Bongo Fury

Strange things started happening of late.
The scavenger fan came on (never heard it before), and the strange smell of leaking coolant, but no sign if a leak (and all quiet with the level alarm)
Stopped in a lay-by yesterday and realised Berty was running very HOT, but the temp indicator showing only slightly above its normal 11 o'clock position.
Waited a while then carefully removed the filler cap on the expansion tank.
All quiet, the a horrible gurgling and it spewed forth a cascade of THICK rusty water.
Luckily I always carry water in the 'back tank' so I let it settle, cool down and rest.
Filled it back up and got home.
Today I flushed the system out, I could not believe the amount of rusty sludge that came out.
Moral of the story, you don't need to lose coolant to overheat, a nice blockage of sludge will do just as well.
Now, I must remember to re-charge it with anti-freeze.
That's assuming they do not write Berty off (see MOT thread and the silly moo who hit me in Sainsbury's car park).
Yep, had a couple of body shop repairers look at it, both said it needs a new side panel as they could not pull out the crease.
One guy said he could fill it, but it would require a big lump of filler, cost around £1000-00 and he would not guarantee the job.
Blooming 'eck missus, I used to pay that for a car.
Waiting now for an engineer from her insurance company to come and treat me like an idiot (as they do) and the quotes from the 2 body shop people.
All this with a brand new MOT!!!
I'll keep you posted
Off now to drown my sorrows in a bottle of Hardy's Crest Cabernet-Shiraz (half price from Tesco's)

Richard

If you've not got a Mason fitted, using the temp gauge as any sort of indication is a waste of time to be honest, it'll sit at 11 oclock all day long, by the time it moves off 11, it is getting really hot. Did you check your stat, probably worth/checking replacing it while you're messing around anyway - depending on what happens with it insurancewise Fingers crossed for you

Good luck on getting it fixed asap at not too much expense (the engine ) worry about the bodywork later!!!!!

You say you topped up and flushed, but nothing about bleeding - do we take that as read? or not?

rwill19050 wrote: Today I flushed the system out, I could not believe the amount of rusty sludge that came out.
Moral of the story, you don't need to lose coolant to overheat, a nice blockage of sludge will do just as well.

Sounds like the usual result of mixing INORGANIC with long life OAT antifreezes.

scanner wrote:You say you topped up and flushed, but nothing about bleeding - do we take that as read? or not?

Of course, I may be old but I ain't daft (although Pat would argue that point)
I used the bleed hose as one of the points to inject the flushing water into.
The idea was to push the water backwards out of the system through the expansion tank and rad as well as through the expansion tank, the top of the rad itself and the hose at the bottom of the rad.
All seems OK now, had a run out to Cirencester today just because it was nice and sunny and a good try out run for the engine.
So, now waiting for the news from the 'menders'.
If it is good news then I shall construct and fit a digital temperature monitor (once bitten and all that)

Richard

Good to hear its sorted.

IMO, unless there's documented evidence with the vehicle then EVERY Bongo should have its cooling system flushed out and replenished with fresh European antifreeze whenever they enter the country - Then there would be a helluva reduction in the number of overheating posts on here