Coolant replacement. When?

[Tea Spillage]

My Bongo was imported two years ago and we havn't changed the coolant yet. My local garage declined to attempt this (I thought they would as I asked them only to do it if they were 100% confident they could) However they also advised me that after testing the coolant it was in very good condition and didn't require changing at the moment. Mmmm what do you think?

[daveblueozzie]

there is a consensus that it need changing every 18 to 24 months.

[bigdaddycain]

Not many places will take this job on, unless you insist, AND sign a wavewr that any subsequent overheating issues AREN'T their fault....

Chances are you'll need to do the job yourself, as you are less likely to send yourself to court if summat goes boobs up.

The reasoning behing the bi-annual coolant change is to keep the crud and muck in the coolant system to a minimum, the thinking being that any muck is removed with the old coolant.

Modern anti-freezes contain many additives to maintain it's strength, so i can see where your garage is coming from with their reasoning.

[missfixit70]

Sounds like it's time it was flushed & changed, it's not difficult to do yourself, check out the factsheets for guidance.

[missfixit70]

Stick your location in your profile by clicking on "user control panel" top right, someone local may be able to assist or point you in the direction of a willing & capable garage. Credit to your local garage for admitting they weren't confident with the procedure.
Welcome to the forum

[not so old]

Hi,
This is something I am concerned about . Our Bongo has been here for over 2 years and still not had this coolant thing checked. Jimmy believes that, if it works-leave it! but I am the one who worries I hear so many horror storys about these coolant pipes etc.
Also need one of those Coolant Alarms that Hadyn does, I think. It's one thing less to worry about then Love the Bongo, but hate the worry!

[Doone]

Allan changes the coolant on every Bongo he sells, regardless of assumed condition - better safe than sorry. I found this on the Bluecol website:

Most antifreeze and coolant products on the market are ethylene glycol based with additives to prevent corrosion, lubricate seals and water pumps and aid in heat transfer to the coolant from the metal of the engine. Antifreeze coolant should typically be mixed with water at the ratio of one part antifreeze to one part water. This gives antifreeze protection down to minus 34 degrees and overheating / boil over protection up to 265 degrees. Do not use pure antifreeze in a cooling system without using at least 30 percent water in the mixture.

Most antifreeze coolant sold in recent years has been the traditional green coolant which has a life span of two to three years or up to 30,000 miles. Green antifreeze contains silicates, phosphates and borates as corrosion inhibitors to keep the solution alkaline. As long as the solution remains alkaline, corrosion is controlled and the cooling system is protected. Over time corrosion inhibitors are depleted and the corrosion protection is lost, therefore green antifreeze should be changed every two years.

Aluminium is especially vulnerable to corrosion and many vehicles have heads, radiators and other aluminium components in the cooling system. If the coolant in an engine cooling system is changed before corrosion inhibitors reach dangerously low levels, corrosion damage is prevented.

Check out the rest of what it says on this link: http://www.bluecol.co.uk/index.cfm?page=75

[bigdaddycain]

I have the "longlife" red coolant in my bongo, no matter though, it will still be replaced every two years or even sooner.

[scanner]

Aluminium is especially vulnerable to corrosion and many vehicles have heads, radiators and other aluminium components in the cooling system. If the coolant in an engine cooling system is changed before corrosion inhibitors reach dangerously low levels, corrosion damage is prevented.

It is my humble opinion that it is this corrosion of the aluminium that can be the cause of many Bongo cooling related problems.
When aluminium corrodes it "flakes off" - (imagine the crust you see on aluminium that has been outside for a while washing off into the coolant) and collects in the bottom and narrowest chambers of the radiator. I've seen the result of it in the choked radiators of TR7's and Imp's, both cars with aluminium heads &/or engines and well documented cooling problems not dissimilar to the Bongo ones.

Any Bongo that has been run for any length of time without adequate inhibitor in the coolant is just asking for trouble.

[mikeonb4c]

I as going to change mine over the Xmas break as it is exactly 2 years since last done. However its cold and I'm feeling lazy, so may leave it until Spring. I'm, not unduly worried (I think of my old cars when I'm not sure if the garage ever did it). The posting from Allans suggests 2-3 years is probably OK (provided of course you have a healthy system in the first place!). But 2 yrs is the recommended I believe. One interesting alternative (for the chemists among us) might be to do an alkalinity test. Its the fluid is clear after a run (to churn things up) and alkalinity compares well with a 50/50 small of fresh stuff, then maybe it can be left until alkalinity drops. I used to work in the concrete business and the alkalinity of concrete was what protected the steel reinforcement from corroding. Seems like a similar rule applies here.

PS - just seen scanners post and agree with that 100%.

[bigdaddycain]

Aluminium is especially vulnerable to corrosion and many vehicles have heads, radiators and other aluminium components in the cooling system. If the coolant in an engine cooling system is changed before corrosion inhibitors reach dangerously low levels, corrosion damage is prevented.

It is my humble opinion that it is this corrosion of the aluminium that can be the cause of many Bongo cooling related problems.
When aluminium corrodes it "flakes off" - (imagine the crust you see on aluminium that has been outside for a while washing off into the coolant) and collects in the bottom and narrowest chambers of the radiator. I've seen the result of it in the choked radiators of TR7's and Imp's, both cars with aluminium heads &/or engines and well documented cooling problems not dissimilar to the Bongo ones.

Any Bongo that has been run for any length of time without adequate inhibitor in the coolant is just asking for trouble.

I agree to a point, but i think it may well be PART of the problem, as opposed to the cause. Plenty of cars nowadays have alloy heads on iron blocks.

I couldn't agree more with the last paragraph...

[haydn callow]

So did the Krays

I used to work in the concrete business and the alkalinity of concrete was what protected the steel reinforcement from corroding. Seems like a similar rule applies here.

[teenmal]

Hi,what kind of water do you use (I know its wet stuff) ie tap water,distilled,or deionized??

Cheers Mal..

[bigdaddycain]

I used tap water.

[haydn callow]

If you want to be super good then distilled...If you are in a HARD water area it's probably best to keep away from tap water.