coolant loss 2L petrol.

[dunslair]

We have a 2Lpetrol 2003 reg bongo, which up until today has been fantastic.
We have not been out in the bongo for exactly one month (16th Dec) The van has been snowed in. Over the last month i have started the van twice to make sure the battery was not flat as well as de iced and removed the snow from it, running it for about 20mins. We planned to use the van today, so i started it as normal first thing to let it warm up. Whilst I did this I checked the coolant, water levels etc. Coolant tank empty! Switched off engine and used the other car to get coolant. Filled up the header tank and ran the engine for a few minutes, the coolant level dropped down to nil in tank. did this again twice (just short of 3 litres) have had a good look at all of the hoses and water pump etc, the only area where there apears to be a leak are the two hoses just behind the drivers door, but only damp to the touch (not loosing that quantity) I have checked the exhaust and peared into the oil filler, both of which appear normal, no white smoke and no 'milky' deposits. We have had very cold temps, and I have concerns that the coolant / antifreeze mix may not have been up to what it should be, expanded and cracked the head or gasket. can anybody help with suggestions before I call in the mechanic.

[francophile1947]

If it starts and runs, you aren't losing that much through the engine Have another look for leaks as it should be pretty bad and obvious

[dunslair]

If it starts and runs, you aren't losing that much through the engine Have another look for leaks as it should be pretty bad and obvious

Thanks for the reply. Starts and runs fine, with temp etc staying low / normal and fans cutting in occasionally but no more than normal. the van could have been loosing coolant for 3 weeks (since the first big drop in air temp) from the hoses below the rear heater, but there is no sign of anything on the drive, and the van has not moved in a month. my mind a course jumps to worst case scenario but like i say no signs in oil or exhaust and the engine is running fine.

[MountainGoat]

David, you could PM Haydn Callow to see if he has some of that coolant leak seeking dye left. Plus a UV pen.

Tony

[dunslair]

David, you could PM Haydn Callow to see if he has some of that coolant leak seeking dye left. Plus a UV pen.

Tony

good idea tony, although the under side of the van is bone dry with the exception of the two hoses mentioned, and it does not seam to be a slow leak, unless all i have done today is top up coolant loss from over three weeks of sitting dripping

[The Great Pretender]

I have only had a brief look at a 2.0 lt Bongo so I maybe talking poo.
Is the damp area coolant or condensation? The fact that "fans cutting in occasionally but no more than normal" could point to a long term loss of coolant.
The 2.0 lt engine is a lot more compact than the diesel so the outlet from the head to the rad doesn't drop as far as so may clear air easier. You still need to use the bleed pipe to evacuate air and fill the head with coolant.
If you think of the engine as a central heating radiator with the pipes entering it from underneath the radiator will only fill so far as it pushes the air upwards, you then need to use the bleed /vent to fill the rad. The same happens when air bubbles enter a rad they stop there, you know when the top of a radiator is cold with the heat circulating lower down the same can happen to the Bongo due to the engine/pipework configuration.
Hope that helps.

[dandywarhol]

I wish you'd use a different colour of font TGP - I really have to work hard to read it........

Any dampness around the floorwells? This would be hard to spot with all the snow/rain around but could indicate a leaking heater matrix. Best to have the system pressureised and find the source

[The Great Pretender]

I wish you'd use a different colour of font TGP - I really have to work hard to read it........

Any dampness around the floorwells? This would be hard to spot with all the snow/rain around but could indicate a leaking heater matrix. Best to have the system pressureised and find the source

Sorry mate, I find it easy but as you are the second to complain..........is this better............... .
Or this?

This?

Or this as it is the colour of my Bongo.

Or should you stop doing what your mom told you it would make you go blind?

[apole]

Hi there,

I had exactly the same last year. For me it was a leak in one of the hoses to the rear heater matrix. As I needed the car and the garage was 30 miles away, I used one of the existing hoses to "bridge" out the matrix.

I wasn't sure if it was one of the hoses that had failed, or the pipework to the matrix, I suspect the latter. Anyway, I did this. bled the system and then had the garage check it over. As I have a side conversion and rarely used the rear heating anyway I've left the rear matrix out ever since. Works fine and easier to bleed.

Have a good look at these 2 hoses, especially where they disappear up inside the flooring. You can see what I mean about using one hose to connect the feed to the matrix to the return. If in any doubt buy new cooling hose and some decent jubilee clips.

PM me if you need any more info and I can go take some photos if that helps.

Good luck.

Andy

[dunslair]

Thanks for the replies folks. It would appear, but not certain, that the leak has been below the rear heater. There is evidence of coolant on the bends to both the pipes going up into the floor pan (is there a small tank below the rear heater?) but no evidence of much dampness below the van on the deck. The two pipes are held on with cr@p little clips rather than jubilee clips, which could be a week point if there has been any expansion with freezing (-18 a couple of weeks back here!) I could not find any damp patches in the foot wells, but that said i wasnt really looking for any, so I will have another poke about. The carpet around the rear heater is all bone dry. I will give the garage a call this morning and see when they can pressure test for me. The garage is only 1/2 mile from home so I will take their advice on moving the van or them coming to get it. Glad I checked the levels before our planned trip yesterday, otherwise I could have been stuck in edinburgh with a boil up I have always been paranoid about checking the coolant levels, just wish I had changed the coolant before the winter.

Thanks again.

David

[daveblueozzie]

Glad I checked the levels before our planned trip yesterday, otherwise I could have been stuck in edinburgh with a boil up I have always been paranoid about checking the coolant levels, just wish I had changed the coolant before the winter.

Sounds like its time to buy a coolant alarm

[dandywarhol]

I wish you'd use a different colour of font TGP - I really have to work hard to read it........

Any dampness around the floorwells? This would be hard to spot with all the snow/rain around but could indicate a leaking heater matrix. Best to have the system pressureised and find the source

Sorry mate, I find it easy but as you are the second to complain..........is this better............... .
Or this?

This?

Or this as it is the colour of my Bongo.

Or should you stop doing what your mom told you it would make you go blind?

W T F is wrong with BLACK

[dunslair]

I wish you'd use a different colour of font TGP - I really have to work hard to read it........

Any dampness around the floorwells? This would be hard to spot with all the snow/rain around but could indicate a leaking heater matrix. Best to have the system pressureised and find the source

Sorry mate, I find it easy but as you are the second to complain..........is this better............... .
Or this?

This?

Or this as it is the colour of my Bongo.

Or should you stop doing what your mom told you it would make you go blind?

W T F is wrong with BLACK

just avoid any colour that reminds me of bl@@dy coolant gents

[haydn callow]

Black or Brown for me please...green is naff

[mikeonb4c]

I wish you'd use a different colour of font TGP - I really have to work hard to read it........

Any dampness around the floorwells? This would be hard to spot with all the snow/rain around but could indicate a leaking heater matrix. Best to have the system pressureised and find the source

Sorry mate, I find it easy but as you are the second to complain..........is this better............... .
Or this?

This?

Or this as it is the colour of my Bongo.

Or should you stop doing what your mom told you it would make you go blind?

that dark green is fine TGP and as green is your trademark I don't think you should risk the brand by doing anything too radical