Drove my Bongo in low gear and my coolant alarm went off

[iBongo]

Hi folks. Drove my Bongo in to Edinburgh today, sometimes I use the lower gears to slow down rather than my brakes. After a 20 mile drive doing around 70 on the A1 in low gear, I pull off at my exit, about 2 miles before my house my coolant alarm went off, I was just about to stop and it stopped

So, I drove on and it goes off again and this time I stop and see smoke coming from under the bonnet. Pull up the bonnet and I can quickly smell coolant and not smoke. I can see there's coolant all over the place but couldn't find a leak on any of the hoses. Topped it up with some water, the coolant took about 1/2 pint of water, radiator took about a 1/4 of a pint.

I drove the mile home and all was fine.

My Bongo is 1998 V6 flat top LPG conversion

My questions are:

Would driving it in the low gear at high speed cause it to overheat and maybe cause a leak? The hoses all look relatively new

I have no idea what coolant is in the system, what coolant do you guys use?

I found a guy in Edinburgh who owns a Bongo and is a mechanic, he's about 15 miles from me, take it I shouldn't drive it until I find the problem?

[teenmal]

Hi folks. Drove my Bongo in to Edinburgh today, sometimes I use the lower gears to slow down rather than my brakes. After a 20 mile drive doing around 70 on the A1 in low gear, I pull off at my exit, about 2 miles before my house my coolant alarm went off, I was just about to stop and it stopped

So, I drove on and it goes off again and this time I stop and see smoke coming from under the bonnet. Pull up the bonnet and I can quickly smell coolant and not smoke. I can see there's coolant all over the place but couldn't find a leak on any of the hoses. Topped it up with some water, the coolant took about 1/2 pint of water, radiator took about a 1/4 of a pint.

I drove the mile home and all was fine.

My Bongo is 1998 V6 flat top LPG conversion

My questions are:

Would driving it in the low gear at high speed cause it to overheat and maybe cause a leak? The hoses all look relatively new

I have no idea what coolant is in the system, what coolant do you guys use?

I found a guy in Edinburgh who owns a Bongo and is a mechanic, he's about 15 miles from me, take it I shouldn't drive it until I find the problem?

Thats enough to kill most old engines

[iBongo]

I wont be driving it until I get someone to see it. Didn't think doing 20 miles at 70 in low gear would be good I haven't a clue when it comes to cars

Just got the Bongo exactly how I wanted it New paint job, alloys, camper conversion, LPG conversion,

Well I guess I will get to try the mechanic I found by mistake in Edinburgh. Stopped by Bailfield Garage in Portobello to get them to fit my alloys, the mechanic told me that he had a Bongo, he also told me that lots of Bongos have been getting stolen recently. I will give him a call Monday, hopefully there'snot much damage

[g8dhe]

Topped it up with some water, the coolant took about 1/2 pint of water, radiator took about a 1/4 of a pint.

?? The coolant and the radiator are the same circuit ?? It sound like you got an air lock, as you don't normally fill up the radiator at all !

[haydn callow]

Why on earth would you fit a Low Coolant alarm and not stop when it went off....????

[iBongo]

When I opened the bonnet there was a hissing noise, the hose top left was where the noise was coming from. When I squeezed the hose the noise went away, when I let go it came back, there's definitely a leak on that side of the radiator, I can see and smell the coolant.

[haydn callow]

If you had to top up the radiator then the expansion tank must have been empty......(the expansion tank would top up the rad until the ex tank was empty)
I do not understand why anyone would drive at 70mph in a low gear and then ignore the low coolant alarm.....

Is this for real ??

There are no hoses top left under the bonnet (as you look at it from the front) unless you remove the air intake scoop and you mean the rad top hose which you cannot see unless you remove the scoop.

Whatever.....suggest you get it to a BONGO FRIENDLY garage (don't drive it) and ask them to have a look.....however I don't hold out much hope....

