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Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:32 pm
by eoptio
Hi all
just got our Freda and very happy with it! Looking to do some maintenance on it this weekend and looking for some advice changing the coolant (apologies if any of this is obvious):
Draining:
the factsheet talks about draining the radiator then draining the 'hose upper pipe' after removing the 'under cover'. Is the undercover the engine cover? Where do I find the drain plug for this and is it required to do this or is radiator draining sufficient?
Ref refilling and bleeding: I have read the factsheet and searched the forum, still a bit confused on this so any advice welcome:
*Set the hose in a downward position, but ensuring it is HIGHER than the
top of the engine and expansion tank
*remove filler cap - I assume this is the radiator filler cap?
*fill coolant up to upper filling flange - iI assume in the radiator, not the expansion resevoir?
*attach filler cap - radiator?
*remove reservoir filler cap. - does this need filling at this point?
*Idle engine for approx 10 minutes then run the engine at 2,500 rpm for six
minutes. If the lower radiator hose is cold, run engine at 2,500 rpm for further
three minutes. Then:
*attach air bleed hose plug -at what point, would coolant come out and put the plug when no air bubbles?
*attach filler cap - resevoir one?
When would the expansion resvoir be topped up?
Is the principle to warm the engine up to the point where 'air free' coolant comes out of the bleeding pipe then plug the pipe?
I was thinking to buy the Engine manual, does this explain the procedure in more detail?
Any advice welcome....
K
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:49 pm
by D n D & K
where abouts are you someone local may be able to help you all i can say is take your time make sure you get the bottom hose hot same as the others as until this is done the thermostat is not open so air will still be in the system
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:58 pm
by haydn callow
This is the way I do it...and others.
Bongo BLEEDING Instructions (use yourself or INSIST your garage follows them)
NOTE.. (Before you start) Get a large funnel and cut the spout so the bleed tube will push up into it nice and tight.. Don't take the bung out of the pipe yet.
1..remove the plastic air scoop from under the bonnet.
2..remove the pressure cap off the expansion tank.
3..remove the pressure cap from the rad and fill to brim if it is not already full.
4..replace rad cap.
5..fill the expansion tank to the FULL line.
6..release the rad cap till coolant overflows and tighten rad cap.
7..top up expansion tank to FULL
8..under the passenger seat ..find the coolant bleed tube...remove the bung and push up into funnel.
9..half fill the funnel with premixed coolant.
Note..by raising/lowering the funnel and adjusting the engine revs you will from now on be able to control the level of the coolant in the header tank & funnel.
At no point from now on allow the funnel to empty or the header tank to drop below FILL.
10..start the engine...switch on heaters.....rev to 2500 for 3 mins....idle for 1 min.
11..keep repeating this cycle until the heaters blow hot and switch the heaters off.
12..carry on with the rev 2500/idle cycle..raising and lowering the funnel...you will have to do this for about 30/40 mins.....UNTILL THE BOTTOM HOSE GETS GOOD AND WARM..(stat open).
Once this happens carry on till all bubbles stop and replace the bleed tube bung (wear gloves..very hot)put the bung in as coolant is flowing out so no air can sneak in.
Top up the tank...replace the tank cap.....go for a drive and keep a eye on coolant levels for a few days....should be o.k. If job was done properly.
THE SECRET IS TO GET THE BOTTOM HOSE HOT WHILST BLEEDING (STAT OPEN)
ANY PROBLEMS PHONE ME 01458 270230 AND ASK FOR HAYDN
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:03 pm
by D n D & K
i do it slightly different to hayden but still end up with the same results . pm me if you want to get my number and speak to me
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:19 pm
by eoptio
Thanks for quick answers! I am in Oxfordshire, will give it a go following the procedure above.
Ref raining the coolant: just drain the radiator or also the 'radiator hose upper pipe' where can this be found? I assume after draining, flush, fill up rad then start procedure as described?
