Bongo Fury

Hi everyone, This deserves a new post. This is the story. RAC take V6 to garage in Brighton after extreme loud banging from rocker box area. Garage not interested. Talk RAC into taking it to garage in Plymstock where serviced and a Bongoman at heart(Brighton lacks a petrol Bongo garage).

Bongo driven from RAC trailer in Plymstock banging away then after 15 seconds stops. Has the engine stalled? No its the old quiet V6 engine. Great news but its 150 miles away now.

The oil was changed and the culprit is found. A sliver of metal. Engine inspected internally and no damage seen at all. Vehicle test driven allowed to heat up, put through the works and engine as it should be and all fans kicking in. Mystery. Now I have been told the tapping it had for a couple of minutes on start up has now also stopped but I await to hear that myself.

Luckily the banging was heard in Plymstock for 15 seconds or I would have been certified.

The other good news is that we can now go and pick it up mid week and spend a few days in Devon test driving. The train is £18 from Southampton (£62 from Hove) and a commuting friend will drop us in Southampton in the morning.

Thanks for support everyone.

hi,
i`m glad it was something(hopefully)simple.mine quitened down considerably after the first oil change,then a few weeks later i did it again after a`flush`but used cheap lidl oil.unfortunately it didn`t sound as good as before i changed for the second time!i now resolve to flush,then change the oil and filter yet again,using the best oil i can afford.
i hope yours is now cured.
thanks again.
jamie

Glenda

Without putting a downer on your post, I'd be really concerned about this "sliver of metal" in the oil. The engine can't be properly inspected without a complete stripdown - there's just too many bits to be inspected.

Is there any chance this sliver can be photographed and posted on here for a look? might be worth getting a MAGNETIC SUMP PLUG like this to establish whether ony other (ferrous) metal is in there.

I agree. It has to have come from somewhere. I haven't seen it myself yet. All I can do is drive on and see what happens and think positively......The worst outcome is I have to buy another Bongo!!

The magnetic sump plug could be the trick. I'll check on Wednesday.

Hi Glenda,
Slivers of metal do not just happen,it must have come from somewhere.
This could be a prelude to something TERMINAL.Drop the sump and check
it out thoroughly,your Bongo is crying out for Help. Do it !!!

Thanks for your concern but I fully trust the Bongoman doing the work. My Bongo is well cared for and not crying out for help (although the mats could do with a bit of a hoover).There has been an internal inspection. I will soon now if it happens again and then I will be concerned.

I think this thread should be put on HOLD until I get the Bongo back, talk through it with Bongo magician and have driven a few hundred miles. Until then I do not have enough information. Unless the man who has looked at it wishes to enter the debate..............

The miracle has truly happened.

Picked up 50,000 mile V6 from Allans in Plymouth last Wednesday. Shard of metal inspected 5mm by 10mm and wafer thin. Inspection, new seals and oil change. Cost £90.There is now NOT the 2 minute tapping on warm up and it drives better than before incident and it was great before.

Had 5 day trip back camping at Wembury, Slapton Sands, Exmouth and Milford-on-Sea. Even saw Chris Evans househunting at Sandbanks with his new blonde hair. Bongo great. Weather great. Swimming great. All great.

Tested hold button downhill on Motorway 70mph 2500 revs push hold button and it increased only to 3500 revs. Wonder engine and it does not thrash.

Now for the Windsor Triathlon on Sunday where I hope to beat friend after 1.5km swim, 25 mile bike and 10km run. I hope I don't have to call out the RAC.........

hi,
can you please explain`new seals`?is this valve seals,or something else?it may be the cause of my own bongo`s tapping.remember,mine was parked up for nearly a year before i bought it,and perhaps something had perished slightly,preventing the valves from operating efficiently.
if glenda isn`t around,does anyone know what seals she had replaced?
thanks
jamie

Hi Jamie,

It was the valve seals replaced apparently. I think your V6 may like a short break in Plymstock. See what happens at the Bash.

Good luck.

Great news Glenda.

Fingers crossed Jamie. Just possible you may have a result on the horizon. Maybe Allans could advise you what you'd need to brief a local mechanic about fitting new seals, or even agree to talk to them. Allans have a very good reputation with Bongos, rather like Wheelquick. I reckon they'd understand, given you are so far off.

Keep us posted

Fingers crossed for you Glenda, it sounds as if a major engine catastrophe has hopefully been averted. I do wonder where the shard of metal had originally come from though?

I do wonder where the shard of metal had originally come from though?

It was a piece of rough casting broken loose off the head; no major or minor mechanical parts damaged, no introduced metals involved. Glenda has it and it's running perfectly. (Allan phoned Jaimie with some ideas, so he should be less worried).