Bongo Fury

Hi guys,

Parked my 2.5 td m reg bongo half on a high kerb half off and when I came back to the van the coolent alarm was on. Pulled the bongo off the kerb and it stopped, assumed it's was just the angle.

Half hours drive no issues, the following day had a run up to the lakes, probably half hour each way and no problems.

Got in the van tonight, level ground and the alarm was buzzing away again, it's a hayden type.

Checked the expansion tank and there is water in there, hard to see but I used a lollipop stick as a dip stick and it showed about 1/2 an inch up.

Started to.top.up and the alarm went off immediately with hardly any new water so must have been only just under the alarm.trigger.

Spent the last hours reading through the forum using the search and am obviously a tad concerned!

Had the van a few weeks so knowledge is a bit sparse but here's what I've noticed so far..

Van seems to run fine, no starting issues and the temp gauge never gets above half way.

Had a new radiator fitted by previous owner, unsure if it was bled correctly though.

Heaters tend to blow luke warm at best, rear heating only blow cold. The pipes into the rear heater unit get hot but still only cold air comes out.

I've never seen any evidence of the van losing coolent on the floor, however I've noticed evidence of some light rust deposits in the engine bay around the expansion tank, no water just fine deposits of rust that you get when the expansion tank releases coolent. It's like a dusting if you will, I assumed it was from when the new radiator was fitted, I will give it a wipe over and see if it returns.

The van is around the garage tomorrow getting a new power steering pump fitted and I will ask them to pressure test the system and check for leaks, also have a look at the water pump.

Obviously the main concern is the head gasket, but I'm hoping the problem lies with the recent radiator and it not being bled correctly.

Air in the system would affect the heaters but would it cause the header tank to cough up if indeed that's recent?

A new cap for the expansion tank may also be an idea and perhaps a thermostat?

Really hoping for an easy fix here, and that the tiny amount of coolent lost wouldn't affect the head??

Thanks for reading, any thoughts welcome of course!

Dave.

if your half an hour south of the lakes that puts you near me, i can do a few tests on the bongo if you need. system pressure test and exp cap pressure test etc.

first check would be the new rad, has it got a little open pipe at the side of the new rad cap, not the exp cap.

Hi thanks for the reply!

I'm sorry but I can't check the radiator until tomorrow as the van is at the garage.

Unfortunately I am usually a couple of hours from anyone useful! I'm in Barrow in furness.

I will take a look at the rad and report back.

Cheers,


Dave.

Lots of simpler things to check through first. It's not shouting head problem.

While doing NB's check on the rad, also check all its hose connections for evidence of leaks and give the hoses a wiggle.

Rear heater: if both pipes are hot, same temp, then coolant flow is ok. Problem is with the interior mechanism.

Front heater: sounding a bit more like coolant flow and unfortunately it's hoses are harder to get to to confirm. I found it quicker to reach them from underneath with the front up on ramps.

I think I remember Haydn quoting 20mm for the lollipop stick test so half inch to just trigger the LCA seems about right. You're right to check with the van level as the level shiwn in the expansion tank does vary when the van is off level, lengthways or sideways.

Close checking of the level with the stick is key to determing amount of coolant loss and conditions that cause it. I've heard of somebody catching expulsion from the exp tank into a bottle.

Its odd but I don't use my Bongo much, last month all was fine today it was down to about 13mm on the dip stick, normally bang on 19mm, can't fine a leak?
Going for a good run tomorrow to see if anything shows up.

Thanks for the replys people, much apriciated!

Turns out they sent the wrong power steering pump so no.progress on either the coolent or steering today,

Will know more towards the weekend.

Dave.