Advice required on turbo - i think!

[The Wanderer]

Hi all

I'm a new member so apologies if the answer to this is glaringly obvious but I haven't really figured it out from the fact sheets etc.

I am looking to buy a Bongo and have looked at three so far. The last one I looked at (2.5 TD manual and excellent in most respects) had a lot of black fluid - not oil - collecting in the tray under the engine. This seemed to be coming from a flange on the passenger side of the engine with a black hose dropping down from it, possibly connecting to the exhaust manifold. (I'm afraid I don't really know my way around the engine yet).

Is this likely to be a problem with the turbo and if so, are they tricky/expensive to repair/replace? I would consider buying this van if the problem was not too serious, as it was in such good condition overall and a good price for the spec (I think) - even though I would prefer an auto.

Any advice gratefully received.

ps I am in Sevenoaks, Kent and ideally looking for a 2.5TD or V6 petrol auto 2WD with side kitchen and rock & roll bed conversion for £5-6k.

[bigdaddycain]

I don't suppose you took a pic by any chance?

Personally i'd hold out for an auto if that's what your really after...plenty of cheap bongo's on the market at the moment, have you checked out the "for sale" section on here wanderer?

[You've Been Bongod]

can you put which area you are from to make things little easier foe everybody





you've been bongod

[The Wanderer]

Thanks for your replies. Yup, been keeping a keen eye on 'for sale' section but they're either out of my price range, wrong spec or got probs (maybe why they are cheaper!).

I'll have to keep looking and hope I strike lucky.

I'm in Sevenoaks, Kent.

[francophile1947]

I'm in Sevenoaks, Kent.

Use the User Control Panel, at the top right of the forum, to put Sevenoaks in your profile - that way it's always visible.
There are a couple in your price range in the For Sale section at the moment but, to be honest, I think you figure is low for a converted one.

[dreamwarrioruk]

the black gunk could be just oil that had come out of the big black pipe by the turbo. ours was loose and gave the same symptons. minst you our turbo blew up eventually (from a oil seal problem). the turbos are not repairable according to the turbo specialists i asked but i managed to get a secondhand unit for 150 notes from bell hill. fitting it was easy so it could be a simple fix on the bongo, expect to have some oil under the covers. usually from the rockercover gasket and/or cylinder head. it only takes a very small amount to make it look like amassive oil leak.if you get chance have a look at the air filter if theres a big wet wet circle then theres something up. could be blowback from the crankcase. all the pipework is roughly linked to the egr valve which can fill the inlet manifold up with messy gunk.also the intercooler can get some oil build up
hope that helps

[Bob]

I was thinking EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculator or sommit), it is easily blanked off and not needed.

[The Wanderer]

Cheers for the user control panel advice John - I'll get there!

And thanks for the turbo and other black goo related info mike/jo/emma. I will bear it in mind. Where is the air filter and intercooler situated by the way? Is there an engine layout on the site somewhere so I don't keep asking questions? Also 2 out of 3 vans I looked at had the cover that goes over the gearbox missing - is that common?

Geoff

[francophile1947]

Cheers for the user control panel advice John - I'll get there!

And thanks for the turbo and other black goo related info mike/jo/emma. I will bear it in mind. Where is the air filter and intercooler situated by the way? Is there an engine layout on the site somewhere so I don't keep asking questions? Also 2 out of 3 vans I looked at had the cover that goes over the gearbox missing - is that common?

Geoff

What cover over the gearbox - I guess mine is missing as well

[The Wanderer]

Ahh, common then ... I guess I was lucky to see one with a cover

[dreamwarrioruk]

the air filter is situated udner the drivers side big round box with 3 spring clips holding the top in place. the intercooler is under the front of the bongo to the best of my knowledge and isnt gonna be easy to inpect without taking the pipes off it.i havnt done mine yet but i think some others have.
as far as i know the lower cowel under the engine is in two pieces and ive seen some bongos with the rear piece missing.
have a look on here for a breakdown of parts http://www.lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/

[The Wanderer]

Wow, that's what I call resourceful, big thanks for the link - might have to improve my Japanese though!

Fairly convinced now it's oil leaking from the big black pipe by the turbo.

Geoff

ps I suspect you're right John, I need more money or a big slice of good luck.

[bigdaddycain]

Good luck with the hunting wanderer...I had the cash for my bongo burning a hole in my pocket for a few months before i stumbled across the right one for me.

(mind you,bongo's were a bit thinner on the ground back then....)

Take as many test drives as you can muster...till you get a good "feel" for em'...