Bongo Fury

hi,
when under the bongo again the other day i noticed a metal coolant pipe that joins to a rubber one.possibly under driver`s side,i think.it had some corrosion on it,should i worry?how thick is the metal?i will clean it off and see how it looks,but are replacements available if needed?
thanks
jamie

Hi

Is it the pipe that comes out of the o/s of the engine by the starter motor

I had this corrode and leak badly.

You are right to inspect the metal pipes as well as the hoses,it is very overlooked,I also had a leak from the metal pipe that goes to the rear heater it was spotted and sorted so no problems.

spotting a leak is an art spotting it before it does any damage is pure luck!!

In my view coolant alarms are a great idea but regular checks can go a long way to averting problems too!!

Dabs

Hi,
That very pipe leaked with us on new years day, we were relayed home on a recovery vehicle. Deffinately be wary of the metal pipes, we have since fitted the coolant alarm.
Mike.

When I replaced my hoses, the back ends of mine were starting to corrode slightly on the very ends,but I cleaned them up inside & out, & am happy they're not on the point of failure, but its on my "keep an eye on it" & "replace at some point soonish" list, being monitored thanks to a coolant alarm.

On more than one occasion I have had the thought that a wise approach with a Bongo is to invest in it ahead of the moment of need rather than when it arrives (sourcing a spare at the first hint one might be needed, doing work ahead of trouble etc.) . Start trying to source the spare part now so its it your sticky mit and can be fitted as soon as trouble hits (and of course you'll have fitted a low coolant alarm to alert you when the moment arrives)

If the pipe is about 1.5 inches in dia and drivers side front, it is part of the top hose connecting the radiator and cylinder head. At a glance they do tend to look rusty and dirty but could be sound. However they are also prone to pin hole leaks which are very difficult to spot. These leaks may only be seen when the engine is hot and under pressure and you may detect a fine mist.
Inspect the pipe with care and perhaps wire brush.
I belive Bell Hill garage(ad on this site)fit new ones on a regular basis so may be able to get you one.
If in doubt..replace....not doing so could be costly.

sorry. pressed twice.
Anything to catch Mike up !!!

hi,
once cleaned up,can i hammerite the metal pipe?
thanks
jamie

As long as it is in good condition you can paint it but it could be rusting from the inside.

Changing coolant on a regular basis goes a long way in helping prevent rusty pipes. I agree with Dabs that coolant alarms are fine, a good visual check and maintenace can prevent major catastrophies