Bongo Cooling System

[Vinny VanGogh]

I am new to the Bongo world and have a question. I have a 1996 Bongo E-motion that I have a brand new 2.5 diesel engine being fitted into right now. I have seen a lot about the bleeding of the cooling system and am curious if instead of a 3 person job of lifting a funnel above your head and squeezing all the hoses if you can use a pressure testing kit to push all the air out like the do at a shop? I know that they are kind of expensive but the new engine was due to the previous owner overheating it, then hiding it from me. I tried the bleeding system on the road when it broke down and I just didn't feel confident in my skills. Any help would be wonderful. I also already have a digital temp alarm and what the guy said was a rusty's bleed kit but I think he mad it himself instead of buying one.

Thank you

[gilly99]

You can bleed it alone, by thinking it through + and making a hook to hold the funnel high and low. Bit of dashing about between header and bottom hose - always be aware of scolding hot water.

Obviously easier with three pairs of hands or a helper.

Never tried Rusty's bleed kit, but would not trust it's self-bleeding claims without making lots of trials, ie by proving it with the see-saw method after installation.

[g8dhe]

The preferred method is vacuum filling, provided the rubber pipes are in good condition and won't split when the vacuum is applied and then the coolant added to fill the now empty space with minimal air left in the pipework.
Do bear in mind however that the Friendee/Freda vehicles tend to suffer because of the dual heating system front and rear which means that there is a lot more coolant and a lot more pipework in the system which tends to lead to the Friendee/Fred's having the problem in the first place. I'm not sure which other vehicles have similar dual heating systems.

[Vinny VanGogh]

g8dhe. since I am putting an aftermarket diesel heater in the camper portion of the camper and will never be using the rear heating system as it sits would bypassing the second system be helpful or would that reduce the amount of fluid available to cool it and area outside the engine for the fluid to cool in? I just don't want the dang thing to ever overheat and blow up again.

[g8dhe]

Yes bypassing the rear system for coolant and sealing the aircon lines is often done, if you search the forum you will find details of doing both sets of piping.