

Engine up to temperature, lots of rock and roll to get the bubbles out using the funnel technique. Just as the coolant began to clear, The pipe popped off, spraying hot coolant everywhere. Seven swear words later, I started the whole process again.

Notice there is a lot of steam coming from the new radiator, but I am putting that down to coolant that spilled over it during the changeover. Will check tomorrow when dry and hot.

Must remember to check the gearbox oil level and top up as a little was lost in the changeover.

NEW PROBLEM DISCOVERED WHILST IDLING......
FUEL DRIPPING OFF THE UNDERTRAY - I'll book that in to my mechanic for further inspection. Im guessing its a fuel pump seal or something. Can anyone tell me where I can get the part, please.

All the best.

[missfixit70]

Factsheet in the members area on changing the fuel pump with the details, or look a few posts down in the techie section (or do a seach) it came up in the last few days on here.

[Blueskai]

Last night, everything was sorted, so I thought.

This morning, no coolant in the header tank! Can't see a puddle or anything. I've topped it up, but will need to bleed it again. I know there is a bit of settling, but a whole tank is surely too much for it to be healthy.

Beginning to feel a bit miserable now.

[handyman]

Don't worry to much about the header tank draining. Iv'e had that happen when I changed my rad last month.

Just follow the bleed procedure again. Bongo has lots of air pockets to fill especially in the rear heater matrix. You may find the header may still drop. I checked mine every day for 2 weeks before I was satisfied all the air was out.

[mobilecat]

See if you can search for the thread from when mine went the same way last year.

Everything was going perfectly for nearly 2 years and then the same thing happened, from nowhere it was coming out and I had to have a new radiator due to the same weak points BUT it was still leaking and every hose and joint had been checked.

It was something really really simple - it was the actual cap on the header tank - the piece you take off to fill the coolant. To the naked eye it was fine, but actually there were holes in it and the coolant was leaking from the top. It was very weird but I have had no problems since it was changed.

[Blueskai]

Thankyou for the advice. I'm off out to tackle it again tonight. It isn't the coolant cap on this occassion as I have not driven it anywhere since the refil.

Hope to post some joy later.

[ronhud]

Have you fitted a low coolant alarm? Almost mandatory!

[Blueskai]

I have an alarm fitted. It is absolutely essential. Anyone without one is not listening!

I bled the system. The big difference this time was that at the end of the process the coolant started to get sucked out of the funnel with a whirlpool effect. It was a good sign (I hope) that the coolant system was flowing freely with no air locks.

Since then the coolant has remained stable.

[Northern Bongolow]

if you have bled it correctly the following should happen depending on the method your using,
use the throttle to empty the funnel held at header tank height,before the funnel empties come off the throttle and dip the funnel to refil and expell air,continue until temp rises to stat open temp,when stat opens bottom hose now HOT(can hold for 10 secs before burn)the throttle looses the ability to control the funnel level,and can only be regulated by raising/lowering the funnel,continue up/down to remove last of air .job done