Bongo Fury

Hi We are new

We bought a bongo with a known cyclinder head problem and went for a new one for peace of mind.
After a few probs with delivery it finally arrived.
The mechnic has comes highly recomended and has a Ford Ranger, which he changed the head on his recently.

He has had a nightmare this week, his report is that the head is presurising almost strait away, with nasty big bubbles coming out the header tank. Thinking that he had done something wrong he recruited another mechnic to take a look they are now thinking that the head is the one in a 100 that has a fault.

Any suggestions before they disasemble Johnny 5????

Stinch wrote:Hi We are new

We bought a bongo with a known cyclinder head problem and went for a new one for peace of mind.
After a few probs with delivery it finally arrived.
The mechnic has comes highly recomended and has a Ford Ranger, which he changed the head on his recently.

He has had a nightmare this week, his report is that the head is presurising almost strait away, with nasty big bubbles coming out the headder tank. Thinking that he had done something wrong he recruited another mechnic to take a look they are now thinking that the head is the one in a 100 that has a fault.

Any suggestions before they disasemble Johnny 5????

Hi Johnny,get your mechanic to make sure that the cooling system is bled properly.Get rid of the nasty big bubbles,and the nasty wee bubbles.
Check out the fact sheet in the Members area and show it to the mechanic.

Cheers Malc.

Thanks for the reply

Just been to garage, mentioned the cooling system being a nightmare to bleed. He was aware how to do it. Its not running hot and he reports the water is mixing with the fuel... then up through the header tank and he can smell the fumes. He has an engineer coming for something else so he was going to ask him.

the saga continues...

Neal
(sorry to confuse with 80's film reference)

Did he get a quality cylinder head ??? not a cheap Chinese one
Did he use a Mazda "factory" head gasket ??
Did he fit it using a new set of "streched" head bolts ??
Assuming all the above are o.k. and he did a nice "clean" job.
It could be a crack in the engine block and the first head was in fact o.k.
Has the old head been carefully examined for cracks (often round the exaust valves.)

Did he investigate what caused the original problem?

It's happened on here before that a head fails, gets replaced, and prompyly fails, as the original fault was not rectified.

Stinch wrote:Thanks for the reply

Just been to garage, mentioned the cooling system being a nightmare to bleed. He was aware how to do it. Its not running hot and he reports the water is mixing with the fuel... then up through the header tank and he can smell the fumes. He has an engineer coming for something else so he was going to ask him.

the saga continues...

Neal
(sorry to confuse with 80's film reference)

Hi Neal,

There might be something trapped between the head and the block when the head was being fitted.

The only way to tell is inspecting round the head to block area,or removing the head.

Hope you get it sorted.
Malc

Ditto what Haydn says - I've seen a Chinese copy where the holes didn't properly line up and the oilway definitely didn't line up!

Still - they'll be the next Superpower and bailing out the US next......................

Hi thanks for the replys (overwelmed with kindness on a friday)

The old head was pressure tested, and i've seen where it has gone with my own eyes.

The cyclinder head, bolts, gasket... was bought from the club shop (from AVA) Where they are sourced I don't know???
(not looking to create enemies)
I think mechanic lossing heart with the job so is going to come back to it next week with a fresh eye?

It continues...

Thanks all have a cracking weekend

Neal

1 - Did he use a Mazda gasket? I know of at least one which pressurised through using a spurious gasket manufacturer.
2 - ok, the head was cracked - as Bob asked - did they find the reason why?????

Hi

the head cracked after the gasket went following a hose splitting.
Bit of a saga/comedy of errors.
Neal

was the block skimmed? or level tested

as it happened before you had it its possible the block went as well as the head

coolant mixing with the fuel????? I cant see where they would come close except in the chamber

Exaust gases probably.

In my limited (and hard-won) experience of the Mazda 2.5 Diesel, the block should always be checked if the head has failed. Mine looked fine, but I had it checked and it had a 25 thou depression in the middle. The garage that I bought the engine from said that they had done the head gasket and then immediately it failed again, so they gave up and sold it.
Unfortunately, if the block needs skimming, you need to use a "Saver Shim" which is like a stainless steel head gasket that you glue to the block with "Well-Seal" (not sure if that is the correct spelling). It also involves a complete engine strip which is not a great deal of fun (or a whole heap of wedge if you are to pay someone else to do it).
Hope that helps.
Fitz

Ok its moan time.

After 10 yes 10 weeks our mechanic has given up on the cyclinder head, he has fitted a new one and still gases spuewing out the headder tank.

We have now asked Bellhill Garage to take over. Any one ever used them?? seamed knowledgable on the phone and they can pick up on Wednesday a bit like lightspeed considering our last garage.

End transmission and moan

Stinch wrote:Ok its moan time.

After 10 yes 10 weeks our mechanic has given up on the cyclinder head, he has fitted a new one and still gases spuewing out the headder tank.

We have now asked Bellhill Garage to take over. Any one ever used them?? seamed knowledgable on the phone and they can pick up on Wednesday a bit like lightspeed considering our last garage.

End transmission and moan

Bummer. You need a Bongo specialist. Are the gases spewing out of the header tank testing positive for exhuast gases - I presume so. Sounds like a costly pain in the arse but hopefully Belhill can end it

PS - Belhill are well known as a source of parts from breaking Bongos. I presume they are Bongo repair specialists but can't recall many instances of peeps going there. My guess is they will be fine