Should I Stay or Should I Go?

[Ian]

This was received by email. I've advised Katrina that, in my personal opinion, I would get it seen to before setting off. But what other advice have people got?

Hello I'm Katrina from Perth & Kinross,

I was underneath my bongo today fixing an earth wire to the fuel tank to fix my fuel gauge and as I'm a girl it took me a while! As the system was cooling I noticed a wet patch and drip appear beside the rear clip on the middle of the three rubber pipes on the drivers side close to the fuel tank. I have read the information about old hoses and clips leaking a little when the cooling system cools down and wanted to ask if this is a serious problem or if I keep an eye on my coolant level will I be able to enjoy my planned trip to Mull this week?
I have only had my Bongo for five weeks and in that time I've had to change the fuel filter and it was in the garage to have its water pump changed. I've been keeping an eye on the coolant level as I asked the garage to change the thermostat and coolant while they did this. I've noticed a bit of whitish yellow goo in the coolant header tank. Do I have problems or is this all normal for a 1996 2.5 diesel?

[rita]

A leak is a leak (unless you live in Wales). Why do you not take it back to your Garage and have them fix it for you, seems you have had other successful repairs done there.

The whitish yellow goo in the coolant header tank should also be investigated.

Do you have any history for the vehicle.??

[Bob]

definitely investigate.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Definitely get it attended to
Cheers
Helen

[Katrina]

Thanks very much for your feedback. I will get it checked out before we set off and hopefully all will be well. The local garage that did the water pump and thermostat haven't worked on many Bongo's. I gave them a print out with the instructions on bleeding it! I know about the one in Grangemouth but thats a bit of a trek. Does anyone know of any others in the Perthshire area that are Bongo safe?
I am the first uk registered owner for this van and so I have no history on it. The importers only changed oil and filters.

[Bob]

Warm welcome, Katrina.

Do ask anything you like on here, we'll all help out as best we can.

[dunslair]

Dicksons of Perth import Bongos (or used to) they may be worth a try. Failing that I can highly recommend Campers Scotland. Worth the trek!

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Cheers

David

[rita]

If your local garage changed the water pump and thermostat and bled the system successfully I would imagine that they should be able to fix a leak and diagnose the goo in the header tank.

The nearer the better.

[Katrina]

just wanted to update. Garage put a jubilee clip in the oozing pipe and we went! Bungo behaved perfectly.

We drove up to Glencoe, spent first night beside the big buchel. In the early morning we drove on and refuled in Fort William, backtracked slightly to take the Corran Ferry over to Argour then drove down to Lochaline and caught the Cal mac ferry to Fishnish on Mull. If anyone is interested it's a turn up and go ferry so no booking needed and it's much cheaper that the Oban one at only £35 return for Bungo and two adults for a five day return! We spent the first night at Clagarry Bay wild camp which has toilets! We then drove down the west coast and left Bungo parked at Fionnphort while we did day trip to Iona. Later we drove across country and wildcamped at lochbuie which was beautiful. Next morning we went to Craignuir for a full Scottish Breakfast and mobile signal then went back through Glen More to look for sea eagles. I never thought we would see so many but on the walk out to the Burg they were all around us.
At night we went back over to Tobermorry to get a shower at the facilities at the harbour. Toilets are 20p Showers are £2, open till 9pm. We then drove down to the ferry terminal at Fishnish which was deserted as the last ferry for the night was away but calmac kindly left the loos unlocked and so we pitched up and had our own on suite for the night. We were up, washed and presentable first in the que for the first ferry back in the morning.
Bungo never missed a beat. There are some really steep climbs on Mull and as this was our first long trip I was worried about overheating and breaking down. I even took out AA breakdown and recovery just in case.

[ELZE]

just wanted to update. Garage put a jubilee clip in the oozing pipe and we went! Bungo behaved perfectly.

We drove up to Glencoe, spent first night beside the big buchel. In the early morning we drove on and refuled in Fort William, backtracked slightly to take the Corran Ferry over to Argour then drove down to Lochaline and caught the Cal mac ferry to Fishnish on Mull. If anyone is interested it's a turn up and go ferry so no booking needed and it's much cheaper that the Oban one at only £35 return for Bungo and two adults for a five day return! We spent the first night at Clagarry Bay wild camp which has toilets! We then drove down the west coast and left Bungo parked at Fionnphort while we did day trip to Iona. Later we drove across country and wildcamped at lochbuie which was beautiful. Next morning we went to Craignuir for a full Scottish Breakfast and mobile signal then went back through Glen More to look for sea eagles. I never thought we would see so many but on the walk out to the Burg they were all around us.
At night we went back over to Tobermorry to get a shower at the facilities at the harbour. Toilets are 20p Showers are £2, open till 9pm. We then drove down to the ferry terminal at Fishnish which was deserted as the last ferry for the night was away but calmac kindly left the loos unlocked and so we pitched up and had our own on suite for the night. We were up, washed and presentable first in the que for the first ferry back in the morning.
Bungo never missed a beat. There are some really steep climbs on Mull and as this was our first long trip I was worried about overheating and breaking down. I even took out AA breakdown and recovery just in case.

Hi Katrina

Glad you had a trouble free trip. Your so lucky to live in Scotland as its such a beautiful place. When I was working up there last year I watched the eagles areal displays over Glenn Glass not far from the Black isle, such a spectacular sight.

Best wishes with the Bongo (Bungo)

[mikeonb4c]

Sounds like a fun trip. Keep an eye on that goo though and try and get the system checked to make sure it isn't over pressurising. Its a little unusual to have goo in the header tank and it is just possible it could be oil/water emulsion. If so, where did the oily element come from. I'm no techie so could be wrong on this - maybe others could comment?

[helen&tony]

Hi
Yes...I didn't want to say anything and dash hopes/ illusions, but oil in the water can be a head gasket allowing oil into the water,,,BUT....it could be that it's an additive popped into the coolant to SEAL a dicky head or gasket....something like Steel Seal....???
Cheers
Helen

[Katrina]

I was kind of hoping that the goo was because of a mix of coolants as the local garage changed coolant when they fitted the water pump and rather than use the carplan red I provided they used their own blue stuff. I read somewhere that bongos like the red stuff... Something to do with OAT and blue stuff damaging seals? The goo gathers on the underside of the header tank cap and is not visible in the coolant itself.

I was going to ignore it...but you're right....I will phone the bongo safe garage at Grangemouth tomorrow and ask them if they will check it over.

[helen&tony]

Hi
It is possible that you have a reaction between the 2 coolants...the original and the blue....I'd keep an eye on it, and change it as early as you can....THEN keep stock of what happens....you might be lucky!
Cheers
Helen