Bongo Fury

Simon Jones wrote: The temperature will be lower once the vehicle starts moving as the air flows thru the radiator. On my V6 at motorway speeds, the coolant leaving the radiator can be up to 30C lower than going in.

Its probably fair to say that the objective of the various cooling system components (rad, rad fans, thetmostat, sensor) is by working in constant to achieve and maintain the engine core at a near constant temperature optimal for efficient working and longevity. I imagine then that the thermostat (which is a dumb device working independently of the engine block sensor) opens where required to allow coolant through the radiator and closes to avoid overcooling. For the rest the block sensor will trigger rad fans to enhance airflow through the rad if the dumb circuit is proving insufficient (e.g. stationary car + hot day etc.). A clogged radiator will also invoke the rad fan circuit sooner. Cool bottom (rad exit?) hoses probably thus don't tell you whether the thermostat has opened or not , but hot ones tell you it has.

Scavenger fans serve a completely different purpose although i'm sure they are useful to a limited extent as a device of last resort where the proper engine core cooling circuits are not coping.

If i've got any of that wrong please correct me!

Just to add a "normal" few temps into the mix for a Diesel. Before a new head, rad, rad fan switch and stat I would regularly get between 86C and 97C (absolute Max up 1-2mile long hills) throughout the year range and now (post component changes) it has yet to reach 90C even going through Dartmoor with 450M hills. I suspect all these new parts have made the cooling much more efficient in general and the fans are coming on when they should be.

The only time I have seen 97C before head change is after a very long incline in summer and hit 99C when I stopped engine in a petrol garage on top of hill. Seems like yours is at least stable and once it hit 97C it came down so cooling seems to be working. On the fast move air flow should be greater. It will be nice to get back on the road for you. Keep a close eye on it for a while under different driving conditions. All the best.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll report on registered temperatures when I get it on the road and an airflow over the engine etc.

I will ask the garage that services/MOTs it to change the fluids etc, although I am nervous about the coolant being changed by anyone who does not know how to properly bleed a Bongo.

I'm thinking of using a local garage that also specialises in classic cars and landrovers, so hopefully they understand engines that don't have a computer plugged into them and will appreciate the need to bleed the Bongo properly.

Tony

I would also be concerned if the garage does not have prior understanding of the importance of a diligent and careful bleed of the Bongo engine. Find a place that does. You need someone you can trust working with the Bongo diesel engine coolant fill/bleed. At first traveling some distance for that seems as if it is inconvenient, however compared with the potential damage that can be done it is nothing of the sort.

The expense of damage is not fun.

TonyBongo wrote:Thanks for the advice guys. I'll report on registered temperatures when I get it on the road and an airflow over the engine etc.

I will ask the garage that services/MOTs it to change the fluids etc, although I am nervous about the coolant being changed by anyone who does not know how to properly bleed a Bongo.

I'm thinking of using a local garage that also specialises in classic cars and landrovers, so hopefully they understand engines that don't have a computer plugged into them and will appreciate the need to bleed the Bongo properly.

Tony

That could be a big mistake.....if you do use them....get them to watch the videos and give them a print out of the instructions.

Yeah. I've decided to go to a Bongo specialist on the Bongo Fury garage list. Bit further to go and a couple of weeks wait, but hopefully worth it.

Cheers

Tony

TonyBongo wrote:Yeah. I've decided to go to a Bongo specialist on the Bongo Fury garage list. Bit further to go and a couple of weeks wait, but hopefully worth it.

Cheers

Tony

almost certainly worth it.

Garages in general don't appear to be receptive to technical advice from clients! It is partly understandable especially with clients they don't know. There are exceptions of course.

Had the bongo MOTd and serviced including coolant flushed, refilled and bled by someone who knows Bongos.

On flattish roads travelling at 50-60mph/2k-2.5k rpm and going easy on the acceleration, the engine temp seems to be a steady 90C. Hammering it up a hill with foot down it gets up to around 96. Ambient air temperature was about 15C. That sound about right?

Ta

Tony