Head gasket gone in a cloud of steam. . .

stulegg · Post by **stulegg** » Sun May 13, 2007 10:14 am

WHOOOOOOOSHHHHHH. . . .

So, my head gaskets finally gone, I've had a bit of trouble with loss of coolant lately and thought it might be on the way out. Then on Saturday the temperature gauge went through the roof with loads of gurgling and coolant coming out of the overflow all down the road. . .

This leaves me with 2 options. 1, fix it myself (not a problem but really don't have much time at the mo. 2, find agarage to do it for me (OUCH, my poor visa)

Does anyone have any experience with Bongo friendly garages in the Poole area?

cheers

Post by **westonwarrior** » Sun May 13, 2007 10:23 am

Damned bad luck

there are a few in poole I understand but I dont know any there is a list of bongo friendly garages on the site.

Hope its just the gasket not the head

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sun May 13, 2007 2:46 pm

I know you dont need questions just now stu (bad luck indeed) but why did it go? Is there an underlying problem, or an incident in the past that caused it?

Good luck whatever etc.

Mike

stulegg · Post by **stulegg** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:06 pm

Mike. . .

I had a leaky hose 3 or 4 months ago but fixed that and bled the system well (always use the see-saw method) but I think it may have weakened the gasket a little. Then in the last month I've had another small coolant leak from the blead hose, fixed that as well and ble again well but while bleading with the engine running I started to see some very tiny bubbles drifting through. "Hello" I tought, this means trouble. . .

And sure enough, on Friday I asked Bongo topull a rather heavy (but empty) trailer and I suppose the extra work/strain on the system was just too much. . .

I checked the expantion tank Sat morning and it was full up!!! bad sign. . . bled the system. . . tried to move the trailer again and a couple of miles later the temp gauge goes ballistic. . .

I let Bongo cool off a bit and tried to blead the system but no go. . .

I could of cryed. . .

I think he might have to go when he's fixed. . .

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:51 pm

What a shame - I'm v sorry to hear it. Good luck whatever etc.

Mike

Bongoflyer · Post by **Bongoflyer** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:46 pm

Sorry to hear of your bad luck Stu, examine the head very carefully for cracks and consider getting a pressure check, a colleague recently changed a Bongo head gasket after getting the head skimmed and had to do it all over again because of a cracked head.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat May 19, 2007 3:39 am

Sorry to hear that stu...the bongo cooling system strikes again eh?

I'd definitely have the head pressure tested for whatever reason the head is removed!

I think i'd have reservations about re-fitting a new head to an old block full stop.

You may be better off replacing the entire engine with a good second hand item,preferably out of a running bongo, so you could perform the usual checks.

Ive PM'd you...

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Sat May 19, 2007 12:03 pm

Stu.. It sounds as though you know what you are doing, A point to note is :- If it overheated whilst under extra load (i.e. Long uphill drag or towing) Do ... before you risk your new rebuild check the bottom third of your rad for crud. In very many cases of Bongos overheating, it occurs under load and is caused by a rad which is not 100%. Fine for everyday use but load brings it to a steamy end...Just a thought !!

redalan1971 · Post by **redalan1971** » Sat May 19, 2007 2:32 pm

the job is quite easy hopefully its only the gasket.
on mine it was clear the head was cracked so a replacement head for £300 and all is well. totoal cost was about £500 with all gaskets and new studs. no problems since.
as for fitting a new head to an old engine i don't see a problem. it's quite common for diesel heads to crack after high mileage,vw heads are always new on recon vw engines just for that reason.
mine has had no problems since and various other people on here have had a new head with no problems. i can't see why you would want a second hand engine in an unknown state as much greater expence than one you've fixed and can vouch for the work done.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sat May 19, 2007 4:02 pm

Personally, i'd be happier fitting a replacement engine that i could hear running for a long time,running it to high tickover speeds,and of course checking it over from top to bottom.

