Bongo Fury

Wife got home - steam/water coming out the engine + "engine sounds like a car crash going on inside it" Looks like a hose has split or something and its run dry. Might not be that bad - but I doubt it as it sounded that bad she jumped out of it and didn't want to go back to shut the windows.

Could be the end of a era.

Its double trouble because the clutch is on the way out on our scooby - booked in this w/e so we are now down to zero wheels - deep joy, NOT!

Oh dear - I guess you didn't have a low coolant alarm fitted A hot engine with no coolant will be noisy, so all you can do is replace the hose, bleed the system and keep your fingers crossed

By all accounts noisy is a bit of an understatement . “Like a Transformer Transforming…” according to the kids. I’m not too sure what that is but it doesn’t sound healthy. I’m off to see what the score is.

Wish me luck….

Yep, sounds like she did the worst possible thing and kept driving.

for you. If only a low coolant alarm had been in place

Ok - enough talk about low coolant alarms - the horse has bolted on that one (but let it be a lesson for myself and others)

The cause was a tinyhole in the big hose under the driver’s seat. There is a much smaller tube that runs front-to-back which crosses the coolant hose near the top. It must have just worn and broken through slowly leaked out then geysered out when it all got too hot.

The good news is that the engine still turns over. The bad news is that I’m not sure if there is any water it left in the system. According to the Missus all the nasty noises happened about 10 - 20 seconds after she switched off (which is kinda scary in itself).

So what to do…

I suppose the first thing to do is replace the hose to refill it and see as if by magic it’s somehow survived the ordeal unscathed. (Somehow I doubt it).

By way of a test, is it possible to fill the system and get rid of air-locks with plain water or do you need the anti-freeze in it to stop it boiling before the air-locks cleared. (I have changed the coolant before about 3 years ago so am aware of the airlock issues in general - great fun).

I know the cost of the antifreeze is peanuts compared to the likely repair cost but £20 is still £20 and if I can test it without I will because apart from anything else its going to be a right pain getting the stuff now that both our vehicles are off the road (Scooby’s getting the clutch fixed today but will be out for rest of week).

What’s the cost of new head / engine anyone been in this unfortunate position before…

Thanks
A-F

No need to put antifreeze in just to test it
New head etc isn't going to leave much change from £1500

Sorry to hear that Auntie-freda... It just goes to show the importance of checking those hoses regularly... It never rains eh? best of luck...( sounds like you could use some)

Assuming the head hasn't gone It'd be fine to use just plain water to test just like john said...If all is fine there is no need to re-bleed,replace the plain water again... It's a two man job though. Simply release the bleed hose bung to decant 5 litres of plain water,whilst your helper matches the flow at the header tank with 5 litres of antifreeze. (measure 5 litres into a bucket and mark that level so you know how much to fill your "catchtank") Please ensure the level in the header tank doesn't drop below the minimum mark, otherwise all bets are off regarding not having to re-bleed. Of course the usual checks afterwards will be required, temp gauge normal, equal heat at front and rear heaters, and of course the obligatory "inch" top up the following morning after the bongo has been allowed to cool naturally overnight. (part of the bleeding process is the natural escape of cooling hot air as the engine cools, the warmer trapped air bubbles finish up in the top of the header tank, that's the rushing air noise you get when you release the header tank cap the following morning).

OK - I have got the hose now is the moment of truth.

Question - what are the symptoms of blown head gasket or warped / cracked cylinder head (or worse)? Is it immediately obvious or am I going to be lulled into a false sense of relief only for relief to become grief?

Read my post
TDB's plan of action.
I think you will find a lot of info in there.
One small point though, stable doors and horses again, you might have bought a set of the 4 major hoses in silicone. I split one hose and immediately after I done another one. Look at your large hoses and see if they are fatter in the middle than at the end. Advice is that if one goes it is time to replace all four.
Good luck
I live near London and was quoted £900 for the head gasket and 1800 for the head.

I take your point about replacing all the hoses but if the head has gone there is a distinct possibility that will will scrap it as part of the current Govt scrappage scheme. If it hasn't (or we decide to fix it and keep it) then expect all hoses to be replaced and low coolant alarm to be fitted.

Auntie-Freda wrote:I take your point about replacing all the hoses but if the head has gone there is a distinct possibility that will will scrap it as part of the current Govt scrappage scheme. If it hasn't (or we decide to fix it and keep it) then expect all hoses to be replaced and low coolant alarm to be fitted.

That crossed my mind too. I couldn't find a dealer doing similar camper vans that were involved in the scheme. And a new VW T5, for instance, is over £20k.
Good luck.

thedogsbollox wrote:

Auntie-Freda wrote:I take your point about replacing all the hoses but if the head has gone there is a distinct possibility that will will scrap it as part of the current Govt scrappage scheme. If it hasn't (or we decide to fix it and keep it) then expect all hoses to be replaced and low coolant alarm to be fitted.

That crossed my mind too. I couldn't find a dealer doing similar camper vans that were involved in the scheme. And a new VW T5, for instance, is over £20k.
Good luck.

Which reminds me how misguided the scrappage scheme is. It ought to be a criminal office to crush a Bongo whilst not taxing aviation fuel. Talk about government propping up old interests

But seriously, if at all possible try and contemplate mending it or else finding a home that will pay you sufficient and that will be happy to spend out and get it mended.

Its alive I’m so happy, happy happy….


I’m not sure how much coolant was lost. I didn’t drain the system just took to holed hose off (top right one). Nothing came out when I removed to top about 2-3 litres collected when I moved the bottom. I filled it up (didn’t measure how much went in - most of a watering can) and used the funnel-in-the-vent-hose method of bleeding it. The water in the funnel was quite red so there must have been some left in the engine even after I removed the hose.
Anyway its been on a couple of trips totaling 50 miles or so. After the first trip the level in the expansion tank dropped a bit overnight (but I was expecting that) after the second longer trip the level seemed unchanged. (opaque expansion tank plus clear water made it difficult to see exactly).

Someone mentioned replacing the other three main hoses - why not all the hoses, are the big bore ones more susceptible to failure than the smaller ones.

I’m defiantly going to fit a low coolant alarm.