My Bongo's developed a mysterious thirst...

Dynamo Hum · Post by **Dynamo Hum** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:18 pm

...water is disappearing from the expansion tank at an alarming rate. The engine shows no sign of overheating until the water starts to boil in the tank (which is how I first discovered the problem!).
But there's no sign of a water leak, nor is there oil in the water or water in the oil.
My local garage has done what he called a 'block' test and doesn't believe it's the head gasket. But he is scratching his head about what it is and suggested trying you guys.
He thinks air is getting in somewhere (so presumably water is getting out?) and that it mat be the turbo.
I am trying not to use it but around town need to put in about a pint of water every 25 miles or so. Not good!
Has anyone got any bright ideas?
':?'

Bongoflyer · Post by **Bongoflyer** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:27 pm

I had exactly the same problem, it was the water pump leaking.

Water leaks and collects in the bottem engine covers and you cant see it.

Try taking the bottem engine covers off (10 X 10mm bolts) and running it without them, then you can see it leaking all over the floor!!

Dynamo Hum · Post by **Dynamo Hum** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:05 pm

Thanks. I'll try it.

Dynamo Hum · Post by **Dynamo Hum** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 11:00 am

Nope, sadly, not that. Any more ideas welcome.

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:24 pm

im having the same problem,
comp test said 10psi, runs sweet but losing coolant.
gonna remove water pipes of turbo jacket.
this will help to determine weather theres a problem within the head, or if the turbos had it.
if so then its a strip down.

Dynamo Hum · Post by **Dynamo Hum** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:42 pm

Let me know which it is and how it goes. There's a good info sheet on the main site about replacing the HG if it turns out to be that.

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 1:48 pm

have you got any smoke out of the exhaust
also dosnt look like its the gasket.
either turbo leaking, or
cracked head,
no oil in water or visa versa,
lumpy when first starts with smoke then settles down till engines warmed up.
losing about same amount of water as you.
no externai signs of a leak.

Dynamo Hum · Post by **Dynamo Hum** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:42 pm

Yes we occasionally get a big cloud of smoke, but not under load, only sometimes when idling or at start-up when it's cold. It seems to be just diesel. No water or oil. That's according to a man at a garage in Devon, who had a quick look while we were on holiday and first discovered the problem. He held his hand over the exhaust outlet to make this diagnosis. He thought the smoking was probably unrelated and due to bad timing

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 2:53 pm

i will keep you informed on ours if anything developes

Dynamo Hum · Post by **Dynamo Hum** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:07 pm

Thanks. It does sound liek the exact smae problem, with the lumpy start when cold etc. Good luck with yours asnd I'll keep you posted too

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 9:27 pm

When we had problems with our original engine(cylinder head ) we had clouds of white smoke, no black smoke. looked like a steam engine, Head was warped

dreamwarrioruk · Post by **dreamwarrioruk** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:04 pm

its the turbo

bypassed the water pipes on the jacket and stopped the smoke and the coolant loss.
gonna try it without for a few days to check but it looks like thats the answer