Bongo Fury

hi,
after reading the various replies regarding my noisy tappets and the possible engine wear that may be present,i`m very hesitant to travel any distance at the moment,which defeats the object of why i got a bongo in the first place.i intended to drag the wife and kids out every weekend and holiday,to places we`ve never been.now i daren`t plan anything,as i can`t be sure that the engine is up to it.i suppose my options are:

1.get it inspected by a decent mechanic,and take it from there.

2.get it running as well as possible then sell it.

3.run it as it is,and be very diligent with servicing and oil changes etc.

if it wasn`t a v6 petrol,i guess i wouldn`t be in this position.if i need to change the hydraulic tappets,are any other mazda/ford ones compatible?i`m reasonably competent with a spanner,and have a more experienced friend who i can enlist if needed.it really would be a shame to sell the bongo,especially as i`ve just had it converted to a campervan and never used it for that purpose yet.
any advice,or offers would be carefully considered.
thanks
jamie

I bought a V6 last autumn. It had noisy tappets on start up but once warm noise goes. Yours seems a worse. I would definitely have it checked over by a Bongo expert mechanic before any long trips or conversion work.

hi,
i already had the conversion done!one thing to note is that it stood for 10 months after being imported,before i purchased it and registered it.i`m hoping that,at worst,things are just`gummed up`with it standing for so long.i`ve already changed the oil and filter,after flushing,and it does seem better.but it still sounds a bit like a diesel.i`ll do it again soon if i think it`ll help.
thanks
jamie

If you're doing the rocker cover gaskets, you can check the cams for wear at the same time. Contact Mazda dealer for prices of cams and tappets and take it from there.
It might also be worth trying the ATF trick for silencing the tappets.
As your car has been stood for so long, I'd give it a little while before giving up - it's amazing what a good run can do for a "sticky" engine.

Hi
Options ! & 3....take care and enjoy it
What else would you buy, anyway, and any second hand car is potential bother, and at least the Bongo can have use as more than just a ride
Cheers
Helen

francophile1947 wrote:If you're doing the rocker cover gaskets, you can check the cams for wear at the same time. Contact Mazda dealer for prices of cams and tappets and take it from there.
It might also be worth trying the ATF trick for silencing the tappets.
As your car has been stood for so long, I'd give it a little while before giving up - it's amazing what a good run can do for a "sticky" engine.

The ATF trick wouldn't be an Italian tune up, by any chance.

Is it firing on all six cylinders? I'd replace the ignition leads, and ht lead,and swap the coil pack with another v6 to check for a good spark?

Are you seeing ANY improvememt in running with use?

have you tried putting some engine addative in the oil?

lucas suppose to do a really good one that quitens tappets and engine noise.

is yours a manual? have you tried going up a steep hill in highest gear possible?, this sometimes sorts the tappets by opening them fully as its struggling and gets oil all around them so i am told.

but i would sell it just because of noisey tappets

lizard wrote:

francophile1947 wrote:If you're doing the rocker cover gaskets, you can check the cams for wear at the same time. Contact Mazda dealer for prices of cams and tappets and take it from there.
It might also be worth trying the ATF trick for silencing the tappets.
As your car has been stood for so long, I'd give it a little while before giving up - it's amazing what a good run can do for a "sticky" engine.

The ATF trick wouldn't be an Italian tune up, by any chance.

NO!! I read about it in this post
Hi hogggman
I used to be a Mazda Technician and when it came to rattly tappets Mazda technical advised an oil change and when refilling the oil you should add 1 ltr of ATF and believe it or not it does work I have done it several times including on an old Audi 80 sport I had and yes it worked on that as well.

waycar8 wrote:have you tried putting some engine addative in the oil?

lucas suppose to do a really good one that quitens tappets and engine noise.

is yours a manual? have you tried going up a steep hill in highest gear possible?, this sometimes sorts the tappets by opening them fully as its struggling and gets oil all around them so i am told.

but i would sell it just because of noisey tappets

Did you really mean that Wayne?

funny you should mention swapping the plug leads around,as i took two off the other day,then didn`t know which was which.i tried running the engine with the leads in either position,with no obvious change in engine tickover.i then ran it with the leads both off,again,no obvious change in tickover.i then replaced them as i thought correct and have run it ever since.though it is tappetty,it definitely doesn`t`chug` or `hunt` at all,so i`m stumped.i`ve never had a v6 before,so i`ve no idea how it would sound if it wasn`t firing on all cylinders.
thanks
jamie

hogggman wrote:funny you should mention swapping the plug leads around,as i took two off the other day,then didn`t know which was which.i tried running the engine with the leads in either position,with no obvious change in engine tickover.i then ran it with the leads both off,again,no obvious change in tickover.i then replaced them as i thought correct and have run it ever since.though it is tappetty,it definitely doesn`t`chug` or `hunt` at all,so i`m stumped.i`ve never had a v6 before,so i`ve no idea how it would sound if it wasn`t firing on all cylinders.
thanks
jamie

You've definitely got a problem there!! Any engine should be as lumpy as heck with 2 plug leads off. It sounds as if some cylinders aren't firing - take the plugs out and see which ones are fouled up.

would that make it sound rattly?3 plug have oil around the base of them where it`s run down from the rocker cover gasket leak.perhaps it`s fouling the lead/cap and preventing it firing that way.
thanks
jamie

hogggman wrote:would that make it sound rattly?3 plug have oil around the base of them where it`s run down from the rocker cover gasket leak.perhaps it`s fouling the lead/cap and preventing it firing that way.
thanks
jamie

It could well make it noisier - oil from the rocker cover shouldn't short the leads out, unless it's got metal or carbon mixed in with it.

francophile1947 wrote:

waycar8 wrote:have you tried putting some engine addative in the oil?

lucas suppose to do a really good one that quitens tappets and engine noise.

is yours a manual? have you tried going up a steep hill in highest gear possible?, this sometimes sorts the tappets by opening them fully as its struggling and gets oil all around them so i am told.

but i would sell it just because of noisey tappets

Did you really mean that Wayne?

No john just a typo