HELP: Something is wrong with my baby (head gasket or wot?)

[mikeonb4c]

Let's hope this is soon sorted for you, Mike.

As you say, the camping season is starting and we want you out there.

I'm always wayyyy out there Bob - just hope the Bongo can be too. Very frustrating as its running beautifully.

[mikeonb4c]

Well it turned out to be a cracked head! No idea why it should have happened and the symptoms were not extreme. But the lumpy starting was getting worse, there were episodes of white smoke shortly after start up, and it was losing coolant albeit slowly. I didn’t want to start the camping season with an uncertainty over the Bongo’s health so Adrian and me decided we’d go for head gasket/head as our best guess as he’d never heard of a turbo failing on the cooling system side. Pressure test confirmed it was the head so one big bill later she’s back and running like she used to. There are some consolations. Firstly, the engine is much quieter, due I suppose to nicely adjusted tappets as part of the job. Second, she was due for a new cambelt this year anyway so the cost of that was much less than it otherwise would have been. And the water pump bearing was going, so I‘d have been back to have that done before long instead of getting a new one fitted while she was in bits. Ditto for a new thermostat. New temp sensor and ECU sensor had to be fitted as old ones had seized and broke during attempts to remove them. The temp sensor connection was looking brittle anyway. So in many ways, the car is restored to better condition than before. But I’m sure bills will still keeping coming, as this and that wear out. I think the steering rack might need attention before to long – there’s a bit of dampness on one of the gaiters. And wheel arches will need replacing eventually. Taking stock though, after nearly 9 years of trouble free running and at the price I paid for mine, the car owed me nothing and I’ve no complaints. I’ve always been in it for the long haul with the Bongo because frankly, there’s no other vehicle out there that will give me and Trish the same pleasure as the Bongo, especially as we’re both keen to get out and campervan more.

Gotta say though, Adrian is a star. I wouldn’t have been happy with any old garage tackling this kind of work.

[Bob]

Good result, Mike.

Well done to Adrian and Bongy.

[mikeonb4c]

Good result, Mike.

Well done to Adrian and Bongy.

Absolutely. To adapt the line from Top Gun:

You fly fast campervans long enough, something like this is bound to happen. But there will be other bills - you can count on it.

[rita]

Hi just wondering, did Adrian tell you what caused the problem or give you an idea what might have caused the problem. Can you tell where the head was cracked.

[mikeonb4c]

Hi just wondering, did Adrian tell you what caused the problem or give you an idea what might have caused the problem. Can you tell where the head was cracked.

He did show me the old head and where it was cracked (between cylinders one and two I think but anyway where he says they usually go). As to cause, we'll never really know. AdrIan says he sees a steady flow coming in with problems now. Much as it pains me to acknowledge it, and given mine has the best attention, it does seem it is a design weakness waiting to happen. Mine is 20 years old, 130k on the clock and it does short journeys every day so lots of thermal cycles. Could this be relevant? We had to do several bleeds last year and the year before for various reasons. Could a bubble not have bled out on one of those occasions? We'll never know. The line I take is that after nearly nine years of trouble free motoring in the best car I ever had the pleasure of driving, it's just a bill that must be paid. And there will be more, I'm as sure of that as I am about not wanting any other car (at least until we're done with camping). But hey, life is for living. And I still love the diesel engine and it's relaxed low down torque.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Mike...
If what Adrian says is true, and I'm sure it is, then it says that Bongos have a finite life-span...I have spent a large sum on mine, and I had planned to do likewise and keep it quite a few years more. It would be interesting to see what the Ford Ranger engine lasts like in the conventional front-engine layout...I'd almost lay money on it not having the same amount of trouble with the head. Whilst I like the idea of the mid-engine design in the Bongo, it really limits it as a camper, but as an all-rounder, it is pretty well ahead of the competition.
Cheers
Helen

[mikeonb4c]

Hi Helen. Good old forum didn't flag up your post so sorry for slow reply. I suppose twenty years and 130k miles is not the worst case of unreliability but given Muz and Harry's (as just two examples) managed many miles more then I still feel a bit unlucky. Maybe age, short journeys, and thermal cycles were more in my case. Harry overheated his a few times before the head went. Anyway at least she's running beautifully again and quieter than ever. I'd like a couple more years of Bongoing if possible. No idea what I''ll try after that mind you!

[Dabs]

No idea what I''ll try after that mind you!

Let me know when Mike and I will find you another reliable runaround Sorry to hear of the problems but glad you seem to be on best side Bongowise

[helen&tony]

Hi
Mike...
I'm hoping for a few more years out of mine...it's got a long journey ahead in a few years, hopefully...The engine's fine...no noises, oil pressure spot on, just the usual oil leaks, and I'd say the condition is perfect, bodywise...the local welder came out from the underside having done the rear X-member over the silencer where the old dustbin warmed the seal off it, and I had a stainless system on which made it more visible ...anyway, he was more than impressed with the condition....I waxoyl every year, and it's kept the arches perfect, also, I strip the rear arches bi-annually to the metal and re-paint, as the roads are gritty here, so at over 200,000 Km. I'd say it's a treat...HOWEVER, my Type2 was twice round the clock...rusty, but I spent a lot on restoring, and if I had room, I'd have both and the Jeep, but that's guilding the lily!
Engine-wise, the Bongos are great...but that head issue lurking behind the bushes gets me a bit worried!....
Anyway...good luck with yours!!!
Cheers
Helen