K
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:31 pm
by mikeonb4c
Or, if you want to follow the exact instructions in the Bongo workshop manual:
Once you have drained the system and tightened the radiator drain plug
10. Set the air bleed hose downward as shown in the diagram [hooked over steering wheel]
11. Set down a container for draining coolant
12. Remove the [radiator] filler cap
13. Fill the coolant to the upper surface of the radiator
14. Attach the filler cap
15. Fill the coolant to the radiator reservoir tank flange surface
Caution
* Remove the reservoir tank cap to bleed air
* A/C Switch should be turned off
16.Start the engine and idle for approximately 10 minutes to warm up
Caution
If any of the following phenomena occurs, stop the engine to lower the water temperature as filling is incomplete. After water temperature is lowered, repeat steps from (15)
(1) Water temperature rises too high
(2) Cooling fan operates
(3) Steam comes out constantly from the air bleed hose
17. Perform the following operations after the engine is warmed up
(1) Keep the engine running at 2500rpm for 6 minutes
Warning
When checking the lower radiator hose (radiator side), be aware of burns or getting caught in the cooling fan.
(2) Check the lower radiator hose (radiator side) is warm. If it is cold, keep the engine running at 2500rpm for 3 minutes, then check again if the radiator hose is warm.
(3) Fill with coolant up to the radiator reservoir tank flange surface
Warning
When attaching the air bleed hose plug, the air bleed hose should be facing upwards as it could cause a burn if it leaks on you
(4) Attach the air bleed hose plug as shown in the diagram
(5) Attach the reservoir tank cap
(6) Keep the engine running at 25000rpm for 5 minutes
(7) Keep the engine idling for 3 minutes
(8) Keep the engine running at 2500rpm for 5 seconds then return to idling status. Repeat this 4 to 5 times.
18. Stop the engine and check the coolant level after coolant temperature has lowered.
Worked fine for me. A bit hectic keeping header tank topped up then returning to attend to bleed hose (more relaxing if a 2nd pair of hands could top the header tank up for you while you attend ot bleed hose. NB. Trying to put the bung in the bleed hose needs care also if you don't want scalded fingers!
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:42 pm
by bo-luke-duke
Its all seems a bit daunting at first doesnt it?
We have had several probs which meant we had to refill the coolant, bleed, etc. (loose hose, new thermostat, new water pump)!
We have tried a few of the methods on the factsheet but found the best for us was Hadyn's.
I highly recommend getting someone to help as I think it would prove rather difficult with just one person.
Good Luck
Lisa
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 11:56 pm
by Bob
With luck someone who has done it before.
This will be much easier than trying to shout instructions to a mate who doesn't know what they're doing, above the sound of a Bongo engine at 2500 rpm.
Worth asking if anyone near you can help, the guys here are really good.
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:17 am
by mikexgough
I do it different still.......... living in a quiet residential area, revving to 2,500 is a no no ...... more than a minute of that would have the noise police round........... My method/theory worked "out of the box"........
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 8:46 am
by haydn callow
The method I suggest is not the same as, but adapted from Allans method...I watched Allan doing this, at Allans Vehicle Services near Plymouth......And he knows his Bongos. Advert on this site.
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:06 am
by Hippotastic
I mentioned before that the factsheet was badly written, these instructions here should be copied and pasted into a new factsheet, including the total capacity of the system so you can buy and premix with confidence. These instructions are so much clearer, and the factsheet is not worth printing. The factsheet should be the definitive answer to how to fix things.
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:11 am
by stevedon
what is your out of the box method, as the 2500rmp way is a pain also ensuring the water level in the funnel does not drop below the bottom is quite hard on your own/
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:20 am
by haydn callow
When we say 2500revs...this can be adjusted so the coolant does not empty the funnel. It's flexible to to each circumstance......just reducing the revs will stop the level dropping.....
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 1:35 pm
by missfixit70
Hippotastic wrote:I mentioned before that the factsheet was badly written, these instructions here should be copied and pasted into a new factsheet, including the total capacity of the system so you can buy and premix with confidence. These instructions are so much clearer, and the factsheet is not worth printing. The factsheet should be the definitive answer to how to fix things.
When did you last check the factsheets? It has been updated to include this method
If people have info they think should be added to factsheets or ammendments, the best thing is to contact Ian via email rather than hope he'll pick up on a comment on here.
Re: Coolant change
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 2:09 pm
by mikeonb4c
stevedon wrote:what is your out of the box method as shown by allans services as the 2500rmp way is a pain also ensuring the water level in the funnel does not drop below the bottom is quite hard on your own/
That's one of my worries about using this method i.e. it sounds harder to do as a one person job than the workshop manual method. Some small details mentioned in the workshop manual seem also to be missing, which unsettles me. So I'm sure Allans method is excellent but am just trying to see how it would be better for me than the workshop approach.
