Urgent: Bongo Problems in Spain

[Ian]

This has been received from a Bongonaut who needs urgent advice. Can anyone help?

I have recently purchased a Bongo and have some cooling problems, this appeared to be a thermostat problem which was changed and properly bled etc.

I have driven to Spain last night and half way here noticed there were huge clouds of steam/smoke when I stopped to fill with diesel, it's the 2.5 diesel I have 18 years old. When we left the garage and got to 1500 rpm the steam stopped and everything seems normal. I could clearly smell the coolant on the exhaust. I watched the coolant level all the way to destination and oil too, we arrived safely. Now I am assuming the head gasket has gone as the engine performance is normal so assume the head is ok??

Anyway I would appreciate any advice possible in this matter asap as I have to drive back to uk on Saturday with the family and of course don't want to damage anything. On arrival here I did drain the coolant to avoid it getting into the cylinders.

Please advise which parts I require for this repair? Any help would be gratefully received!

Regards

Simon

[helen&tony]

Hi
How much coolant loss?...there is no mention???
Cheers
Helen

[g8dhe]

He says he has drained the coolant on arrival, so does he know how to bleed it, or was it left to a garage before ?
Maybe pointing him to the youtube video's would be a good starter!
1- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRAKOSxgbKo
2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUndta6MnFc
3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuGFnKxd4Wc

[teenmal]

Personally I would get a Sniffer test done to eliminate turbo/intercooler etc etc.

[Captaincaship]

Hello all,

Thanks for your information.

Thermostat was changed because it appeared to be the cause of the problems, this was a few weeks ago and since then the Bongo was fine and has been driven quite frequently. I have bled the engine properly as per the videos etc. Since this I drove at least a thousand kilometres without any problem. Stopped to fuel up in France and there was a huge cloud of steam behind the car, from the exhaust was clearly from the coolant by the smell, checked coolant label and was not low, so just a small leak. When I departed the garage and got up to speed the steam cleared and drove for a few hundred kilos until stopped again, steam was progressively getting worse each stop. I believe that the water was leaking into the cylinder as when car stopped for a few minutes was difficult to start, when started immediately no problem. Anyway we continued to drive all the way to our destination another 1000k away as had no choice with 5 kids onboard, by the time we arrived the problem was serious, driving too slow the temp gauge increasing, faster and temp decreasing.
Engine was drained partially of coolant on arrival to prevent water entering the cylinder overnight. I need to order parts immediately and have them sent here as have to drive the bongo back on Saturday with the family. I think that before the thermostat changed that perhaps gasket slightly damaged (maybe head) and on the long drive it got progressively worse? I have a local garage here who can help and can guide them.

[haydn callow]

Sounds like the head to me!!
Small cracks around the exhaust valves.
Not a job for a garage with no Bongo experience.
Do you have recovery insurance?

[Captaincaship]

I have breakdown but not recovery, therefore they deliver me to local garage no more. If I buy new head and gasket surely local garage can install? Why are bongo heads different to other engine heads?

[BongoBongo123]

" driving too slow the temp gauge increasing, faster and temp decreasing." is that the original Bongo temp gauge in the dashboard ? If so I have heard by the time you can see that going up (unless modified with a resistor) it is probably likely some real damage might have been done.

Mine can hit 100C momentarily and my dash gauge needle stays in the same place as 65-70C from a cold start. i.e. 65c or 100C it reads the same. might as well not have a temp gauge in the dash to my mind.

I hope not for you of course.

[haydn callow]

It's going to cost about £2000 to get all the quality bits and have them fitted..the chances of a successful result I would put at no better than 50/50. Also you need to know what caused the problems in the first place......probably the previous owner could enlighten yo there.

[Captaincaship]

I assume it's the original temp gauge, not sure if modified but did watch it go up and down. I am wondering why it's going to cost 2k to repair? New heads are selling for around £350, gasket sets ab
Nod bolts £80, where is 2k from? I Am in spain and have to fix the engine to drive back, what is so difficult? Why is a bongo so special?

[haydn callow]

If you buy a Chinese head for £350 you will be replacing it very soon.....why is a Bongo different ?? Do some searching on this site....

[Captaincaship]

Now very helpful!

[haydn callow]

It will be quicker for you to research it than me to one finger type it all down...I know it's not what you want to hear but it defo sounds like a new head and if you con get the job done properly for less than £1500 you will have done extremely..

[Northern Bongolow]

start from the begining, ask the garage to do a coolant system pressure test, or a vacuum test, this pressure test can be done using a cycle pump, im sure haydn can link you to his method.
this may show you if a leak has developed in a hose or pipe, when this happens it lets the pressure out of the coolant system, up to 1.1 bar. this allows the coolant to boil at a LOWER temperature, so it can over heat.
you may find the leak, then fix, then at least get home.

[Captaincaship]

Thanks, but I know there is a leak into the head as it can be seen coming from the exhaust. I will have to change the head myself and then start leak tests etc. I am just wondering how difficult it can be to change a head, the access is not too bad, I understand how to bleed the system etc, what else is difficult.