loss of coolant and level dropping slowly

[mikeonb4c]

As previously advised get your bongo over to Wheelquick in Wigan, they are the best around when it comes to bongos and their prices are very reasonable so you won't be ripped off. They have been looking after my bongo for the past two years and I live in Scotland. Never heard of them charging for uneccessary work so you will only be charged for what needs done. Advice on looking after your bongo comes free!

Tony

Very sound advice. Unless you really want to get involved in the intricacies of the Bongo cooling system, leave it to them. They can get the coolant alarm in for you too as they fit them to a lot of Bongos (all those they sell I think?)

[debbie]

thanks I will contact wheel quck as they are near. cheers

[steviebongo]

in the meen time u could have a look around ure self,get a handlamp or torch and look around the cooling system if its leaking a/freeze the majority of the time it leaves a residue when it dry's behind on either hoses or any components within the system.just a thought might save u a journey to wigan (don't no how far away from u wigan is).

[MountainGoat]

It is 29 miles or 36 minutes for Debbie to get to Wigan Stevie.

[steviebongo]

nae bother mg just thought a wee pointer would be of sum help.



cheers stevie.

[missfixit70]

If you take the cap off the rad, all the coolant from the header will fall out, it won't tell you anything useful regarding coolant disappearing anyway. There are 17 hoses in the system ( i know i've just replaced em all - bruises & bloody knuckles to prove it ) it could be one of these has a pinprick or weep at a joint, could be a metal pipe corroded, water pump, which is quite hard to spot if it's leaking, radiator, heater matrix, head gasket, etc, the list goes on.
If you lift both seats & bonnet & check all the hoses etc thoroughly, wipe it off then do the damp finger test, but it may only show up under pressureso check for any staining , or distended hoses. Get underneath too check around the rear heater & all the pipework you can't see from above.
There is no quick answer on this one, process of ellimination.

Like that you mean Stevie?

[bigdaddycain]

I thought this may be a good time to mention that if using red/pink coolant in your bongo, no leak tracing fluid is required, just the UV torch... It glows a vivid pink,as does any residue left from a leak.

[haydn callow]

Steve...does that apply to all pink/red coolants or just certain brands...I know Toyota do one but did not know it was the "norm"

[bigdaddycain]

Steve...does that apply to all pink/red coolants or just certain brands...I know Toyota do one but did not know it was the "norm"

Sorry Haydn, i missed your response. The definitive answer to that question is, i don't have a flippin clue mate!

Myself and DBO have red coolant in our bongos, but i can't remember if it's of the same brand Both ours glow pink under UV light (very vividly too!) As does any area that has been introduced to that coolant... i.e. the entire interior of the expansion tank glows, as does the areas where i had a few loose hoseclips from 18 months or so ago.

I tried it on the red coolant in my ford focus also, that glows pink too.

The excellent tracer fluid you have supplied to peeps glows a sort of lime green, i think that's best suited to peeps with green or blue coolant in their systems. As (after testing) green or blue coolant (untreated) doesn't glow under the UV light.