Bongo Fury

Thanks for the words of wisdom - I hope I didn't get the wrong end of the stick over the phone, but just in case I did, I'll double check with the mechanic before I leave Benjy with him. He said £35 to bleed the system and check the cylinder head/head gasket for damage - maybe he was planning on doing it some other way and I just jumped to the conclusion that he meant by performing a pressure check - I don't know if there's any other way of checking it.....? I'll also make sure he's putting 50/50 water/anti-freeze in.

Have looked at the coolant alarms Simon - will be investing in one if Benjy's OK & I can afford to keep him! - The lolly stick is just to make sure the coolant hasn't gone down since I last drove him on Wednesday night - the tank's so filthy I can't see where it's up to. I'll also have to look at getting all the hoses replaced too I think as the van's 18 yrs old.

Really agree with the low coolant alarm. I got one from Haydn plus a TM2 engine temperature alarm and it has taken the stress out of overheating worries (which thankfully have gone away now I have a new head - fingers crossed). I believe he does a combination unit which fulfils both function in one unit. It won't fix your problem, but it should ensure it doesn't happen again.

Quick update:
Benjy's not been irrevocably damaged (touch wood) according to the pressure test, but the mechanic warned me that tiny hairline cracks might still open up if I'm really unlucky. I had hoped that the pressure test would give a clear outcome, but am very relieved that the news is good so far as I would have had to sold Benjy to pay the bill if more than a few hundred pounds. Apparently it was an oil leak from a rocker cover gasket that caused the hose to perish in the first place, so he's replaced the rocker cover and the hose that had been bodged back on and bled the cooling system. Altogether cos £225, so guess that's been a lucky escape. To be on the safe side I've sent for a combination coolant alarm/temp guage. Now I've just got to pray that nothing else goes wrong this year or it'll be Ebay for my favourite four-wheeled friend!

Thanks again all, Nat