Who suggested you drive at those speeds in LOW ??

[haydn callow]

I wont be driving it until I get someone to see it. Didn't think doing 20 miles at 70 in low gear would be good I haven't a clue when it comes to cars

Just got the Bongo exactly how I wanted it New paint job, alloys, camper conversion, LPG conversion,

Well I guess I will get to try the mechanic I found by mistake in Edinburgh. Stopped by Bailfield Garage in Portobello to get them to fit my alloys, the mechanic told me that he had a Bongo, he also told me that lots of Bongos have been getting stolen recently. I will give him a call Monday, hopefully there'snot much damage

So...why do it ??

[haydn callow]

Is it a V6 ???

[jaylee]

Hi folks. Drove my Bongo in to Edinburgh today, sometimes I use the lower gears to slow down rather than my brakes. After a 20 mile drive doing around 70 on the A1 in low gear, I pull off at my exit, about 2 miles before my house my coolant alarm went off, I was just about to stop and it stopped

So, I drove on and it goes off again and this time I stop and see smoke coming from under the bonnet. Pull up the bonnet and I can quickly smell coolant and not smoke. I can see there's coolant all over the place but couldn't find a leak on any of the hoses. Topped it up with some water, the coolant took about 1/2 pint of water, radiator took about a 1/4 of a pint.

I drove the mile home and all was fine.

My Bongo is 1998 V6 flat top LPG conversion

My questions are:

Would driving it in the low gear at high speed cause it to overheat and maybe cause a leak? The hoses all look relatively new

I have no idea what coolant is in the system, what coolant do you guys use?

I found a guy in Edinburgh who owns a Bongo and is a mechanic, he's about 15 miles from me, take it I shouldn't drive it until I find the problem?

Is it a V6 ???

It is....


Is it a manual transmission...? I thought i would ask while i'm here..!?!!

[iBongo]

Yes it's V6, I didn't deliberately drive it in low gear, I use low gear sometimes to slow down when I'm about to stop instead of breaking. I've thought about the drive home, and I think I drove about 5miles in low gear instead of the 20, I think I used the low gear as I was coming off the A1.

I stopped as soon as the alarm went off, the alarm stopped so I drove on as I was only 2 miles from home. The alarm went off again after about 1/4mile and I stopped and turned engine off. I let it cool down put a tiny bit of water in the coolant and drove the mile and a bit home.

Yes I removed the air intake so I could see and hear the hose. I have a engine alarm and it never went over 90, don't know if that makes any difference?

Bongo Bill in Kirkcaldy it is then

It's automatic, and the radiator was almost full, I put in about 1/4 pint but most spilled out.

[jaylee]

Yes it's V6, I didn't deliberately drive it in low gear, I use low gear sometimes to slow down when I'm about to stop instead of breaking. I've thought about the drive home, and I think I drove about 5miles in low gear instead of the 20, I think I used the low gear as I was coming off the A1.

I stopped as soon as the alarm went off, the alarm stopped so I drove on as I was only 2 miles from home. The alarm went off again after about 1/4mile and I stopped and turned engine off. I let it cool down put a tiny bit of water in the coolant and drove the mile and a bit home.

Yes I removed the air intake so I could see and hear the hose. I have a engine alarm and it never went over 90, don't know if that makes any difference?

Bongo Bill in Kirkcaldy it is then

It's automatic, and the radiator was almost full, I put in about 1/4 pint but most spilled out.

Could the coolant have dropped due to leak, then rose up again when stopped due to boil up...?

[Velocette]

Do you mean hold rather than low?

[iBongo]

No not HOLD, was L on the automatic, noticed it when the alarm went off and I went to put it in to park.

Thanks for all the replies, I will have it towed to a garage next week and keep you updated

I WILL NEVER USE S AND L TO SLOW DOWN AGAIN

[jaylee]

If it's the your first automatic..? This thread may help....? http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... +automatic

Good luck with the garage...!