Coolant system & alarms

[kelv]

Hope it's that simple Tim Can't remember if you've got a coolant alarm or Mason? If not, I'd definitely recommend it if you're fearing the worst is going to happen, great peace of mind. Cetainly had my Mason alarm chirruping going up some of the mountains fully loaded over the last couple of weeks.

What do you actually do when it makes a noise at you, when you are going over mountains ?

[missfixit70]

I had it set reasonably low, so as soon as the gauge starts moving up, it kicks in, just reminds me to keep an eye on it, watch the throttle & for the steepest bits, whack the heater on full blast to give a bit of extra cooling.

[kelv]

I had it set reasonably low, so as soon as the gauge starts moving up, it kicks in, just reminds me to keep an eye on it, watch the throttle & for the steepest bits, whack the heater on full blast to give a bit of extra cooling.

All very sensible actions if a car actually starts overheating.

I can't help thinking that the alarm is making you over cautious, would Mazda really design and sell a car, in 1995 where it is necessary to put the heater on full blast when driving, in order to prevent it overheating ?
Or is there something wrong with your cooling system?
Interested about views on this.

[BongoMTBer]

Kelv,

I would say Mazda probably would not design it that way. However, systems deteriorate and if one wishes to keep the car going as long as possible, then it makes sense not to stress it harder than neccessary. The more time you spend with the engine running hotter and under great loads, the quicker parts will wear, fail, fatiugue, creep and ultimatley fail.

Some cars make it to 100k, some make it a lot further. A lot of this has to do with how they are operated and maintained. Being nice has to be cheaper in the long run doesn't it?

[missfixit70]

I had it set reasonably low, so as soon as the gauge starts moving up, it kicks in, just reminds me to keep an eye on it, watch the throttle & for the steepest bits, whack the heater on full blast to give a bit of extra cooling.

All very sensible actions if a car actually starts overheating.

I can't help thinking that the alarm is making you over cautious, would Mazda really design and sell a car, in 1995 where it is necessary to put the heater on full blast when driving, in order to prevent it overheating ?
Or is there something wrong with your cooling system?
Interested about views on this.

Just taking sensible precautions when driving up mountains with a fully loaded bongo, I'm sure the bongo cooling system would cope fine on its own, but I'd prefer to keep mine running as sweet as possible . As an ex marine engineer officer I like to know what it's all doing & when it's doing it - prevention is better than cure in my book. I didn't say it was necessary to put the heaters on full blast did I?
I guess I could just ignore all the gauges & drive it, it'd probably be just as reliable, conversely it might go bang tomorrow, but at least I'll know I took all reasonable precautions & hopefully limit any damage if it does occur.
I guess there aren't that many mountains in your neck of the woods to worry about are there Kelv?
2,400 miles, up & down mountains without missing a beat - no problems here

[mikeonb4c]

I suppose a scavenger fan over-ride switch could be handy for moments like this

I need to get of to the Alps more often

[kelv]

Kelv,

I would say Mazda probably would not design it that way. However, systems deteriorate and if one wishes to keep the car going as long as possible, then it makes sense not to stress it harder than neccessary. The more time you spend with the engine running hotter and under great loads, the quicker parts will wear, fail, fatiugue, creep and ultimatley fail.

Some cars make it to 100k, some make it a lot further. A lot of this has to do with how they are operated and maintained. Being nice has to be cheaper in the long run doesn't it?

Yes of course, just wondered whether the Mazda cooling system was badly designed to start off with.Certainly a lot of them seem to over heat.
Maybe it would be better fitting new rads and pipes all round rather than alarms ?
Or maybe both ?

[missfixit70]

Done all the hoses, rad & coolant system flushed THOROUGHLY with Holts radflush, but it's on the list. As stated many times on here though, even a new part can fail almost instantly, hence the alarms - as per any modern engineering systems

[kelv]

I guess there aren't that many mountains in your neck of the woods to worry about are there Kelv?

Maybe not, but there certainly are mountains in Japan where it was originally sold.
Without any alarm systems

[missfixit70]

But they weren't built to be running 15 years later Plus they hadn't allowed for the sludging caused by mixing Jap & UK spec coolant, plus the maximum speed limits are lower there.
Don't quite know what point you're trying to make Kelv or if you're just trying to get a rise?

[mister munkey]

Maybe the Bongo had a weak system to start with, maybe not.
Maybe alarms are fitted just to make sure.
Fine, no right or wrong either way as far as I can see.

Fair point all the same.

Not weak as such when new but rather complicated compared to what was around at the time hence more scope for future failures.

Keeping the system as efficient as possible can only improve the life of the lump though. My occasional beeps give me a little extra peace of mind.

[missfixit70]

Continued here - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=31999