Firstly, thanks to everyone who has offered advice - it is very much appreciated, even if some of it is not what I wanted to hear. Cheers.

So, had another go at bleeding again on Saturday, with the help of my missus this time. It took over 2 hours, but finally bubbles stopped. I'd done the 2.5k rev ...

haydn callow wrote:If the coolant is being 'blown'out of the header tank it is probably because the system is being over pressurised by exhaust gasses entering the system via the cylinder head cracks.

The logic is good and would explain why it's doing this without the thermostat opening.

I was at my mechanic Adrian at Japandirect in Bury a few years back. He was dealing with a Bongo that had crudded up radiators and he was replacing both main and front heater radiators. I also recall people on here doing research on the Bongo coolant system and determining that the front heater ...

This could be cheaper than paying a garage:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/331718244537?chn=ps&adgroupid=33676502101&rlsatarget=aud-168805811106%3Apla-271646237468&abcId=893836&adtype=pla&merchantid=7345884&poi=&googleloc=9041101&device=t&campaignid=707291931&crdt=0&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover ...

it would be best to pressure test the whole system before you bleed it again, it will not bleed up right if it has a leak somewhere.
get an old rad cap and cut through the bottom seal and disc so that it does not seal against the bottom seal point in the exp tank but still seals at the top seal at ...

Given the overheat and persistent, albeit sporadic inclination to ditch its coolant a sniff test could save you a lot of effort by ruling in or out the elephant in the room.

So we've got newish pump, thermostat, radiator and caps. Sounds like all the coolant pipes (17 of 'em) could do with ...

Curious thing is why it's not going the whole hog with the gauge setting at 1 o'clock, anymore. Cheers.

Sometimes the force of the boiling is sufficient to force the trapped air along and out, and hence the temperature varies wildly!

Yep, sounds plausible. Me and the missus going to do a ...

Sniffer test checks for combustion gasses in cooling system.

A garage can do this and it indicates a head/gasket problem. :(

It would be great if I could find a garage that would touch it. They don't appear to interested in doing any work on old stuff, here on the rock. I have to do work on it ...

Not what you want to hear but I reckon your heads-goosed.

Hmm? that would make it the third one in the 30k miles I've had it - went not long after I got it, then again 2 years ago. If it's gone again it's going to the crusher. No steam at exhaust, no loss of power. Any other tests for head gone ...

Sorry to hear of your woes. Have you considered changing the main and possibly the front heater radiators. Did you find the old top hose crusty with scale inside? Have you got an engine temp block gauge fitted so you can see what temp the engine is getting to?

Crusty on the outside, didn't check ...

Sorry to hear of your woes. Have you considered changing the main and possibly the front heater radiators. Did you find the old top hose crusty with scale inside? Have you got an engine temp block gauge fitted so you can see what temp the engine is getting to?

Crusty on the outside, didn't check ...

Could it be a pinhole leak in another pipe that is drawing in air when it cools down (pressure reduces and sucks air in) which is building up over several cycles and then you get an airlock and the overheat occurs ?

The pressure cap on the radiator should matter as it doesn't have a vent and the ...

rita wrote:It would probably be worthwhile having a Sniffer Test done.

Good Luck

Thanks, what's one of those?

Sorry to hear of your woes. Have you considered changing the main and possibly the front heater radiators. Did you find the old top hose crusty with scale inside? Have you got an engine temp block gauge fitted so you can see what temp the engine is getting to?

Not come across that solution before ...

Morning All
Well, my 2.5TD has been overheating (again). Thought it had sorted itself out a few months ago after a thorough bleeding session. Apparently not. It started again, out of the blue, a couple of weeks ago. Running fine over the Mountain Road at 60-70mph but as soon as I slowed down to 30 ...