Bongo Fury

I first posted my overheating on Nov22 and my van has been off the road since, water was boiling up and throwing it
out of the header tank, first i replaced the thermostat then the water pump as the bearing was slack, then i bled the system the correct mazda way using a funnel on the bleed pipe, just as i thought all the air was out it would come gushing out again. So I got her on a couple of ramps out in the road and with a lamp I checked every hose and pipe untill I noticed a tiny pin hole in the offside 40mm steel pipe, this was where the air was getting in, so I replaced the pipe then bled the system again.I took her for a test run today up hills and along the motorway, temp was ok about 11.30 on the gauge drove well no overheating, but each time i get home i have to put in about 1litre of water in the rad yet underneath she is dry with no leaks. there is no indication that the head gasket has gone, oil is fine and performance is normal, maybe i need to bleed her again, any ideas.

Being a subject which I am currently studying in depth, any post relating to the Bongo cooling system gets me interested - yours being one.
First question - do you have a low coolant alarm fitted? If not, get one - TODAY.
I'll be interested to see the response(es).

Best of luck sorting it.

no i dont have a "low coolant alarm system" i was put off as its yet another thing to plug in, i guess i could always cut off the plug and wire it in, yes i need to get one.

Defo get an LCA. With a decent installation, it is a tidy, reliable and simple little thing that relieves you of a lot of worry. If you are feeling flush, you cna get a min/max LCA/HCA and TM2 engine block temp gauge and alarm all as one unit. But (in my view) the most valuable for most people is the LCA, in case money is tight (which it always is with me).

The amount of water being consumed on your test run sounds a lot for a head gasket/head problem. At the least I'd expect to hear there was a lot of white steam coming out of the exhaust.

theres usually a bit of white smoke the first couple of mins after starting, but you have got me thinking now and i will check it tomorrow, thanks mikeonb4c.

Bongoburt wrote:no i dont have a "low coolant alarm system" i was put off as its yet another thing to plug in, i guess i could always cut off the plug and wire it in, yes i need to get one.

Cut off the plug? What plug? CUT NOTHIN' - EXPLAIN YOURSELF MAN - CUT NOWT!!!!!!!!!!

I read somewhere that a low coolant alarm comes with a plug that fits in the cigarette lighter. i must be wrong.

Bongoburt wrote:I read somewhere that a low coolant alarm comes with a plug that fits in the cigarette lighter. i must be wrong.

Jesus H!!!!!! - Sorry, I had visions of you attacking your already poorly van with a scalpel!

Not sure about the other types, but I fitted a TM-2, and to do that was quite easy (and when I say easy, I mean it)
Your choice depends on the depth of your pocket but in the end, I think they all do what the name suggests which is tell you when the coolant level drops and they DO IT VERY QUICKLY AS WELL - plenty of time to avert disaster.

So back to the question you posed - Where is the water going? A techie will be along soon to help out.

Forgot to say - Forget the 11:30 thing. That could be virtually anything from 85 to a number somewhere in the total disaster zone.

Sounds like you have a blown head gasket or similar.
The white smoke on start up for a few minutes is the engine burning off all the water in the cylinder that is leaking. Once the water is gone it reverts back to running without so much white smoke. When the engine is stopped the water is still under pressure and it leaks into the easiest position, a leaky head gasket will allow the water to flow into a cylinder. If it is really bad you can remove all the plugs on start up and turn the engine over and watch which cylinder spits water out. This is after it has been sitting for a while. You will probably not notice the constant lesser white smoke after it burns of the initial leaked water.
This is only a guess on the info given, get someone to look at it properly, it could be something simple and easy to repair

Bongoburt wrote:I read somewhere that a low coolant alarm comes with a plug that fits in the cigarette lighter. i must be wrong.

The Mark 3 did but it's no longer made, so you're not cracking up

Bongoburt wrote:I read somewhere that a low coolant alarm comes with a plug that fits in the cigarette lighter. i must be wrong.

One of the models does, but there is a version which you wire it in direct, which is the one I've got and in my opinion better and neater. Plus you still have your ciggie lighter socket spare!

Andrew

There is only one Low coolant alarm being made at the moment..The Mk1 which is a very simple fit and forget job.....the Mk2 and Mk3 are discontinued.
See below for details

i hope its not the headgasket as any work done i will have to do myself in the street due to lack of work and money,
i will check out this white smoke thing and make a decision.