Bongo Fury

....hopefully the liquid in the bottle is red/orange coolant, or otherwise he's got a bit of a rust problem

rita wrote:

Aethelric wrote:

The Great Pretender wrote:I'm still not convinced that there is a head problem. The turbo has been mentioned before as a possible problem, as the pipework for it is at the stat housing fitting or removing the thermostat could affect air ingress. If a chat about it would help pm me your land line number.

Thanks Mel, I'll give you a call.

In the meantime here are some pics

The old water pump

I think the rust stains have developed since I took it out

The bleed set up for single handed operation


Closer view


The old "Stat"

Now fitted.

I've used a half tank of diesel since I put it back together with the sawn off stat and the new pump with no problems, and I have a 200 mile round trip to do this weekend, so fingers crossed.

Hi,Dave what is in the bottle

Thats just the 50:50 antifreeze Mel (NOT rust Simon )- its actually a pink colour but it changes colour depending on how the light hits it. After trying numerous method of bleeding the bongo single handed, I find this is the best way. The level in the bottle is the same height as the level in the header tank when the engine isn't running. When the engine is running it goes up and down as the engine revs change. The only thing you have to remember to do is to check there is no air left in the bend in the bleed hose when you are finished.
I've now done four tankfuls (diesel that is) with no problems other than a crap heater and higher fuel consumption since putting it back together.

A crap heater would indicate either air in the matrix or it's blocked. Are both heaters crap?

It's my belief that the rear heater matrix can be the cause/source of airlocks

stevedon wrote:I should add with the thermostat out mine averaged 40 deg on a run but once stuck in traffic (there is some here in NZ)it chucked the water out at @80deg (ive got a TM2 fitted).
the head cannot be retorqued as it has an initial torque up of xxNm then 90deg then another 90 deg so there is no specific figure also they are stretch bolts and are designed to stretch,over tightening is not good

Sounds similar to mine Steve. I traffic I find if I switch on th A/C it switches on the radiator fans so the engine stays cool. I don't know the crossover temperature, other than above 82C air gets into the system and at running temp with no stat (probably around 40C, if thats what you measured) its OK. Thanks for the info on the bolts.

Dave

dandywarhol wrote:A crap heater would indicate either air in the matrix or it's blocked. Are both heathers crap?

It's my belief that the rear heater matrix can be the cause/source of airlocks

The heater is probably OK considering the coolant in it is only around 40C. With no stat fitted the coolant takes ages to get warm and it never gets hot, so the heaters are not exactly "fierce"

Dave

dandywarhol wrote:A crap heater would indicate either air in the matrix or it's blocked. Are both heathers crap?

It's my belief that the rear heater matrix can be the cause/source of airlocks

I feel the same way Alan.... as it has some complex pipework and is mounted quite low.
But that is my opinion and during the bleeding process I employed.....I made sure the rear heater was good an hot before turning attention to the warmth of the bottom hose....

Aethelric wrote:

dandywarhol wrote:A crap heater would indicate either air in the matrix or it's blocked. Are both heathers crap?

It's my belief that the rear heater matrix can be the cause/source of airlocks

The heater is probably OK considering the coolant in it is only around 40C. With no stat fitted the coolant takes ages to get warm and it never gets hot, so the heaters are not exactly "fierce"

Dave

Ah, forgotten the stat was out...........................

Interestingly, with the stat fitted, reving the engine increased the pressure in the head relative to the header tank, and the coolant rose in the bleed vessel and dropped in the header. But with no stat it was the opposite way round. Revving the engine dropped the level in the bleed vessel. I think it may be due to increased flow through the head causing a venturi effect in the bleed pipe. Another datum for the cooling system data bank!

Thats odd I noticed the opposite. ie rev engine level drops in bleed vessel. (or maybe my Bongo does have a stat fitted!!!!)