Bongo Fury

I think the head gasket has gone, on start up there`s white smoke coming from the new exhaust, if I run my finger around the inside of the exhaust its oily and watery, also the engine rattles on start up but after a couple of mins the smoke goes and so does the rattle.
Then she drives normally and the temperature is fine, but after a 5 mile run when I check the water theres about two litres missing. My local jap spares garage say 9times out of 10 the head is cracked and with a new head will be about £1500, what do you lot think?

Sorry to hear, Bongoburt. The symptoms do sound like a head (either gasket or head itself) problem.

Some will advise you to do a "sniff" test, however two places I went to said it wasn't worth doing, and, despite one trying it and getting a "0" reading, the head had, in fact, gone.

Mines still off the road, as it's still running hot, even with a new head - one suspectis a cracked block - not something I'm looking forward to picking up the bill for .....

My advice would be to take it to a reputable Bongo mechanic, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Tough just before Christmas, mate.

SD

I think they are probably right

It could be the gasket though the only way to know is change it and pressure test the head which will still cost quite a bit or just bite the bullit and get the head or whole engine replaced.

An engine from a scrapper may be no more than a new head

That sounds like a correct diagnosis and about the right price to fix...If it's just the gasket then about £500 less

westonwarrior wrote: An engine from a scrapper may be no more than a new head

I thought of that, Rob, but you could just be buying the same problem again

wow a cracked block and i thought i had probs sorry to hear that,theres no way I have £1500 before or after xmas or ever so
anyone want a light green bongo with a conversion and a nackered
head,I have to get to work, it will break my heart to lose her.

stilldesperate wrote:

westonwarrior wrote: An engine from a scrapper may be no more than a new head

I thought of that, Rob, but you could just be buying the same problem again

True but if sorced from a good place like wheelquick or Bell Hill* it will be guarenteed but then so will a head

* other good garages are available

pm'd you Bongoburt

Got mine back today after head gasket job.

Stripped down, head pressure tested, put back together with new head studs, oil change & coolant flush cost £460.

If thats all the damage thats been done to yours, stick with it, IF its possible to discover what caused the problem in the first place & get that rectified too.

westonwarrior wrote:

stilldesperate wrote:

westonwarrior wrote: An engine from a scrapper may be no more than a new head

I thought of that, Rob, but you could just be buying the same problem again

True but if sorced from a good place like wheelquick or Bell Hill* it will be guarenteed but then so will a head

* other good garages are available

It's sat in Wigan as we speak

mister munkey wrote:Got mine back today after head gasket job.

Stripped down, head pressure tested, put back together with new head studs, oil change & coolant flush cost £460.

If thats all the damage thats been done to yours, stick with it, IF its possible to discover what caused the problem in the first place & get that rectified too.

Good to hear you're back on the road MM

Hope yours is sorted for Christmas SD

Looking through the forum "overheating and heads" seem to be an on going problem with bongos alluminium heads,I suppose any engine
over twelve years old has the likelyhood of blowing a gasket or cracking a head, I once owned a ford granada that was forever blowing gaskets. But all these problems dont really make me want to buy another, does anyone know if the latest bongos have the same ford ranger engine? just incase i win the lotto.

Bongoburt wrote:Looking through the forum "overheating and heads" seem to be an on going problem with bongos alluminium heads,I suppose any engine
over twelve years old has the likelyhood of blowing a gasket or cracking a head, I once owned a ford granada that was forever blowing gaskets. But all these problems dont really make me want to buy another, does anyone know if the latest bongos have the same ford ranger engine? just incase i win the lotto.

Same diesel engine throughout the range, but you have to bear in mind that there are thousands running around with no problems at all - you only hear of the problem ones on the forum.

There does seem to have been a small crop of problems lately. As Franco says, when there is a problem - we see it on here, when there isn't - we don't. I can think of a few things that apply with Bongos:

1) If it throws a big bill, you feel pressure to fix it as - unlike a cheap replaceable runaround - it is not easily replaced
2) It is a trickier beast than the average car as its an import that may have stood around for long periods with coolant system sludging up. Also it has a lot of plumbing, hidden under engine covers that you are less likely to lift in order to routinely check the plumbing
3) Fitting a low coolant alarm should mean you don't suffer a common cuase of head failure i.e. a leak causing overheating through loss of coolant
4) The cooling system may be working inefficiently due to sludged rad., stuck (closed, generally) thermostat, maybe degraded water pump. Fitting an engine block temp gauge (Mason, TM2) should help identify unhealthiness in the system.

Sorry if this is boring repetition of other recent threads but keen to repeat it here for your benefit!

This thread may be of interest Bongoburt if finances are an issue & you want to keep the bongo running - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... steel+seal