Teeny, tiny coolant leak...fix now or safe to wait?

[Waynem325]

Hi All

Now into the second week of Bongo ownership and I'm afraid to say that I have noticed (Thanks to a little respite in the rain!) that there is a very slight damp patch on the road underneath the rear of the drivers seat. (Hopefully pictures to follow?)

I say damp because there isn't enough water/coolant to create a puddle - its just a very occasional/infrequent drip.
On looking underneath the van it appears to be coming from a 3 way connection where a rubber hose meets a (corroded) metal pipe junction.
The coolant level in the expansion tank is halfway between High and low, and if I'm honest I cannot for the life of me remember if it was full when we bought it??

We are due to go away in it next week and so I panicked and booked it into 321 Away on Saturday, which is about an hours drive for us, who said it was an easy fix but would mean bleeding the coolant system. (Sounds expensive?!)

After watching the Youtube vids I am confident I could bleed the system well enough, but without knowing what the 'fix' is and the fact that I won't get replacement parts in time for going away on Monday I am reluctant to do it and I'm beginning to wonder if I've been too hasty in my panic? (after doing some in depth searching on this forum it seems that some people have been happy leaving small leaks and having to top up the system every now and again)

Is the general consensus 'Get it sorted pronto' or do you think I will be okay to leave it until we return from hols? (Expect to travel no more than 300 miles whilst away)

I want a coolant alarm but don't have enough time to order one and for it to get here before we leave

[Dodgey]

The more experienced in Bongo plumbing will chime in here, but if it's a very very slow drip leak and it was me - I'd assume it had lasted for this long so it could handle a trip away, with me keeping an eye on it. Although I'd like to be sure I had breakdown recovery cover.... in case it got worse. I'd also like to be comfortable that my temps were not already overly high - as a small slow leak will mean an air lock is probably slowly growing somewhere.

However....

If you are not comfortable changing T pieces in the plumbing then stump up the cash and get it done now - as the bleeding will surely only add half an hour to the labour cost

[dandemann8]

To be honest I'd advise you get it done asap unless you want a very expensive repair bill, better to be safe than sorry

[rita]

To be honest I'd advise you get it done asap unless you want a very expensive repair bill, better to be safe than sorry

DITTO

[daveblueozzie]

GET IT SORTED, sorry for shouting, it could suck air into the system, then you would be in trouble.
If you dont bleed it properly after the fix you will also end up with problems, the bleeding of the system is not a quick job, and if you are not confident then get an expert to do it.
The coolant in the expansion tank should be on the full mark when the engine and coolant are cold.

[winchman]

Now I am well known for my short arms and deep pockets, and being an engineer I will have a go at fixing most things, but when my radiator started with a small leak I just took it to a local Bongo specialist and paid, you dont want your first venture in to the Bongos cooling system just before your hols as it will be in the back of your mind.
Its possibly nothing but better safe than sorry, My rad was £220 fitted with fresh coolant etc, but compaired to the price of it letting me doan on holiday it was cheap

[Bob]

Say "Thankyou" to your Bongo for giving you some notice, and get if fixed ASAP.

Breakdown cover will take you to a garage, where you could face a bill of 2 grand, on top of the corroded pipe, plus the invonvenience.

I can hear Mrs B's thoughts if she lost her holiday because I'd ignired warning signs.

[Waynem325]

Thanks for the sound advice guys.

Although i have no experience in bleeding a bongo, I am confident after watching the vids on youtube that I can do it. What I'm not confident about is being able to get any parts that may need replacing delivered in time.
My gut feeling is that it will be okay, but it conflicts with most information available on this forum, and although I have read a few threads of people's experiences with slight leaks been okay, I reckon the sensible money is on getting it sorted immediately...just to play it safe.
I'd feel very upset/angry if I didn't get it sorted and the engine overheated to catastrophic levels!

Plus, I would like an experienced bongo mechanic to have a look under the car to give me an expert opinion of the general condition and potential work that will be needed in the future.

321 tomorrow it is!

Here's the pics I promised anyway:
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/ ... 135158.jpg
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/ ... 223231.jpg

Rubbish pics but you will get the gist of it.
It's the rubber hose at the top left of the 't' connection.

[Waynem325]

Oh, and what diameter is the bleed hose? I'm trying to source a hose connector (preferably brass) to attach to the bleed hose and funnel.
I realise I could measure it myself but I am so busy at the moment I won't get chance tonight.

[FunkyD]

I learnt the hard way about coolant leaks.. £3k+ after head gasket change and an engine swap after realising it was completely cooked..
A) have you got a coolant alarm... get one. a £70 part would have saved me all my bills.
B) are you 100% certain that its a coolant leak, I only say as you often get condensation from the rear AC in the same area, it might be dripping on the hoses... is it red/green/blue? Mine does the same but its 100% water.

[mikexgough]

that hose is a usual suspect..... as others have said...get it fixed

[Northern Bongolow]

bleed pipe. 15mm ext dia-----10mm int dia.

[Waynem325]

FunkyD
3k???OMG!!! Tough one to take and warning heeded.
To answer your questions - a) I Really want a coolant alarm, but there isn't enough time to get one now as it won't arrive before we leave, but I plan on ordering one when we get back. (Don't suppose 321 will supply them??)
B) I was 100% sure but after tonight I really have no idea???

when I initially checked the hose it had a drop of coolant(?) about to drip and the rest of the hose within a few inches of the connection was wet. the drop tasted sweet which would lead me to believe it was indeed coolant. I checked above the hose/connection and there was nothing dripping down onto it......but.....almost every surface around the hoses seems to appear wet and green/blue coloured. I thought it was coolant but it is sticky to the touch so I figured it could be some sort of rust inhibitor???

Having said that the thought has crossed my mind if that sticky substance is from the aircon as that isn't working? I have no idea what aircon refrigerant looks like, but i know there is a dye in it which would highlight leaks etc.

And to make me a little more suspicious, after fully drying the hose last night and checking several times today there has been no more drips on the ground and the hose remains dry !??!! (though it hasn't been driven for the last few days)


Mike - should 'that hose' be replaced?
If the metal pipe corrodes to the point of breaking the seal to the rubber hose surely the metal pipe would need replacement? Tres expensive me thinks?

Thanks Northern Bungalow

Thanks guys

[dandemann8]

If the metal pipe corrodes to the point of breaking the seal to the rubber hose surely the metal pipe would need replacement? Tres expensive me thinks?

Thanks Northern Bungalow

Thanks guys

NOT AS EXPENSIVE AS A NEW HEAD

[Waynem325]

Very true...lets see what the mechs find tomorrow???