Cooling system problems

[Aethelric]

After my bongo got written off a couple of weeks ago, I managed to find a Freda. Its been running fine, but the temperature guage never got off the stop unless I was in slow moving traffic. Obviously the thermostat. So today I fitted a new one, but I think something has gone wrong at the same time. I bled my old bongo a couple of times, once when I changed the coolant and once when I changed the Rad. No problems. But this time after doing the normal routine, getting the nice burst of bubbles after the stat opens and a warm bottom hose, I continue to get gas in the coolant. I must have bled it 20 times today, but I now think the head gasket must be gone. It just seemed strange that everything worked so well until I fitted a thermostat.
Any ideas? Its the usual 2.5 diesel.

Dave

[missfixit70]

Had the old one been drilled out or modified at all? Wondering whether it was a known issue passed on to you? Have you been losing any coolant at all prior to this?

[Aethelric]

Had the old one been drilled out or modified at all? Wondering whether it was a known issue passed on to you? Have you been losing any coolant at all prior to this?

Hi Kirsty
The old one had had all of the business bit ground off - so it was really just a gasket. No coolant loss at all. It was working perfectly except the temperature only climbed up close to normal when in heavy traffic.

Dave

[missfixit70]

So the previous owner knew it had cooling issues & had basically removed the stat so it was overcooling I'd get the expansion tank checked for exhaust gasses looks like your suspicions could well be correct.

[Aethelric]

Damn. I really don't have the time available to get it sorted properly. I may have to remove the stat again just to get it back on the road. I need it for my work. Then I guess I'll have to plan some time to get it into a garage to get a new gasket - or a head

[missfixit70]

Duplicate thread - continued here - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=34565