Poorly Bongo

[lee]

Hi All,

Just looking for a bit of advice on the following please:

I have had a few water leaks on the Bongo over the past year. The last one was on the Heater Matrix in the rear heater exchange unit. This resulted in me removing the heater matrix to bypass this. This was about two weeks ago.

My van overheated again the other day and I continue to lose water and need to fill up before I go anywhere. However there is no visible leak on the van??

However the Bongo does seem to be giving off an excess amount of white smoke. This tends to come and go during a journey but certainly continues after the van has reached it's normal temperature.

A friend of mine has suggested that the cause may be the Head Gasket and that water may be leaking into the exhaust system and therefore the white smoke may therefore be steam.

I have also read on some posts that when the glow plugs are not working properly then you will get white smoke? I would add that I have no problem with starting the bongo.

Apologies for the essay.!!

[dandywarhol]

Unfortunately it sounds like a head/head gasket problem.
Get a garage to pressure test the cooling system and use the tester to check for pressure build up from the gasket.

[Peg leg Pete]

I have to agree sadly I had white smoke when our head went

[lee]

What sort of cost would I be looking at for a new head gasket? Can you buy this on it's own or do you need a new engine? Any ideas on where I can I get one from? I live in Newport , South Wales.

Thanks guys.

[Peg leg Pete]

Before you dash off buying gaskets/ new head or engine have you had the engine checked out by a mechanic Lee? My engine blew big time, so it was a replacement engine(secondhand) my mechanic did not want to fit a new head onto a 12 year old engine. I got a 24000 mile engine for £900+ vat,plus delivery, that was last years prices If it is only a head gasket you need you could get one from Ian or from one of the dealers who advertise on site or ebay. Have you checked the engine oil for water? please keep us informed on how things turn out.

[redalan1971]

it sounds certain to be either be head gasket or cracked head.
i have spent today stripping mine down as it has been overheating intermittently and i had exhasted other options.
the head is still not off but i have removed the inlet manifold and everything on that side just the exaust side to do when time permits.
alas i am fairly sure my head is cracked as water droplets are visibly forming on the inlet ports around cyclinders 2 and 3.
a new head 4 me i'm afraid but hopefully all will be well soon. i can say better when the head is fully off.

[lee]

Not had it checked out by mechanic yet but have got someone coming round to take a look this week. I was out with my torch the other night looking for leak but can't find it anywhere. What confuses me is that it's losing water when not being used so not sure of my theory regarding the water getting into the exhaust system??

I have checked the engine oil and it seems fine if not a little low.... but if there was a problem I would be expecting the oil to look milky i'm told??

Has anyone used the breakeryard website? If so was it reliable etc.

Kind Regards
Lee.

[Dabs]

Lee,
Check all your hoses when running hot.I have been 2 weeks tracing a very slight one on mine I finally found it and fixed it yesterday.It only happened when the engine is up to temperature.The leak stopped as the engine cooled off.A pinhole leak is very hard to spot.

good Luck Dabs

[aitch]

I have the same problem with mine at present and it is going into the garage on Tuesday they have warned me that if it is a cracked head I shall be looking at between £1200 and £1400 to replace it including their 10 hours labour charge!!!!!! I must start to save up