My bongo's head gasket is on the way out

[fidel21]

Our beloved Bongo (Ford Freda) has had cooling problems for a while now and wondered if there was any way to save her.

* She seems to loose water on motorway runs
* The heater is always luke warm
* There is no leaking around town so system is sealed
* Our mechanic has bled her many times

And he says this looks like the head gasket is on the way out.

Is there an affordable solution to get this fixed or should I say goodbye to it?

Such a shame as it's in amazing condition, no rust, runs well and the kids love it.

[aitch]

Is there an affordable solution to get this fixed or should I say goodbye to it

check out prices for a head gasket set and new bolts in the bongo shop click above link on the right and then go into cooling section then you will have to get a quote from your mechanic for fitting it.

gasket and bolts are just over £150

good luck others may be along with more ideas you could try.

[helen&tony]

Hi
As you know, the Bongo Cooling System is a bag of spaghetti, so BEFORE you do anything, get more testing done, as you might get the head done and still have a problem...IF it's the head gasket, find out WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM..Pressure test, and watch all the hoses/ waterways..and maybe some dye and a UV lamp...Also, is your mechanic fully versed in Bongo hiccups....the Bongo does seem to be a bit choosy when it comes to experts
Cheers
Helen

[fidel21]

Hi Helen,

The problem started when my mechanic found a leak near the rear heater (he is a good mechanic but not a bongo specialist), someone had taken the heater out and patched up the pipes. All was fixed, bled and ran well for nearly a year including two trips to the South of France.

But he does think something is in the system, some foreign body that is causing an air bubble. We looked at it this morning and the water level is ok but after a motorway run the water is squeezed out somewhere in the engine under pressure. He came to the conclusion it was the start of the head gasket going.

He says it's a big job to change it.

[aitch]

try reading through this thread it might help you

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... et#p248179

[Simon Jones]

Get a pressure test done on the system & it may highlight any weaknesses. With a bit of luck, it's just a hose with a pin hole in it. A test for combustion gases in the coolant may also be a worthwhile investment to indicate if there is a leak in the head area (gasket or crack)

[helen&tony]

Hi
There are a number of issues around the rear heater...the stubs themselves can just snap off , the hoses split, and the long metal pipes that run forward along the chassis, AND across the rear of the engine compartment can rust out and leak....often with a pinhole!
You may very likely have a head problem...but DON"T do anything until you've had it tested by a Bongo expert...if your chap has just worked on some, but has not got a lot of in-depth expertise, it's best to get it transported to someone who can really give it the "once-over"...DON'T drive it, in case it isn't the head.
My advice...expect the worst, and be pleasantly surprised if it isn't...and it's worth getting it repaired properly, as you can't sell it and give up because of the hassle, as you'd no doubt get an angry purchaser on your doorstep in a week or two...Bite the bullet, get the Bongo sorted, and enjoy some more happy motoring!
Cheers
Helen

[dave_aber]

Have you tested the pressure cap on the expansion tank?

[fidel21]

No not as such. What would that indicate?

[dave_aber]

If the cap isn't holding 1.1 bar, it might be venting pressure, and coolant, early.

You'll only get the system up to top pressure on a longer run.

A cheap fix if that's the source of your coolant loss.

Also check the top and bottom crimped joins on the radiator for signs if wetness, and / or dried coolant.

[g8dhe]

Just a thought has the radiator ever been replaced, and it has one of the venting types fitted with a normal pressure cap ?
and if the Heaters are only luke warm could the heat exchangers be blocked hence causing extra engine temperature and cooler cab ?

[fidel21]

Actually yes the radiator has been replaced with a new one just recently. This is when it all started going wrong.

[g8dhe]

If its not a genuine one, then they have the vent pipe, which I think you will find needs to be blocked and if they have fitted a normal 1 Bar cap then that is likely cause of the problems!
Do a search on the matter would be best as I normally only play with electrons !!

[Northern Bongolow]

sounds like the warmish heaters could be indicating a stuck or sticking opened thermostat, has this been replaced to your knowledge in the recent past, if it hasnt, fit a gen mazda one, not a copy part, and as above pressure test and bleed properly,(3 videos on youtube, how to bleed a mazda bongo).another cause of cool heaters is air in the system,this enters via a leak, or a head/gasket failure.
suggest you contact julian at 321 away, hes yer man down there.
dont rush into ripping the head off, there are several possibilities to explore first, all of them a lot cheaper to fettle.

the radiator should not have a vent point, some of the replacement rads do have one fitted, as geoff says this vent point at the side of the cap must be blocked, usually done by fitting a small length of pipe and inserting a bolt and clip.
the cap is imiterial if this pipe has been blocked.these replacement rads usually come fitted with an open kneck/vent and a 0.9 red coloured cap, so as the pressure raises(the bongo runs above this pressure) the substandard cap vents out of the vent it should not have.(hope that makes sense) .

[bongobits]

what were your symptoms before the radiator was replaced?
regards mark bongobits.com