Yes, maybe just the head gasket has blown,did it warp the head? Did it crack the head? did it warp the top of the block? by the time all the checks have been done to make sure the new head can go onto the old block, you could have had a complete decent second hand one fitted. At least you know that if the replacement engine doesn't appear to have any problems,then the chances are it hasn't been fried at least once (unlike the old engine) It doesn't matter how much the original engine had been serviced or looked after, you cant get away from the fact that its been cooked once already.

I'm not telling stulegg what to do,i,m just offering my opinion...

I, personally, would be apprehensive about fitting a new head to an old (once cooked block) That's all....

redalan1971 · Post by **redalan1971** » Sat May 19, 2007 8:24 pm

My point is that there is no real way of testing a bottom end short of an oil pressure check and possibly a compression test. these may all be fine but the true mileage and past history can never be ascertained for sure.
most people who supply s/h or recon engines will only give a very limted warranty. the block can easily be checked with a steel rule for warping but the block rarely suffers this and a skim can always be done.
i have been stung by a poor recon engine in the past and have since learnt the art myself, rebuilding various car and motorcycle engines with no problems a friendly machine shop and a bit of bravery has worked well 4 me since.
the choice of course in yours but i was just stating my reasons for going with what you know. i.e. cost and the full knowledge that the required work is done properly to as new standard and not with substandard parts or used ones.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Sun May 20, 2007 3:22 am

Thats a fair point alan,i'm talking though of your average bloke (like me) I'd personally not know where to start removing a cylinder head,then there's the new head.. i assume that they then have to have the valves,guides,springs,swapped over from the cracked head?

I wouldn't have a clue how to do all that stuff,so for your average bloke in the street that means a visit to the garage.
I,m suggesting that from a financial point of view it would be reasonable option to have one engine in,one engine out,as opposed to removing the head,removing the gasket,cleaning mating faces,swap internals from old to new head,checking top of the block for warping etc. etc.

That doesn't include the cost of new gasket,head bolts, pressure testing, (skimming maybe) Dry and wet compression tests,the bill is rising!

In my opinion,your taking no more risk dropping in a complete used engine assembly rather than fitting a new head... and the replacement engine in my opinion would be as, or more cost effective.

I agree with the principle of what you say alan 100%!

I,m merely suggesting that in a ten year old vehicle,a (potentially) undisturbed complete block shouldn't be completely ruled out.

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun May 20, 2007 8:11 am

Hi all...back from France last night.

Redalan...I understand your concerns over cooking the engine and subsequent damage to the block but as something of a veteran in cooking my bongo engine I can assure you that its not an easy engine to damage.

Stats:

Purchased August 2005.
Current Milage 200,000km+
Milage since purchased 120,000km
Milage since last 'cooking' 6,500km (just returned from 5,000km trip around France in a week)

I've cooked my engine 3 times since August 2005

1.Frozen bottom hose (Feb 06)
2.Broken water pump (May 06)
3. Ruptured bleed hose (April 07)

In each case a quick shutdown followed by professional advice/servicing has minimised the damage to simple replacement of parts.

So please don't get hung up about bongo engines being 'delicate'...they are tough old birds with one or two potential blood pressure problems which, if kept an eye on, will go forever.

The great thing about this forum is that it highlights the potential problems so that we can all keep a lookout for the symtoms and so avoid the major diasters.

cheers
H

stulegg · Post by **stulegg** » Mon May 21, 2007 10:12 am

Thanks for your PM Bigdady but I'm going to rebuild the old bongo. . . I'm pretty sure the head is going to be cracked so I'll have to get oe of those in, got all the other parts flying down to me from Andy at AVA as I type. . .
Trouble is I'm off to Cumbria for the next 2 weeks (working not camping) so I'm gona get my spanner man to do the greasey bits and get the head pressure tested just in case its OK.. . .

Cheers Guys. . . Stu. . .