Rising revs & lack of power ??? What's up with my dear Bongo

[rhino-wayne]

Hi folks,
any ideas on what could be causing the following:

Went out to a short town drive today, Bongo seemed unhappy with occasional rising revs & low power (eg upto 3000rpm @ 25MPH).
Temp seemed stable 70'c/top hose.
Currently running on Biodiesel (20ltrs on Thurs), usually run on Derv/Biodiesel about town & Derv/biodiesel-VegiOil mix for long journeys.
Had the coolant system serviced, pipes & hoses replaced back in March..
Did a DIY OIl/Filter service in April..

will put my overalls on soon to investigate (& change fuel filter) but if any on have any ideas pls post a quick message , thx in advance.
Wayne

[missfixit70]

I'd be looking at fuel filter & banjo filter & maybe blowing the lines through/check for leaks first. What percantage mix are you using? Any other symptoms ie smoke, lumpy tickover etc?

[alant54]

Try checking for an obstruction on the air intake....I had a similar problem when a screenwash bottle I had left under the bonnet got sucked onto the air intake....3000 revs max and no power.... ..very embarrasing as I was on the M6 toll road and had called the AA.....hope it is as simple...

Alan

[westonwarrior]

sounds more like gearbox or sensor problem to me if its over reving with no power

[missfixit70]

Quite often such issues are fuel related, if all the basics check out ok, may be worth starting to look at TPS etc.
Be worth checking gearbox level of course, engine warmed up, runnning, brakes on, range through the gears slowly then dip it in P.
Not sure it it would produce such symptoms but an ATF change may be on the cards if it's not been done before - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=30096

[rhino-wayne]

Thanks folks for all your replies

Did all round checks, changed the fuel filter, & test drive.

Well seems like too much ATF , The fluid is a dirty brown colour,
when driving Bongo can only do 1st & 2nd gear, the high revs being struggling to get 3rd.

Haven't changed the AFT since purchasing in March 2011....no idea what the previous owner did!

oh dear time to read the fact sheets & forums.

Now is this a DIY job or a £$£$£$ for the Garage

Thanks again all

[missfixit70]

Did you check the level with the engine runnning as described above? If you check it stationary, it will be fairly well over the full mark. Shouldn't matter if it's just a bit over, it'll usually blow out any excess through the breather.
If it was done in march it should be ok in theory, but dirty brown doesn't sound good, does it smell like burnt toast? I'd be checking the oil cooler isn't blocked & the filter, look at the thread linked to above for how to change it & check .

[rhino-wayne]

missfixit

Just did a proper check as above, still seems a bit over full not so much.
Sorry about my previous poor wording...I have NOT changed the AFT before..& no idea when last changed ,... "Burn Toast" yes guess you could call it that, pretty stinky stuff .

I dont have a pela pump so will have to work underneath, will read the link thx for all

[missfixit70]

May be someone close to you with a pela that's willing to lend you one, or order one from this thread for £25 if the voucher code still works - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =Pela+pump should be there in a couple of days.
Make sure you check the oil cooler is clear in the bottom of the rad, I wouldn't worry too much about it being slightly overfull TBH, it won't do any harm, mine is always a bit over, but sounds like it needs a bloody good clean out.

[missfixit70]

I wouldn't be surprised at a dodgy batch of bio, been a few on here that've had issues with bio diesel not being processed properly & causing problems, did you check/change the fuel filter?

[rhino-wayne]

Thanks for the Pela pump/mailspeed marine link, just ordered a pump , the code is no longer valid but was still cheaper than feebay

Yep changed the fuel filter, the old one seemed clean & OK,
i buy my bio diesel here:http://mckeownbiofuels.com/, it has been ok in the past but had a break for about a month...then this problem after a recent 20ltr??? coincidence?? maybe....I throw in some DERV tomorrow see if that helps, but will change the ATF anyway.

....that pela pump should make my next engine oil change alot easier too!!


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P.S. Great "fire spinning / juggling" at Stourport.....daughter (& I) were well impressed

[missfixit70]

.................................................................
P.S. Great "fire spinning / juggling" at Stourport.....daughter (& I) were well impressed

thanks You shoulda said hello, that was just a little play this year cos Umbongocat wanted to have a go

I'd be tempted to try running it from a known clean source of diesel & see if it runs better, ie a bit of fuel hose to a can of clean diesel, if you get the right size hose you can change all your fuel hose afterwards to & make sure all that is airtight etc, as on here - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =3&t=33920 .
If you just chuck good diesel into crap bio (if it is that), it won't necessarily improve the situation, you could always pela the bio out if it proves to be the issue

[Northern Bongolow]

Yep changed the fuel filter, the old one seemed clean & OK,
i buy my bio diesel here:http://mckeownbiofuels.com/, it has been ok in the past but had a break for about a month...then this problem after a recent 20ltr??? coincidence?? maybe....I throw in some DERV tomorrow see if that helps,

if you look at their web site under freq asked questions, can my engine run on this, it will explain about what it does to the insides of your fuel system, and filters.

[rhino-wayne]

Hi all,

Well, I removed & cleaned the sump/ATF filter, re filled with new fluid, but still have trouble with Bongo not changing up into 3rd gear?? Seems a bit easier driving in "L".....

any ideas?

sounds more like gearbox or sensor problem to me if its over reving with no power

where is this sensor?

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Missing todays meet up in Brean
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thank you

[missfixit70]

Did you check the banjo filter & try runnning with a known clean source of fuel?
May be worth looking at the TPS? - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... t=throttle