1999 QX4 radiator flush
1999 QX4 radiator flush
I'm going to attempt to flush my radiator on my 99 QX4 and was wondering if you guys could give me some tips. The coolant I'm using is genuine Nissan antifreeze/coolant (what my owners manual says) and I'm also going to replace the thermostat. I need to know if I have to mix distilled water with the coolant or not and if so, how much do I mix?
Re: 1999 QX4 radiator flush
Are you having any issues? what type of coolant is in the truck and it's condition?
I ask because I have owned three of these -- all Pathfinders 2002 LE's. One bought new and the others used -- both used were low mile one owner cars with OE coolant in the system. I never flushed the coolant in any of them -- only did simple radiator dumps with proper OE coolant and distilled water. I also clean out the coolant overflow tank. The coolant needs to be refreshed ... it's not totally replaced.
I sold my original one at 150k -- still going strong with a friend. The second at like miles ... my third is now at 90k. I just had the coolant done last fall -- it was clean ... last done in 2011. Never replaced a thermostat.
If you need to flush -- couple of ways depending on the condition. the answers to above questions will determine what you need to do.
And yes -- coolant to distilled water is 50/50. I simple bottle of each does a typical refresh.
If I'm doing a simple clean out -- doing the distilled water fill and then run the vehicle for a couple days works well as long as weather not going to be freezing -- needs to be done twice. Then fill with full strength coolant and distilled water. Get the capacity of the system from the manual. If you do the distilled flush -- when you do the last dump ....... fill the system with full strength coolant at a rate to give the 50/50 ... finish top up with distilled water. If you only need to do a simple radiator dump of the coolant -- fill system with 50/50 premixed. Always save some coolant and add 50/50 to the overflow tank.
I ask because I have owned three of these -- all Pathfinders 2002 LE's. One bought new and the others used -- both used were low mile one owner cars with OE coolant in the system. I never flushed the coolant in any of them -- only did simple radiator dumps with proper OE coolant and distilled water. I also clean out the coolant overflow tank. The coolant needs to be refreshed ... it's not totally replaced.
I sold my original one at 150k -- still going strong with a friend. The second at like miles ... my third is now at 90k. I just had the coolant done last fall -- it was clean ... last done in 2011. Never replaced a thermostat.
If you need to flush -- couple of ways depending on the condition. the answers to above questions will determine what you need to do.
And yes -- coolant to distilled water is 50/50. I simple bottle of each does a typical refresh.
If I'm doing a simple clean out -- doing the distilled water fill and then run the vehicle for a couple days works well as long as weather not going to be freezing -- needs to be done twice. Then fill with full strength coolant and distilled water. Get the capacity of the system from the manual. If you do the distilled flush -- when you do the last dump ....... fill the system with full strength coolant at a rate to give the 50/50 ... finish top up with distilled water. If you only need to do a simple radiator dump of the coolant -- fill system with 50/50 premixed. Always save some coolant and add 50/50 to the overflow tank.
Re: 1999 QX4 radiator flush
Well I just found out that the previous owner had orange coolant put in. The coolant I bought yesterday is a green coolant called "pentofrost A2" it's a genuine coolant for Asian vehicles (Nissan and Infiniti) from 1990-2008. I got my truck back in April 2016. I'm almost positive I have a coolant leak but I have no idea where it is. My truck has almost 167,000 miles on it and has been running strong ever since I got it besides the coolant leak.
Re: 1999 QX4 radiator flush
First -- no fluid will work in all asian vehicles throughout that range. Toyota changed fluid .. so did Nissan. The OE fluid was if I'm remembering correctly "green" -- BUT ... being green does not = other green coolants. It's just color. Honda was always specialized.
I have no idea what "orange" coolant .. my Jaguars have orange .. but it's completely different vs GM's orange. You can't go by color. Manufacturers pick coolant based on engines components and seals -- plus expected life. Cars with Iron blocks use different coolant vs aluminum etc. Typically, the asian manufacturers use no silicates.
Sometimes the transfer rail (forget what Nissan calls it) in the back of the engine can leak -- how much is it leaking? The transfer pipe requires a lot of labor to replace. I used to get a tiny drop when we had large temp swings bellow freezing on one of mine -- it never amounted to anything. It would occasionally drop a bit more -- I could never find it .. it was in the front passenger side of the engine and would drip on the ground. The engine has many hose clamps -- need to make sure they are all tight .. don't over do them.
If I was going through all the trouble to flush out the orange -- I would spend the $10 more for the proper OE fluid and distilled water. Especially, if I as going to keep the car. When I bought mine back in 11 -- I had all the fluids changed using all OE except the front and rear differentials -- I could not get the grease from either Nissan dealer -- so I used M1 in the proper weight.
I have no idea what "orange" coolant .. my Jaguars have orange .. but it's completely different vs GM's orange. You can't go by color. Manufacturers pick coolant based on engines components and seals -- plus expected life. Cars with Iron blocks use different coolant vs aluminum etc. Typically, the asian manufacturers use no silicates.
Sometimes the transfer rail (forget what Nissan calls it) in the back of the engine can leak -- how much is it leaking? The transfer pipe requires a lot of labor to replace. I used to get a tiny drop when we had large temp swings bellow freezing on one of mine -- it never amounted to anything. It would occasionally drop a bit more -- I could never find it .. it was in the front passenger side of the engine and would drip on the ground. The engine has many hose clamps -- need to make sure they are all tight .. don't over do them.
If I was going through all the trouble to flush out the orange -- I would spend the $10 more for the proper OE fluid and distilled water. Especially, if I as going to keep the car. When I bought mine back in 11 -- I had all the fluids changed using all OE except the front and rear differentials -- I could not get the grease from either Nissan dealer -- so I used M1 in the proper weight.
Re: 1999 QX4 radiator flush
When I noticed the leak I saw water dripping from somewhere under my intake. I couldn't exactly see where it was coming from