Coolent level low! Help!

[WelshIrishDutchBongo]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post so please excuse the stupid question...I am not very technical.

When topping up the screenwash this morning I noticed that the coolent levels in the reservoir in the top right hand corner of the bonnet were on 'Low'. I have a coolent alarm which hasn't gone off at all but I'm pretty sure the coolent hasn't been changed since we bought it in 2.5 years ago (28,000 miles).

1. Can I just top it up by opening the reservoir and just chucking in some more coolent or will that knacker the engine with air locks etc?

2. If that is the case then what coolent should I use?

I am worried about this as I live in Holland and the local mechanics have no experience of Bongos.

Many thanks in advance

WIDBongo

[wonkanoby]

so long as levels not gone below the low and allowed air in then just top it up

[Driver+Passengers]

Plain water will be okay. You can get "universal" coolant that will mix fine with any existing coolant, though be aware that you should not, for example, mix green/blue coolant with red/pink. They may react, deposit sediment/sludge and cause reduced flow.

As wonkanoby said, as long as the level hasn't dropped right down to the bottom of the tank (thereby sucking air into the pipes from the header tank), you should be okay to top up.

Try disconnecting the wire to the coolant alarm screw to check your alarm is operating correctly.

If you can find a spare header tank cap, remove the lower seal/spring, mark it so you don't confuse it with the proper cap, and fit it to the tank. Then fit a bike pump with pressure gauge to the overflow hose and inflate the system to around 10psi and watch for a pressure drop over time which would indicate a leak somewhere.

Watch the bleeding videos on youtube to get you in the mood.

[Diplomat]

Avoid tap water if you are in a hard water part of Wales, Scotland or the Netherlands.

I collect Jersey rainwater for my radiator mix as the air is clean there!

Someone may care to correct me but I assume that de-ionised water should be ok.

I wouldn't trust Wonkanoby's tap water in Catford. Probably the same as Bexley!


Frank

[WelshIrishDutchBongo]

Hello everyone,thanks for the advice! I've topped it up with German spa water and all seems to be OK (as mentioned the NL is a hard water area).

For some reason I'd got it into my head that the coolent was some special Japanese uber high tech liquid. As you can see I am not an experienced mechanic.

I'll no doubt be on here again when I can't work out where the Diesel goes in.

Cheers

WIDB

[haydn callow]

You need to find out why the coolant alarm is not working....does it beep/flash when you switch on the ignition ??

[Simon Jones]

It may be worth having a read up on changing the coolant, flushing the system out and bleeding it. Coolant should be changed every two years (unless you're got the 5 year long life stuff) as it looses it's corrosion protection properties. Knowing how to bleed the system is essential if you get stuck somewhere with a problem. Unfortunately, your average roadside recovery mechanic is not going to know the procedure, let alone one in the Netherlands.

[helen&tony]

Hi
What kind of coolant alarm do you have...or should I say what does it look like?....there's only one that seems to work well, and cause no problems....worrying that yours didn't sound when the level dropped
Cheers
Helen

[WelshIrishDutchBongo]

It was fitted by JAL Imports when I bought it. It bascially has 2 wires attached to the coolant thing. ?? Not sure if that is enough for you to guess?

[helen&tony]

Hi
Mmmmm...which one do JAL fit?...we may have an answer out there?
Cheers
Helen

[Driver+Passengers]

Photo? Could be Haydn's old LCA, new LCA+HCA or perhaps something else. Are there spade connectors or anything you can unplug to test it?

It may be that the level dropped to below the LOW mark, but not below the screws... if that's the case it shouldn't have gone off yet.

But you do need to test it - no use if it's not working.

[briwy]

Pretty sure our JAL fitted one is Haydns as I've fitted the high alarm to it as well.

[WelshIrishDutchBongo]

Yep -I think it dropped below the wires. B*****! will chuck a photo on here and try to test it.

[haydn callow]

Yes...that's one of mine........it should beep/ flash when you turn the key......does it do that?