Bongo Fury

just been out in the bongo since coming back from hill of oaks,when about 5 miles an the coolant alarm went off,then didnt then did,so thought i better pull over and check.hey presto,very low coolant,rescued again by this brill bit of kit.
right the question i have is:
it was bled last october by my old mates ady{northern bongolow} and wayne,{waycar} at silverdale,after it being out of coolant on the way up.i have had no probs with it since,checked it averytime,no probs.
i checked it before travelling to the lakes,no probs,didnt check it on leavin as it was ok 2 days before,and no probs travelling up.
the question is,i towed the caravan to the lakes,would this make a difference do peeps think.when we pulled up a steep hill,the only 1 on the way,just outside cartmel,it did start smelling of coolant,that smell,not burnin or anything,just that smell of coolant.
so the moral of the story,ALWAYS stop and check if alarm goes off,been saved twice by it,if ya dont have 1,GET 1.

I wonder if there's a leak that gets worse when the stat opens, Dave? If normal running doesnt loose coolant, but towing (esp up Lindale hill) does, then maybe either a leak when the pressure increases, or the pressure cap not holding the pressure?

Just a thort...

stilldesperate wrote:I wonder if there's a leak that gets worse when the stat opens, Dave? If normal running doesnt loose coolant, but towing (esp up Lindale hill) does, then maybe either a leak when the pressure increases, or the pressure cap not holding the pressure?

Just a thort...

Very Good Thort Indeed..

Never had any problems when i towed mine Dave,even after numerous runs up the big hill at Rhaullt in wales

Seems like youve a pinhead leak somewhere though

Brian

jetskier wrote:just been out in the bongo since coming back from hill of oaks,when about 5 miles an the coolant alarm went off,then didnt then did,so thought i better pull over and check.hey presto,very low coolant,rescued again by this brill bit of kit.
right the question i have is:
it was bled last october by my old mates ady{northern bongolow} and wayne,{waycar} at silverdale,after it being out of coolant on the way up.i have had no probs with it since,checked it averytime,no probs.
i checked it before travelling to the lakes,no probs,didnt check it on leavin as it was ok 2 days before,and no probs travelling up.
the question is,i towed the caravan to the lakes,would this make a difference do peeps think.when we pulled up a steep hill,the only 1 on the way,just outside cartmel,it did start smelling of coolant,that smell,not burnin or anything,just that smell of coolant.
so the moral of the story,ALWAYS stop and check if alarm goes off,been saved twice by it,if ya dont have 1,GET 1.

to the LCA. Without it I could never relax and enjoy my Bongo driving. Top marks to Haydn for his initiative - good enterprise, rightly rewarded.

PS - Blimey - just realised I've struggled back to 14000 posts after extensive pruning to remove old warty writing

Time to check for leaks? could be the rad isn't doing it's job properly (silted up), the stat isn't opening properly, or if it was slow going & getting hot under heavy load mebe the fans didn't kick in when required? All would lead to it running too hot & possibly popping the header pressure cap (should be 1.1bar) ? You haven't replaced the rad recently have you for one with a vent pipe under the pressure cap?

Hmmn, maybe when you checked it before setting off you didnt screw it back on properly??, but I would check all the hoses for a leak anyhow and check the rad for leaks especially around the top of the rad where the plastic seal against the metal and wrap some bog paper around the header tank cap and the rad tank cap and drive it around and see if the bog paper gets moist/damp, if it does get a new cap.

thanks for the posts peeps,kirtsy i havent got a new rad and ur right will get it checked for leaks,thanks,sd you could right aswell,and wayne,what do you take me for,not screwin thecap back,as if id do that again ,yeah good idea wth the toilet roll will try that,just think its strange why it didnt go off coming home from he lakes,its a 2hr trip.

jetskier wrote:...........just think its strange why it didnt go off coming home from he lakes,its a 2hr trip.

... Thats cos it's downhill on the way back, Dave

BTW, Hannahs phone is working fine, a week in the airing cupboard sorted it (Thanks Hatris for some good advice on drying phones after a "Hill of Oaks" swimming lesson )

SD

well an update,just taken bongo out for a spin,and checked level again,was down so topped up,checked were bongo was parked for any signs of leakage,and none.went to the hospital,20 miles,parked in a space with no marks on the ground so i could check when getting back,and half hour later on return,a huge puddle under bongo.checked level again,was down so topped up for return home.got home no bother,stopped and had a look under her,and its dripping from the back of the engine onto drip tray and onto floor.had a look under bonnet,no signs of leaks up there,so must be below top of engine,are ther pipes down there,need to get it up on a ramp really to see,but any advise greatfully received,thanks.

dont run it till its found mate, it is leaking as the pressure/temp raises,and sucking in air when it cools. take the bottom tray off and see if you can see owt.
give me a shout if your need.

just been out checked level,level was ok.thought id run it to see were leak was,ran for 10 mins,no drips,water level ok,thought id rev it a little,pissin out underneath wen looked after revs,looks like from the big round thing at the back of the engine,sorry dont know what its called,looks like there is a gasket were they join an its leakin thro the nuts.?

???? possibly from the hose that goes over the starter motor ?????

cheers for that borntobeg,cant seen to get under far enough to see,but have rattled a hose and doesnt seem to leak,but poured out of the nuts.,on this round thing at the back of the engine.

at least ive managed to keep level topped up in header tank,alarm hasnt gone off so far,