Head gasket gone

[Elbowpipe]

The van came to a sudden halt, spewing great clouds of white smoke last night. Coolant hose had burst and preliminary inspection suggests head gasket gone. Trying to weigh up if its worth continuing. Just had £500+ worth of welding for MOT (it's a 1998 diesel). I guess around £1k for a reconditioned engine, but what else should I get checked? Would the whole coolant system need replaced or just the hoses? Any other parts to check for - eg. pumps? Any idea of costs for labour on the engine? I guess below £2k it's worth continuing although I've been told to expect welding for all subsequent MOTs. The rest of the van (elevating roof, full conversion) is in great nick.

[teenmal]

When you said the vehicle came to a sudden halt did the engine seize/lock if not Replace the hose, bleed the system and test. As a matter of interest does the vehicle have a coolant alarm?.

[Elbowpipe]

It was a young friend driving it and she was so shocked she can't remember exactly what happened. I'm not sure if it has a coolant alarm (never checked and its in the garage now) , but if I'll be ordering one if we continue with the Bongo.

[mikeonb4c]

It was a young friend driving it and she was so shocked she can't remember exactly what happened. I'm not sure if it has a coolant alarm (never checked and its in the garage now) , but if I'll be ordering one if we continue with the Bongo.

Some people think coolant alarms aren't worth fitting. I fitted one and its saved me several times so recommend them. But there are circumstances where they may not go off. Hopefully you've got no more damage than a burst pipe as long as the engine was stopped asap after the pop (unless over pressurisation from a cracked head/gasket caused the pop). Good luck and keep us posted.

[Elbowpipe]

Going off topic a bit, but interested to know how long a Bongo can be kept on the road? IE. if all the 'camper' bells and whistles continue to work - what would induce you to scrap it? Are there repairs to the framework which be prohibitively costly? People say 'it's more than the van's worth', but what you have to factor in is the cost of a replacement. A decent 2nd hand vehicle (let alone a camper) would cost you at least £5k.

[Bob]

Sorry to hear you have problems, has it gone to a Bongo Savvy garage, one that understands the bleed process?

Re how long you can keep it going, I think the answer is in the question. It's down to repair v replacement cost, and with a good conversion she's likely worth fixing.

Good luck.

[WebWiz]

If it is just the gasket, and not the head, it should only cost around £500.

If it's the head cracked then you can DIY for £800 including new pump, cam belt and tensioner.

A garage will charge about £1500 for this if you're lucky.

[Markas]

Going off topic a bit, but interested to know how long a Bongo can be kept on the road? IE. if all the 'camper' bells and whistles continue to work - what would induce you to scrap it? Are there repairs to the framework which be prohibitively costly? People say 'it's more than the van's worth', but what you have to factor in is the cost of a replacement. A decent 2nd hand vehicle (let alone a camper) would cost you at least £5k.

As with any vehicle, it's what it's worth to the owner. If you've invested time and money in it, that may very well be more than the original purchase price or the current price of similar vehicles in small ads/ on auction sites etc. If you spend money on a vehicle you've had for some time and kept maintained, you know what's been done and the vehicle's little foibles.
Since many of these vehicles are now 20 years old or so, for many owners it's a matter of adopting a classic-car ownership mindset - carry some oil and coolant, watch the dials, check your levels, and keep basic tools on board. They're not like a new Ford/ Vauxhall/ BMW or whatever, with turnkey simplicity (until it all goes horribly and expensively wrong), and all the more characterful for that

[mikeonb4c]

Excellent summary Markas

Describes me and my 23 year old Bongo to a tee.

Zen and the Art of Bongo Maintenance

And even the big Bongo bills are no more than a latest generation car when it catches even a slight cold.

But what a car. All loaded to the gunnels now for me to wild camp for 8 days (and maybe pull a 20m sailplane out of a field - i 'm copiloting and crewing in the 2 seater nationals) . Everyday (and only) car for 12 years. Never (yet!) broken down on me or failed to start the moment i turn the key. And virtually no depreciation. Yes indeed, what a car.

[Elbowpipe]

The garage is recommending me to obtain a complete engine with all ancillary parts. They reckon its a false economy to replace the head alone as there may be hidden damage if the van was driven after the catastrophic loss of coolant (apparently there was grey smoke everywhere and we suspect the girl kept driving to try and get into town). I've had a quote from mazda bongo parts for a second-hand (bench-tested) engine with all ancillary parts for £1595. The garage has had a look underneath and reckon with a few hundred spent every couple of years the frame will stay intact, so I guess its worth the expense.

[WebWiz]

Does that include fitting?

[mikeonb4c]

Going off topic a bit, but interested to know how long a Bongo can be kept on the road? IE. if all the 'camper' bells and whistles continue to work - what would induce you to scrap it? Are there repairs to the framework which be prohibitively costly? People say 'it's more than the van's worth', but what you have to factor in is the cost of a replacement. A decent 2nd hand vehicle (let alone a camper) would cost you at least £5k.

The Bongo tends to attract people who are hoping for a lot for a little. If/when a big bill appears, they're tempted to fold. But you're right: is it realistic to expect a very cheap campervan not to have issues. But with research and a realistic budget, a good Bongo experience can result I think. Bongospares in Halifax would be good people to talk with as they seem to have become an excellent one-stop shop for fixing up Bongos and may be able to flag up the point at which a Bongo may become uneconomical to repair.

[Elbowpipe]

Doesn't include fitting Yeah, it's a '98 Bongo which to date has cost me about £5k, including welding and various repairs. So another £2k for a camper that has all the major stuff done is reasonable I suppose. The engine is second-hand not reconditioned. If it's bench-tested how much should I be re-assured? (From BongoSpares). In answer to the Halifax suggestion - I'm on the Isle-of-Skye!

[Bob]

Bongo Spares have a good reputation here.

[mikeonb4c]

Doesn't include fitting Yeah, it's a '98 Bongo which to date has cost me about £5k, including welding and various repairs. So another £2k for a camper that has all the major stuff done is reasonable I suppose. The engine is second-hand not reconditioned. If it's bench-tested how much should I be re-assured? (From BongoSpares). In answer to the Halifax suggestion - I'm on the Isle-of-Skye!

I THINK (but don't quote me) that Bongospares are amongst that special group who are honorable about these things: Bongos are their business and the engine will have been tested and is sold in good faith and if something turned out to be obviously wrong with it they'd replace it, though not labour cost. Obviously much best if they fit it as that reduces scope for dispute over workmanship but if you're in Skye that could be problematic? And of course heads can go on diesel Bongos. Mine went at 130k miles for no obvious reason.

Perhaps Bongospares customers could comment?

Buying and running a Bongo in Scotland does seem to be more costly than in some other parts of the UK. I guess the buying and servicing options are fewer, and the market hotter, give that Scotland is Gods Country for campervanning (or anyway!)