Air in the system after rough ferry crossing.

[Blueskai]

Coming off the ferry from Santander, the digital temperature reading rose quickly to 95 and the bottom hose was cold. Luckily I had a funnel and sure enough the Coolant system was full of air.

The crossing was very very rough. Is it likely that the rocking and rolling had allowed air into the system? The temperature was absolutely fine before the crossing. Does this happen often?

[helen&tony]

Hi
No ....is the short answer
You have a leak / broken clip / pinhole in the system
Check the cap on the header tank is on tight.
Cheers
Helen

[Simon Jones]

Agree with Helen. It's effectively a sealed system, so there must be a leak if air is getting in or coolant getting out. Check your bleed pipe for any damage or the bung not being 100% tight. It could also be the joint at the top and bottom of the radiator where the aluminium matrix meets the plastic end caps. The more serious (but least likely scenario) is head or gasket failure whereby combustion gasses are forced into the cooling system which pushes coolant out through the weakest point which will be the overflow pipe on the expansion tank.

Hope you find the source of the problem and can enjoy the rest of your holiday

[Diplomat]

Some ferries are an 'accelerated life testing jig' for cars.

If they have one of those boneshaking internal ramps between decks or just boneshaking ramps to get on to the boat from the dockside, expect faults to be catastrophically revealed in exhaust, cooling, steering, braking, fuel,vacuum and electrical systems. Some also throw in liberal amounts of salt water as an added bonus.

Add to that the fact that holidays often bring cooling faults to light because the vehicle is loaded to the hatches, gets driven hard to meet the ferry departure time and then ends up sitting in a queue with no airflow cooling followed by a steep climb up one of those ruddy ramps.

I write from experience* and having booked my next ferry, I intend to be ruthless about unnecessary laden weight.


Frank

*So far, exhaust, cooling, vacuum hose and power steering (but not all on the Bongo).

[Blueskai]

Thanks for the replies.

I am sure it is not the gasket as after an emergency bleed it ran fine for four hours home. I am due to check the system over now I am home and hope to pick up on any leaks or faults.

I have to say I am now a lifelong fan of a digital temperature gauge. It has saved the engine. Every bongo should have one.

[mikeonb4c]

Thanks for the replies.

I am sure it is not the gasket as after an emergency bleed it ran fine for four hours home. I am due to check the system over now I am home and hope to pick up on any leaks or faults.

I have to say I am now a lifelong fan of a digital temperature gauge. It has saved the engine. Every bongo should have one.

Phew - I wasn't sure if you were starting or ending your holiday (thankfully the latter). Need to get that investigated ASAP, and good luck. I'm assuming a low coolant alarm would not have warned you then? Where is the sensor for your digital gauge mounted, and what make / type is it?

Glad you are home safely

[Blueskai]

Unfortunately my LCA is not working. Something I need to attend to when I have unpacked.. The Temp Gauge is fitted to the metalwork just behind the top of the top hose. I've no idea what make it is. Haydn Callow gave it to me from his box of prototypes. It is pretty accurate and has been a great guide throughout my Spanish mountain climbing.

I've had a look this morning and the coolant is low, so I will be having a good look at that before I move it again.

On the plus side. The Bongo performed incredibly well for two and a half weeks across to the North East tips of Spain and back fully loaded. A real adventure.

[mikeonb4c]

....and thats a really great pic - a real 'road movie' pic, I'm getting Ry Cooder already

I ought to fit an engine temp gauge as double insurance as the old girl gets older. I'll get a round tuit eventually

[Blueskai]

Thanks. It was taken on the way back from Monasterie le Piedre in Aragon. We camped at Savinan Park site. Right in the middle of the mountains. Lush.

I can't recommend the temp sensor enough. As soon as you do it, you will become obsessed with the number 86!

I checked visible hoses earlier and there is some signs of sticky orange/red residue on a couple of the pipes where they are clamped. Could be seepage from splits, but it doesn't seem fresh enough to be my main problem. I have the two metal pipes on the driver and passenger sides to replace and will empty, flush and check the system more carefully when I get my head stuck in.

For all the faffing about, I must say, it's worth it for the fun we just had.