Bongo Fury

Start of second year not as good as first year.

Above oil seal old, brittle and blown (bit like me). Replacement hard to find and could be a week to 4 weeks in the finding. In good hands with Allan, who says its just old and not the engine, but have a dilemma......

The oil seal on the other end of crank shaft requires the gear box and bits to come out to be replaced. A time consuming job for Allan and will eat into my pocket. This oil seal cannot be checked without the gear box coming out.

So do I get the other crank shaft oil seal changed as well? Its a '97 V6 with 90,000km on clock and in good nick.

Anyone else had one brittle oil seal?

Not yet but thanks for the pre warning

Is there any significant labour saving to be had by doing them both at the same time? If not, then next question - is there any reason why the back one should go just because the front one has. Maybe ask Allens those questions and base decision on those replies. But my first instinct is to say just replace the one that is duff. Maybe order a rear one if not too dear in case it should subesquently need doing, just to save on 4 weeks delay plus extra shipping costs.

It seems an unusual thing to have happened on the V6, which peeps have said has a reputation for being bulletproof. Do Allens have any thoughts on what caused it to fail?

Keep us posted and good luck

Worrying My 95 V6 has dne 101,000 km, about 70,000 miles with no known problems. None in UK anyway.

So far it has been as Mike has said, bulletproof. No overheating, uses no oil or coolant.

Has the absence of V6 ers with serious problems been due to reliability or just the rarity of the beast.

I have had large petrol engines on Volvos, a Jeep and a Range Rover which have covered far more miles over equally as many years without failing seals. Could this be an unknown Mazda problem or is it just a one off.

Opinions please from those with more specialist knowledge.

I'm not saying it'll sort Glendas but I reckon I'd be tipping a can of Wynns Stop Leak to soften up the seals before the leaks start

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165750

Thanks for your replies. They help me work out what I need to talk to Allan about. The labour saving is important and sense of security if we set off on another big trip.

He says this one seal has had it and given up. No sign of any other problems.

I do not think other V6ers have to worry. I have searched forum and googled and not found any crank oil seal problems with other Bongos. Maybe this is why the seals are hard to get as noone needs them.

I'll try the Wynns Stop leak for the other seals.

So I will decide after running all this through with Allan. Thanks

Hi there,

Sorry to hear you have problems. The advise above is good, find out before you go to all the hassle and expense of changing both.

Another thing to consider is the castrol GTX high mileage oil, I recently started using this as it's 15W40 and the oil I was using previously I think was a bit thin. This has additives to soften the engine seals (well that's what it says !!) so that may help too.

Regarding the parts, I've had thiis with other bits (high prices and long waits). I find my local Mazda main dealer can supply the parts next day normally (via post) and the prices are less too so always worth a phone call.

Andy

Hi we have just had our replaced due to the front one leaking - we had to wait 7 weeks for ford to delivery! hope yours does not take so long

If this is becoming a problem on the petrol engines then I repeat that it is essential you have the crankcase breathing system checked out - if it's at all choked then the replaced seals will keep leaking!

Avent08 wrote:Hi we have just had our replaced due to the front one leaking - we had to wait 7 weeks for ford to delivery! hope yours does not take so long

That is a long wait Have you just replaced the front one?

Hi
we had both replaced as advised by the garage

Right. I have decided to leave the rear oil seal and only replace the faulty one. The rear can be done if it ever begins to leak. I will buy it as a spare.

Allan has been through all his suppliers for the spares including Mazda and if all goes well he should get 4 front seals next week and 2 rear all from different suppliers. So if anyone else has a future leak in crank shaft oil seal you know where to get them.

The crankcase breathing system is fine and all other visible and inspectable areas. It also has a treatment in the oil from its service. But good advice for others.

So its just the wait now. But what a great Xmas present to hope for- getting the Bongo back.

Thanks Stuart

Glenda wrote:Right. I have decided to leave the rear oil seal and only replace the faulty one. The rear can be done if it ever begins to leak. I will buy it as a spare.

Allan has been through all his suppliers for the spares including Mazda and if all goes well he should get 4 front seals next week and 2 rear all from different suppliers. So if anyone else has a future leak in crank shaft oil seal you know where to get them.

The crankcase breathing system is fine and all other visible and inspectable areas. It also has a treatment in the oil from its service. But good advice for others.

So its just the wait now. But what a great Xmas present to hope for- getting the Bongo back.

Thanks Stuart

Excellent, and fingers crossed the rears will hold up OK.

Looks like this is becoming a problem with V6's mine (my99 with 44k on the clock) developed an oil leak a few weeks ago managed to get under it tis morning and it is the front crank seal that is leaking Glenda how much did Allan charge to replace the seal so i have a ballpark figure on how much it will cost? did they replace the timing belt as well or put the old one back?

cheers manners

manners wrote:Looks like this is becoming a problem with V6's mine (my99 with 44k on the clock) developed an oil leak a few weeks ago managed to get under it tis morning and it is the front crank seal that is leaking Glenda how much did Allan charge to replace the seal so i have a ballpark figure on how much it will cost? did they replace the timing belt as well or put the old one back?

cheers manners

Sorry to hear your bad luck. Allan rang today to say all fixed and ready for collection. The seal was a nightmare to get hold of and then it needed a new cam belt (only 12 months old) plus it was due a service and MOT. So I do not know the cost yet and will not be down to collect for at least a week as I am busy knocking down walls at home.

Your best bet is to contact Allan immediately and at least buy the oil seal (providing its the same as a 1997 oil seal) as he got extra in and after this posting will probably sell them quickly. You could also ask him to give an estimate on costs/time taken. He is shutting for a month after this week so pm him through the forum (Doone) or email through his website.

The timing belt was picking up the oil and taking it inside the cam cover giving the impression the oil was coming from higher up. It had to be changed. Hopefully yours is OK. Good luck.

On a brighter note we will have our Bongo back for Christmas.