Newbie question - coolant in V6. Should I be worried?

[bongo_adam]

Hi All

This is my first post so please be gentle with me.

I will be taking delivery of my Bongo 2.5L V6 in the next couple of days (once it's registered) and have been performing a few final scans of forums and websites to make sure there's nothing I've overlooked.
I've noticed quite a number of posts regarding coolant levels dropping and consequently causing engine damage. My question is this: Does this mainly apply to the diesel bongos or are the petrol ones equally vunerable?
I'm asking because I plan to order a number of items from the Bongo Fury shop and want to know if the 'coolant loss warning system' is essential for petrol engines, as this will make a bit of a dent in my budget.
Also, as this Bongo will also be used on a fairly regular basis as an MPV, is it worth keeping some spare coolant hoses in my garage just in case, or in most people's experience is the delivery time on these items pretty good?

Thanks in advance

Adam

[Ian]

Adam, I'm sure others will chip in with their own comments, but here at Bongo Mission Control we have only heard of 2 instances of petrol Bongos overheating. Once when a cap was left off the expansion tank, and once when a hose got disturbed during a cam belt change. Having said that, there's no harm in fitting a coolant alarm if it gives you peace of mind. But I haven't bothered on mine.

Coolant hoses for the V6 have to be obtained from Japan, and this takes about 10 working days. I carry Rescue Tape (a silicone binding tape) in case of emergencies. At around £10, it's worth keeping in the glove box.

[Glenda]

I will chip in as well, Adam. I agree with Ian, especially with the silicon rescue tape.

I would also point out that my V6 overheated in Dieppe on the way to Crete last year when a pinprick appeared in a metal coolant pipe. The temp gauge shot up at the same time as I could start to smell steamy coolant. We stopped had a repair done by Euroassistance in 10 minutes and were soon on our way again without any further problems for the next 8,000 miles.

[New Forest Terrier]

I went for the belt and braces approach. Low coolant alarm plus TM2 on my V6.

The engine seems a much tougher beast than the diesel, but there are the same endless lengths of ageing hose and coolant pipe. Although a leak seems less likely to result in disaster, an early warning system is useful. Especialy as the temp gauge is useless. Spotting a coolant leak early means an immediate repair rather than serious colant loss and an overheat.

The TM is also brilliant for the amount of information it gives you about the condition of your engine and cooling system. It is very reassuring to know all is in normal ranges while stuck in jams or chugging up Welsh mountains. Mine is also wired to warn of low oil pressure, so I have a fair range of engine monitoring.

With the oldest V6 on the forum, a 1995 original, she is a lady of a certain age and as such needs a bit of TLC.

[mikeonb4c]

I will chip in as well, Adam. I agree with Ian, especially with the silicon rescue tape.

I would also point out that my V6 overheated in Dieppe on the way to Crete last year when a pinprick appeared in a metal coolant pipe. The temp gauge shot up at the same time as I could start to smell steamy coolant. We stopped had a repair done by Euroassistance in 10 minutes and were soon on our way again without any further problems for the next 8,000 miles.

Which reminds me (us) that any (older) car can spring a leak and its great to have advance warning if you can get it. I think its best to avoid cooking any engine, but its an especially good idea to take precuations when its not just any old car but your precious Bongo, which may be undertaking long journeys far from home. So personally, I would say a a low coolant alarm (only £70 or so), some Rescue Me tape and a bit of spare 50/50 coolant mix carried on board, would be a winning combination for me.

[missfixit70]

Personally I'd still fit a coolant alarm & mason alarm (Are the temp gauges on the V6 & 2l dumbed down the same as the diesel ones? Or do they actually give a realistic indication of what's going on?) as said before, there's still the same amount of aging hoses & complexity with the cooling system, although I don't know whether the petrol engines withstand overheating better than the diesels?

[New Forest Terrier]

The gauge is as dumbed down in the V6 as the diesel. Until I got the TM2 I did not realise how useless it was. The only reading it does are cold and 11 o'clock. These two are so meaningless it might as well have been painted on.

The V6 is an aluminium block and head unlike the diesel so in theory should be more resilient but I do not really want to find out the hard way.

I would not like to run any 14yr old vehicle with a faulty temp gauge, let alone one as cherished as a Bongo.

[Ron Miel]

...........I don't know whether the petrol engines withstand overheating better than the diesels?

.....and I don't want to find out. Rescue Me tape is a good idea - I'll add some to the spare 50/50 coolant I already carry.

However, and whatever the relative overheating outcomes, diesel vs petrol, I think it's logical there will have been few V6 coolant failures reported yet - there aren't many elderly V6s. Once they do age a bit though, they've got many of the same corroding pipes and perishing hoses as the diesels. If yours is a young Bongo of any sort, spare coolant and Rescue Me tape is a good starting point, then I would budget for the alarms as soon as you can in future.

Mine, although a fairly late production V6 (first reg April 2001), was the one Ian mentions which failed after a slightly bodged cambelt change. Fortunately, in my usual spirit of belt and braces, I had already (just!) fitted a low coolant alarm, which caught it straight away. Mind you, if I weren't so belt and braces minded, I wouldn't have had the cambelt changed anyway as, by the declared mileage, it's still not due even now There's a lot to be said for "if it aint broke, don't fix it" - but make sure the instrumentation is up to the job meanwhile

[bongo_adam]

Thanks for the tips everyone.
It looks like opinion varies quite a lot as far as V6 engines go....

My bongo is a '98 model, so does that make it a 'vintage' and therefore likely to need it's hoses looked at? They looked OK when I inspected the vehicle before purchase, but I guess it's always hard to tell without giving it a good run-out. There are currently 43000 miles on the clock.

I don't intend on taking the Bongo too far over the winter, so for now will probably just go with the 'bottle of coolant and Rescue me tape' approach.
However, once camping season opens (hopefully around March)and distance travelled increases, I'll have another think about whether I need to monitor the coolant levels dynamically.

I am intrigued by the TM2 unit which has been mentioned. It's the first time I've heard of it so would someone care to elaborate on it please?

Cheers

Adam

[Ron Miel]

........I am intrigued by the TM2 unit which has been mentioned. It's the first time I've heard of it so would someone care to elaborate on it please?

Cheers

Adam

Here: http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk/index.php ... at&catId=5

There's also a newer version, combining the TM-2 with a Haydn Coolant Alarm. I have the two separately, and agree with New Forest Terrier about the great benefits of general engine loading/heating awareness, as well as the TM-2's back stop role in coolant loss cases.

[missfixit70]

Details of the TM2 & Coolant alarm here - http://www.coolantalarm.co.uk/
Mason Alarm here - http://www.townace.plus.com/ie/ietemga2.htm