Bongo Fury

Hi all,

The Bongo's been at a recommended garage since early Dec, coolant loss.

So far, the following has been changed:

New rad / main hoses, stat, water pump.
New head (twice), crack tested and flattened block
Replaced rear heater matrix / new pipes
Dye in system.

I phoned them this morning, It's just run OK for two days, then lost some coolant again. No signs of where from.
Was told it didn't overheat.

Anyone any ideas to try?

Front heater matrix
Transmission oil cooler
Cracked cylinder block
Aliens?

I was just wondering the other day whether yours was sorted yet.
Are they sure it was bled 100%? is the coolant loss just a drop due to the air finally purging? Is the front heater blowing hot? Have they done a pressure test to see if you've got any hose weeps?

I did wonder if it was just "settling-in" that dropped the level - but I'll collate a list of all suggestions, he should be bringing a loan Bongo over before the weekend - he can have a printout of what to try.

SD

How much did it lose?

Crikey - wish I could add anything useful but if the recommended garage is struggling......

Some good garages are so busy they don't really get time to do detailed observation. But if its losing coolant then surely putting some u/v dye into the system must sooner or later reveal where it is coming from? Was it losing coolant before it went in to be worked on? Out of interest why did the head have to be changed twice?

I'll ask how much coolant was lost tomorrow - the first head was put on, I collected the van, then 3 miles down the road it boiled up.

Went back, and it was decided to remove the engine, and put another, known good, block in. When doing this, he didn't want to risk the head, so (I was told), he put another new head on.

I don't know what the van needs, but I need alcohol.

I'm leaving work now, so no internet access till 2pm tomorrow, by which time I might have sobered up enough to type!

SD

Might be worth giving someone like Wheel Quick a ring and seeing if they can give you any additional ideas of where to look - I was cursed with a top hose that had a slight weep - no water trail - only found it when I parked it on steep slope and the water dripped off the under tray - hose only had a trace of water where it met the cylinder head - hardly any water on my finger when I touched it.

kawasaki kid wrote:Might be worth giving someone like Wheel Quick a ring and seeing if they can give you any additional ideas of where to look - I was cursed with a top hose that had a slight weep - no water trail - only found it when I parked it on steep slope and the water dripped off the under tray - hose only had a trace of water where it met the cylinder head - hardly any water on my finger when I touched it.

I know when my top hose went the mason kicked off, i stopped, & where it had leaked it had hit the engine & was steaming out under the drivers door!!

stilldesperate wrote:Hi all,

The Bongo's been at a recommended garage since early Dec, coolant loss.

So far, the following has been changed:

New rad / main hoses, stat, water pump.
New head (twice), crack tested and flattened block
Replaced rear heater matrix / new pipes
Dye in system.

I phoned them this morning, It's just run OK for two days, then lost some coolant again. No signs of where from.
Was told it didn't overheat.

Anyone any ideas to try?

Yep...............a new garage.................3 months??????????????? and still not right?..........You can build a car from scratch in that time.