Using a lot of water

dwyryd · Post by **dwyryd** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:12 pm

Our Bongo has been using a lot of water over the last few weeks, but it is getting worse. It may also be worth noting that the fan is always on even after a very short journey and the radiator does not get hot even after several miles. Would you expect the radiator to get hot after 5 miles?
can anyone offer any guidance?

crazy uncle gray g · Post by **crazy uncle gray g** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 9:44 pm

Dwyryd, I`m no expert on these matters, but I would expect the rad to be hot, I suspect you have a blockage in one of your hoses and therefore you are boiling and loosing your water rather than cooling it back down in the rad, check it out immediately, hopefully before any damage is done. Is your Bongo temp gauge showing hot ?

dwyryd · Post by **dwyryd** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:20 pm

Temp gauge is normal, but then its never moved much!

Caps · Post by **Caps** » Mon Nov 13, 2006 10:39 pm

The time the rad takes to get hot will be affected by the days temperature. If the fans on all the time, it does suggest air in the system. Guessing these things is tricky-but make interesting reading!

If there's air in the system, it will loose more and more water. You could bleed it. Then see if things improve.
As Crazy said

check it out immediately, hopefully before any damage is done.

dwyryd · Post by **dwyryd** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:32 am

Any more ideas guys?
Smells of boiled water.

antique · Post by **antique** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:41 am

hi if you have bled it and that is not it try thermostat ? last resorts take rad out and get it flow tested jap antifreez clogs the rads up ?

pippin · Post by **pippin** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:28 pm

. caps , : - = comprehension!

Vanmanerik · Post by **Vanmanerik** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:44 pm

Just where are you losing the cooling water from?
Is it an obvious leak from a pipe etc?
Is it coming from the exhaust as steam?
Is it coming from the header tank overflow?
It must be going somewhere to give us a clue of what is happening.

Peg leg Pete · Post by **Peg leg Pete** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:52 am

I would check all pipes for leaks, you may have to have the engine running to check for pinhole leaks. Flush the radiator, check thermostat, check both the radiator and expansion bottle caps. when all leaks are located and repaired fill with the correct coolant, and make sure you bleed the system!!!!! check out the coolant FAC's interesting and informative reading

but do it sooner rather than later, also check temp guage is working, if you overheat you can damage the cylinderhead

dwyryd · Post by **dwyryd** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 8:49 pm

Thank you to all who have replied. Have taken it to A & S in Caerphilly. Have always been good in the past. Hopefully something he can sort quickly.
Another Bongo in there too.

Mikey B · Post by **Mikey B** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:09 pm

Dwyryd,

Where in Swansea are you?
Down in Gorseinon there is a Japanese car specialist, Dave Coe engineering - behind the Mardy pub.

http://www.davecoeautoengineering.com/

This is where I took my Bongo when the front diff went.

Mike

dwyryd · Post by **dwyryd** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:39 pm

Thanks Mike, that's really useful to know.
Have been to Caerphilly a couple of times because of good recommendation.
I have phoned a few Swansea garages and either they don't want to know or they charge the earth!
Will check out the place in Gorseinon. Is it reasonably proced?

Mikey B · Post by **Mikey B** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 9:14 pm

Cant say about the price because mine was done under guarantee. But when I took it there on the Monday they looked at it straight away and even started fixing it in the afternoon because Dave phoned me to give me a run down on what he found.

Using a lot of water

Using a lot of water

rad

Water Loss

losing water

Bongo Garage in Swansea