Coolant tank

[springer]

Right, so my Bongo now has brand new steel coolant pipes, all new hoses, and original Mazda clips.

Time to fill her up, I will watch the utube clips for this.

But before I start, is the expansion tank easy to remove and clean ? because its brown, and I cannot see the coolant level.

Also, is all coolant the same?

[francophile1947]

The tanks can be very difficult, if not impossible to clean. Several threads on here if you do a search.
"Also, is all coolant the same?" - NO, see this current thread http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=45121

[dave_aber]

There is a product you can buy that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of which is really effective in cleaning header tanks. A car dealer I know swears by them for cleaning out header tanks which have been discoloured during head gasket failures or other nasties (after repairing them properly, of course!)

As I say, the name escapes me for now, but I'll check with him what it's called. It is (IIRC) in a small bottle, which is triangular if looked at from above.

Edit : Forte Bio Degreaser <- This stuff.

[haydn callow]

You will probably find your tank is Stained throughout the whole thickness of the plastic...This cannot be removed...if the dirt is just inside the tank then a good cleal/jetwash will help.
New tanks are available from Mazda for about £130

[helen&tony]

Hi Haydn
Is that direct from Mazda in the UK, or does it involve a Japan order?...I'd be keen to tidy the engine bay!
Cheers
Helen

[haydn callow]

I got mine from Bongo Bits within 1 week

[Northern Bongolow]

caustic soda crytals from the local market stall,and a hand full of small pebbledash off the side of the neighbours house .give it a good shake up.and all the internals should be clean.but as haydn says,it wont be as good as a new one.

[Doone]

Is that direct from Mazda in the UK,

Yes Helen, and Mazda main dealer in the UK have them available. Unstained second hand ones sometimes pop up on EBay too.

[helen&tony]

Hi
Thanks
I might give it a whirl next year...just to look neat...Crikey, the current one is still streets ahead of some cars I've had, but as I've got to replace a rear heater in spring, I might as well do that at the same time!
Cheers
Helen

[mikexgough]

There is a product you can buy that I cannot for the life of me remember the name of which is really effective in cleaning header tanks. A car dealer I know swears by them for cleaning out header tanks which have been discoloured during head gasket failures or other nasties (after repairing them properly, of course!)

As I say, the name escapes me for now, but I'll check with him what it's called. It is (IIRC) in a small bottle, which is triangular if looked at from above.

Edit : Forte Bio Degreaser <- This stuff.

That Forte stuff is top notch.....you won't have any silt or gunge in your system after that has been through it..... They do some good products do Forte..

[dave_aber]

Not used it myself, but my mate has and he was amazed by how effective it is. I'd be trying it before spending £130 for a new tank....

[widdowson2008]

Not sure how OWT will clean a tank - stain (or whatever it is) goes all the way through the tank wall doesn't it?
Take a look at the pics on this
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=39424

[scanner]

That Forte stuff is top notch.....you won't have any silt or gunge in your system after that has been through it..... They do some good products do Forte..

Trouble is that if you ask Forte where to get it this is how they reply..................

Thank you for your email.
Our products are only distributed into trade workshops to be used as workshop tools and are not sold retail, to find a local garage in your area to treat your vehicle please visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.com

So I did that and found a local garage that use Forte products.
A quick visit and 10 mins later I had a bottle in my hands - "£10 for cash mate! "

He says it works really well - they use it to clean out Rover "K" series engines that have blown their head gaskets - nothing else they've tried works as well.

Just given it a run through the system which I fast idled until the needle nearly went off the gauge and the rad fans came on then flushed the system through

[dave_aber]

K series go through head gaskets like we go through diesel! - so if it's good enough for them, that's praise indeed!

[alan]

i replaced my when i had all the other work done got the tank form ben hill but i think it was only £105 from them