Coolant loss overheating mystery

[bongobridge]

Morning bongo boffins I am after picking somebody's brains over a coolant leak on my bongo , here's the story - wife phoned that the van had overheated and there was water dripping just behind the passengers side front wheel she topped up and limped home, on inspection the wasn't anything obvious so topped up and bled van no leaks run around for 30 mins checked all good ???? We may be guilty of not checking the coolant for a while which could be an airlock but not sure where the leak came from ? There is a small pipe coming off the expansion tank could it have come from that ???

[Northern Bongolow]

how did you bleed the bongo, could you elaborate a little please.

if you have a leak in the hoses or pipework or the rad etc this can cause airlocks in the system, when the system cannot flow it gets hot in the engine this then vents out of the safety cap on the expansion tank top, the coolant comes out of the little pipe that is mounted at the front of the expansion tank, this can then show on the floor around the passy side front wheel area.

please dont drive it until you have found the leak and bled the system properly, i would suggest you get it taken to a good garage and ask them to do a coolant system pressure test, this will help find any leaks that may be there.

[bongobridge]

Thanks northenbongolow
Think we have left coolant to get a little low and perhaps caused an airlock just wasn't aware that it could vent out at the expansion tank. Since its overheating tantrum I have bled it and unable to find any leaks so far so good , bled using funnel and bleed pipe as have always done .

Thanks

[Jim the Box]

I've had my van 3 years and regularly check the coolant level, it's never needed topping up so suggest you may still have a leak, as ady suggested get a pressure test for peace of mind.

[Dodgey]

Agree. No topping up at all should be needed. Mine consumed coolant slowly. About 2 litres a month. Also had rough starting. Pressure test shows nothing and garage suggested it must be a porous head. I used kseal ultimate and now I don't lose a drop of coolant and no more rough starting.

[mikeonb4c]

Agree. No topping up at all should be needed. Mine consumed coolant slowly. About 2 litres a month. Also had rough starting. Pressure test shows nothing and garage suggested it must be a porous head. I used kseal ultimate and now I don't lose a drop of coolant and no more rough starting.

Interesting. My situation and symptoms were like yours. I decided against using kseal and opted for a new head. Expensive decision but at least I got my tappets adjusted and a quieter engine as a side benefit

[haydn callow]

Thanks northenbongolow
Think we have left coolant to get a little low and perhaps caused an airlock just wasn't aware that it could vent out at the expansion tank. Since its overheating tantrum I have bled it and unable to find any leaks so far so good , bled using funnel and bleed pipe as have always done .

Thanks

Get yourself a low coolant alarm,

[Dodgey]

Agree. No topping up at all should be needed. Mine consumed coolant slowly. About 2 litres a month. Also had rough starting. Pressure test shows nothing and garage suggested it must be a porous head. I used kseal ultimate and now I don't lose a drop of coolant and no more rough starting.

Interesting. My situation and symptoms were like yours. I decided against using kseal and opted for a new head. Expensive decision but at least I got my tappets adjusted and a quieter engine as a side benefit

I read lots of reports of kseal working long term on porous heads ( mine is a replacement head and they can be of questionable quality when it comes to porousity apparently ). So for £35 I gave it a go. The fix was pretty much instant. I'm now well over 2000 miles with no problems. I'm currently in Italy. I do keep a spare bottle of the cheap £7 regular kseal with me just in case. Not used a drop of coolant since the original application.

[mikeonb4c]

Agree. No topping up at all should be needed. Mine consumed coolant slowly. About 2 litres a month. Also had rough starting. Pressure test shows nothing and garage suggested it must be a porous head. I used kseal ultimate and now I don't lose a drop of coolant and no more rough starting.

Interesting. My situation and symptoms were like yours. I decided against using kseal and opted for a new head. Expensive decision but at least I got my tappets adjusted and a quieter engine as a side benefit

I read lots of reports of kseal working long term on porous heads ( mine is a replacement head and they can be of questionable quality when it comes to porousity apparently ). So for £35 I gave it a go. The fix was pretty much instant. I'm now well over 2000 miles with no problems. I'm currently in Italy. I do keep a spare bottle of the cheap £7 regular kseal with me just in case. Not used a drop of coolant since the original application.

I'll remember that for next time (which I hope there won't be!)