Is engine too hot?

campergeek · Post by **campergeek** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 2:44 pm

Currently on holiday up in the hills on exmoor. After some big climbs I've noticed a slight plastic or clutch type smell when I stop. Van feels warm from my under my seat. Temp gauge stays at 11 o'clock ( no gauge mod). Should a fan be kicking in when the engine is being worked at slow speeds, as haven't noticed it? Just getting a bit paranoid it's overheating, but got no way of telling. It's a 4x4 diesel.

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Wed Aug 17, 2011 2:52 pm

How long's a piece of string? Without anything to give you a realistic idea of temperature it's hard to say. The rad fans should kick in when the temp sensor above the starter under the drivers seat reaches 96 degrees, then higher speed fans kick in at 104 degrees if that doesn't do the job. There's also a scavenge fan that kicks in just in front of the engine if the air temp under the console reaches 108 degrees (usually will only happen when stationary & heat has been allowed to gather under there). So if everythings working ok, you should be alright.
Of course if the thermostat isn't working, the rad fans won't do a lot to cool it down as there'll be very little flow through the rad. I'd recommend getting something to sorted to give you an idea of what temps are doing either by modifying the temp gauge with a Mason alarm or the DIY mod, or by fitting a seperate temp gauge, there is a factsheet in the members area that may help.
Certainly a good idea to check all your fluid/oil levels/leaks if you're a bit twitchy, but chances are you'll be ok, it does get warmer if it's working harder, just don't turn the engine off straight away, give it a chance to settle the temperatures, leave it idling for a few minutes, it should kick the fans in if necessary.

campergeek · Post by **campergeek** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 7:47 am

Yeah, planning to get the temp gauge modded once I get home, so really just asking if there's anything I can do to check fans are working correctly at the moment. Guess i'll just take it slow on the next big climb and leave it running a bit afterwards.

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:06 am

campergeek wrote:Yeah, planning to get the temp gauge modded once I get home, so really just asking if there's anything I can do to check fans are working correctly at the moment. Guess i'll just take it slow on the next big climb and leave it running a bit afterwards.

See this link Baz's 3rd post down for rad fans.... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ensor+test

Or i suppose you could just turn on yer air con, they kick in then too..?!!

& 7th post down from Hellen&tony for the scavenger fan... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ensor+test

Diagram of the coolant system (Minus the pipes for and the heater matrixes!) & the 3 fans.... http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... o=.html#10

Velocette · Post by **Velocette** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:30 am

jaylee wrote:
campergeek wrote:Yeah, planning to get the temp gauge modded once I get home, so really just asking if there's anything I can do to check fans are working correctly at the moment. Guess i'll just take it slow on the next big climb and leave it running a bit afterwards.

See this link Baz's 3rd post down for rad fans.... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ensor+test

Or i suppose you could just turn on yer air con, they kick in then too..?!!

& 7th post down from Hellen&tony for the scavenger fan... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ensor+test

Diagram of the coolant system (Minus the pipes for and the heater matrixes!) & the 3 fans.... http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... o=.html#10

If you switch on the AC/climate control to bring on the rad fans do they cut out when the cabin reaches the set temperature like a room split system condensor fan would?

jaylee · Post by **jaylee** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:56 am

Velocette wrote:
jaylee wrote:
campergeek wrote:Yeah, planning to get the temp gauge modded once I get home, so really just asking if there's anything I can do to check fans are working correctly at the moment. Guess i'll just take it slow on the next big climb and leave it running a bit afterwards.

See this link Baz's 3rd post down for rad fans.... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ensor+test

Or i suppose you could just turn on yer air con, they kick in then too..?!!

& 7th post down from Hellen&tony for the scavenger fan... http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... ensor+test

Diagram of the coolant system (Minus the pipes for and the heater matrixes!) & the 3 fans.... http://lushprojects.com/bongopartsmk2/c ... o=.html#10
If you switch on the AC/climate control to bring on the rad fans do they cut out when the cabin reaches the set temperature like a room split system condensor fan would?

Very good point...

But not with my manual heater AC control...

campergeek · Post by **campergeek** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:37 am

Thanks everyone. Checked all fluid levels and the fans come on with the aircon (manual, not cc), so hopefully I was just worrying about nothing. It's been said before, but that temp gauge is pretty much useless, so will investigate the mods when I'm home with a decent Internet connection - Internet on my phone is pretty painful round these parts!

tallbongo · Post by **tallbongo** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:26 pm

Definitely worth doing the mod. The mod itself is an absolute doddle to do. Just make sure you check all the connections around the steering wheel when you refit. The mod took me around an hour. Tracking down why the Bongo wouldn't start after it took several - I'd disturbed one of the push fit connections and although it didn't look disconnected, it was.

Is engine too hot?

Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?

Re: Is engine too hot?