Coolant type advise please urgent

[Mtman]

Hi,

I'm getting my bongo serviced next week, it's a new purchase and its a 2002 2.0 petrol. I've noticed the coolant is v low and I want a quick fix to fill it up before I hand it over to the professionals to do properly.
Can you recommend what to put in, and how much, in plain layman's English please as I'm seriously challenged in the engine department!
Thanks

[dave_aber]

As long as it hasn't dropped so far as to empty the expansion tank, then top it up when cold to somewhere between the MIN & MAX marks with plain water only.

If the expansion tank is empty - don't top it up and don't drive it. You nee dot fill & bleed the system before driving if the level has dropped this far.

I'm advising plain water, as some Japanese coolants when mixed with the coolant available here can cause sludge.

The overriding advice though must be to get the professionals to find out why it has lost coolant. And please use a garage who have worked on Bongo cooling systems before - they are NOT NORMAL. The cost of getting this wrong is significant....


Edit : Just noticed it's a 2.0 petrol. As far as I can remember from the comments on here, these are either less prone to airlocks, or better at self-bleeding, or more resilient if overheated, so possibly less of a worry. Still worth having it checked over by someone with experience of Bongos though.

[Mtman]

Hi Dave,

thanks for your advise, much appreciated. This car is so tricky, especially as I don't even have a manual to say what is what. The white plastic container to the right of the bonnet bay ( expansion tank?), appears to be empty, but with the angle to it i can't really see in. I've put a stick in the right hand side and that's empty, but can't get round the bend to the left where the markings are... hope that makes sense.

I have it booked in with Lakeside engineering in staines who are local to me and listed as one of the specilaist garages on this site.

maybe to be safe I'll see if they will come out, but I doubt it they are 10 miles away. Really pleased with the van so happy to spend the money to be save etc....?

[dave_aber]

For definitive advice on cooling, Haydn Callow is the one to ask.

Worth a PM if he doesn't comment on this post

[jaylee]

Hi Dave,

thanks for your advise, much appreciated. This car is so tricky, especially as I don't even have a manual to say what is what. The white plastic container to the right of the bonnet bay ( expansion tank?), appears to be empty, but with the angle to it i can't really see in. I've put a stick in the right hand side and that's empty, but can't get round the bend to the left where the markings are... hope that makes sense.

I have it booked in with Lakeside engineering in staines who are local to me and listed as one of the specilaist garages on this site.

maybe to be safe I'll see if they will come out, but I doubt it they are 10 miles away. Really pleased with the van so happy to spend the money to be save etc....?

Using a lolly stick or similar, the coolant should come up about 20 millimetres in the "dip stick"... Just dip the stick vertically down to touch the bottom of the tank below the filler cap hole, to get the reading... (With the van on the flat surface.)


Haydn Callow is one of the peeps on here to ask for more concise advise....

Or Ady (Northern bongalow)

[Mtman]

mmm, excuse my ignorance but when I put a stick in the tank vertically it will only hit the bottom of the right hand side of the tank, whereas the measuring lines are on the left lower down at an angle. maybe i need a longer stick with a kink in it!

How would I send a PM to Haydn Callow if I don't know his member name, thanks I hate being a "newboy" asking stupid questions etc.

Cheers.

[Simon Jones]

The water level will be the same anywhere in the tank, so dip away with the lolly stick . If the coolant in the tank is below the minimum level, I would not recommend driving it as it sound like you have a leak somewhere. While the 2 litre petrol engine is not commonly known to have overheating issues, any vehicle driven with insufficient coolant is likely to have problems.

[Northern Bongolow]

put the stick straight down to touch the bottom and slowly pour in water.
if you put in more than half a ltr before you get a wet stick dont drive it anywhere.
if you put less than that in and the stick is wet or has a 20mm wet mark on it i would drive it to the garage and get them to check the system for possible leaks.

THE ABOVE ADVICE IS TO GET YOU TO YOUR GARAGE ONLY, ANY LEAK ON A BONGO CAN BE SERIOUS, WITH EXPENSIVE RESULTS. IF IN DOUBT DONT RUN IT.

[rhino-wayne]

Hi Mtman,

view this thread for some photos:
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=50453

The measuring stick does not need to be kinked, you just have to follow the lines over to below the cap...i.e. if there is no coolant showing on the stick...it is below the LOW level & DO NOT DRIVE.

Excuse my sarcastic humor on above thread A coolant alarm is a good idea & I gave my Bongo a full coolant system check & pipe/pump/hoses renewal after purchase.

[jaylee]

mmm, excuse my ignorance but when I put a stick in the tank vertically it will only hit the bottom of the right hand side of the tank, whereas the measuring lines are on the left lower down at an angle. maybe i need a longer stick with a kink in it!

How would I send a PM to Haydn Callow if I don't know his member name, thanks I hate being a "newboy" asking stupid questions etc.

Cheers.

Indeed it is... As Simon Jones eloquently explained the coolant should be level throughout the whole tank in each chamber.... Surface tension gravity & all that..?!!
Yes, it is shallower below the filler cap hence the reading on a dip of 20mm touching the bottom, vertical.. Thus giving a to full line reading which may not be seen clearly through the composition of the tank where the max & minimum lines are situated on the tank wall... By some sheer fluke the max line happens to be 20millimeters deep at the "shallow end", which should stay reasonably consistent with a healthy non leaking coolant system...!!!

Haydn Callow is his member name & since he hasn't contributed yet i'll give a ling to a thread he posted on (2nd down) you cam clik on the pm button in Haydn's post & ad your message...! http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... eader+tank

[Mtman]

Thanks all for great advice. I'm trying to get a mobile specialist mechanic to come and see me at home. He's quiet far away but I've said I'll pay him handsomely to take the trip, bleed the system and check for leeks at home . Should know this pm,then I don't have to risk another drive. The temperature does go high in a slow traffic and then return to normal at cruising speed.

[jaylee]

Has your temperature gauge been modified in any way such as a Mason alarm



or other type after market with a digital temperature read out??

[MountainGoat]

If you have a Mason alarm fitted your temperature should start going down when you hear the fans cut in. With a Mason alarm fitted you will get a true indication of the temperature so your gauge will swing back and forward, takes a bit of getting used to. Bongo temp gauges are heavily damped and without a Mason alarm fitted you will usually have no indication that your Bongo is about to overheat untill it is usually too late.

Tony

[Mtman]

I've only had the little rascal a couple of weeks ,so not sure but that erratic movement sounds familiar to what I've observed. I would know where to look for such a guage though? Any advice.....
Fingers crossed this mobile mechanic specialist will travel my way.

[Northern Bongolow]

if the mobile guy doesnt know where the bleed pipe is-----------------------------------dont let him touch it.