Is rust in the coolant OK?

mikexgough · Post by **mikexgough** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:34 pm

Seen many vehicles, Bongo's included, with brown coolant, as many have already said , in the main....... Poor coolant management is the main issue and that includes rads,hoses and cooling system components - header tanks do yellow with age/uv/hot cold cycles and can "hold" brown coolant in the tank like soap scum in a sink.
Not always a boil or "hot" incident.......but could be - fundementals 1st before conclusions drawn.
Low mileage vehicles are well known to manifest issues,not just with cooling, I see plenty of low mileage, looked after,garaged,cherished older motors where the new owner likes to show off their original unrestored vehicle, within a short time - failures occur, head gaskets, hoses,oil seals etc & as we know many Bongo's are low miles and could show similar issues. I would be happy to suggest that old coolant,lack of use/mileage is a big factor for crud and the radiator a prime spot to collect it when you add in the cooling system circulation with the quite feasable hot/cold cycles that never reach full temps - Jaylee's cooling system colour conundrem also is valid and shows poor maintainence ......

mikexgough · Post by **mikexgough** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:37 pm

I

Iwannabongo wrote:Thanks everyone for all your helpful info
I have been away the last 4 days in the bongo and just seen all the comments regarding my mucky sludge.
I have just used a halfords anti-freeze tester on the coolant and it states protection level is low on a scale of none, low, medium and high.
When I tested it the coolant was very clear with an orange tint, but when you touch the bottom of the tank it goes a very murky orange colour which I now know is not such good news.
I have checked around the header tank and there is no obvious sign of any previous leaks from boiling over.
Next task is to get it flushed out, which I am not over confident in doing myself so want to take it to a garage to get done properly.
I noticed Haydn that you are from Somerset. Do you know if Bell Hill Garage would do a good job of flushing and refilling coolant correctly or has anyone else used these before to do this?
It would be handy to know before I give them a ring, as I wouldn't want someone just to empty old coolant and refill it again(I don't have a lot of trust in garages anyway, let alone on my Bongo)
Thanks again for all your helpful comments,
Justin

Bell Hill will sort you , Tom & the guys are top blokes

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:40 pm

I know one thing about Bellhill they wont let it go until its right & yer happy.. They did a top hose for me & a massive service a while back.

... & i take mine all over Europe..

I'd say they are on the level... & they specialize in the Bongo.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:45 pm

Bell Hill will do a very good job for you.

Iwannabongo · Post by **Iwannabongo** » Tue May 31, 2011 8:49 pm

Wow, they were quick and very promising replies about Bell Hill.
You don't work there do you

I wish I could be that positive about my Audi garage I just went to. They are a complete bunch of nanas that like to rip people off

I think I will give them a ring in the morning and get my baby in there.

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:02 pm

I know i don't... I only trust two garages with mine relatively near me! It is in the middle of nowhere.. TAKE FOOD!!!

The first time i went there, a local woman who's husbands car was MOT'd took me in for a couple of hours & fed me!!

Turned out her husband when he got in, was an ex-colleague of my retired neighbour...

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:07 pm

There ain't much of a mobile signal either...

They did ring the woman's house to let me know it was done..

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:40 pm

mikexgough wrote:Seen many vehicles, Bongo's included, with brown coolant, as many have already said , in the main....... Poor coolant management is the main issue and that includes rads,hoses and cooling system components - header tanks do yellow with age/uv/hot cold cycles and can "hold" brown coolant in the tank like soap scum in a sink.
Not always a boil or "hot" incident.......but could be - fundementals 1st before conclusions drawn.
Low mileage vehicles are well known to manifest issues,not just with cooling, I see plenty of low mileage, looked after,garaged,cherished older motors where the new owner likes to show off their original unrestored vehicle, within a short time - failures occur, head gaskets, hoses,oil seals etc & as we know many Bongo's are low miles and could show similar issues. I would be happy to suggest that old coolant,lack of use/mileage is a big factor for crud and the radiator a prime spot to collect it when you add in the cooling system circulation with the quite feasable hot/cold cycles that never reach full temps - Jaylee's cooling system colour conundrem also is valid and shows poor maintainence ......

More lack of complete decent flushing in the past than anything else, with regards to (maybe) the header discolouration at least, with age..?!! They may not worry too much about the longevity of the life of the vehicle in Japan what with discarding them after 50k km's??? ish...

Alacrity · Post by **Alacrity** » Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:37 pm

haydn callow wrote:I think you may misunderstand me.....I quite agree that the "crud" just builds up over the years....what I am saying is that...."rusty coloured" coolant can be a result of this crud in the bottom of the radiator being disturbed by a near "boil up".
I am not saying the engine has suffered a massive overheat.....although this would also stir it up even more.

The staining of the header tank I think is more "ageing" although it does look much worse after a layer of "crud" has been deposited in there.

Point taken

I did misunderstand!

Iwannabongo · Post by **Iwannabongo** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:45 pm

Just had my mucky coolant flushed and filled at Bell Hill today, as I got too scared to try it myself

Thanks for recommending them everyone, I can see why.
What a nice bunch of people. I don't think I have ever come across such genuine people working in a garage before

They said it will probably need another flush in 6-12 months if more muck builds up again, so will keep a check on it.
They also said that it could be caused by lack of care by previous owners or a past boil up as a few suggested

Will defo be going back to them with any future servicing and repairs.
Thanks again people for recommending them and keep up the good work

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:59 pm

Iwannabongo wrote:Just had my mucky coolant flushed and filled at Bell Hill today, as I got too scared to try it myself
Thanks for recommending them everyone, I can see why.
What a nice bunch of people. I don't think I have ever come across such genuine people working in a garage before
They said it will probably need another flush in 6-12 months if more muck builds up again, so will keep a check on it.
They also said that it could be caused by lack of care by previous owners or a past boil up as a few suggested
Will defo be going back to them with any future servicing and repairs.
Thanks again people for recommending them and keep up the good work

Glad you had a good experience..!

Just out of interest.. Did you have the word "booster" written on the header/filler tank perchance??

Iwannabongo · Post by **Iwannabongo** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:20 pm

jaylee wrote:
Iwannabongo wrote:Just had my mucky coolant flushed and filled at Bell Hill today, as I got too scared to try it myself
Thanks for recommending them everyone, I can see why.
What a nice bunch of people. I don't think I have ever come across such genuine people working in a garage before
They said it will probably need another flush in 6-12 months if more muck builds up again, so will keep a check on it.
They also said that it could be caused by lack of care by previous owners or a past boil up as a few suggested
Will defo be going back to them with any future servicing and repairs.
Thanks again people for recommending them and keep up the good work
Glad you had a good experience..!

Just out of interest.. Did you have the word "booster" written on the header/filler tank perchance??

Hi Jaylee,
I don't have the word "booster" on the header tank. What is that all about

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:28 am

Iwannabongo wrote:
jaylee wrote:
Iwannabongo wrote:Just had my mucky coolant flushed and filled at Bell Hill today, as I got too scared to try it myself
Thanks for recommending them everyone, I can see why.
What a nice bunch of people. I don't think I have ever come across such genuine people working in a garage before
They said it will probably need another flush in 6-12 months if more muck builds up again, so will keep a check on it.
They also said that it could be caused by lack of care by previous owners or a past boil up as a few suggested
Will defo be going back to them with any future servicing and repairs.
Thanks again people for recommending them and keep up the good work
Glad you had a good experience..!

Just out of interest.. Did you have the word "booster" written on the header/filler tank perchance??
Hi Jaylee,
I don't have the word "booster" on the header tank. What is that all about

http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... 5&start=15

Is rust in the coolant OK?

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