Any suggestions

[ricbrk]

Just got a 2011 Nissan Frontier. Didn't want to get a new one, as it will be a second vehicle and basically used as a back up and to go fishing as I'm retired. It is certified and came with a 7yr./100.000 mile bumper to bumper 0 deductible warranty. Warranty is good until 9-20-2018. My Brother has a 2000 Frontier V6 with a 5 speed. Has original clutch and rear brakes ! 236,000 miles, and had 1 timing belt with water pump change with normal maintenance. I hope this one performs as well. Any suggestions on helping this 2011 hold up like that ? I know of Nissan's paint issues. A neighbor has a 2013 Frontier that the bottom looks sand blasted on both sides. We live in the mountains and they use anti skid here in the winter, "stone chips sprayed with brine". They say it's to cold here for straight salt. I am pretty good at applying 3M body wrap. Has anyone tried clear wrap along the bottom of the trucks as a protectant.

[Desert Rat]

Well, your 2011 truck is pretty much nothing like the 2000 model. Totally different engine, chassis, body, etc. Your truck has a timing chain that requires less maintenance than the older truck. At 236k, he's overdue for another belt change Fortunately for him, the VG33 is a non interference engine, so if the belt does go, it won't destroy the engine. How you drive them plays big into how they last. Otherwise, just follow the recommended maintenance intervals in your owners manual, and don't beat on it, and the truck should give you years of service.

No use of salt is a blessing...even with some stone chips, it's better than coating the truck with a substance that'll rust the heck out of it. Nissan truck frames are boxed, and when salt gets inside the frame rails, they get eaten from the inside out. Toyota paid for a lot of bought back 96-04 Tacomas because of this, and I've seen lots of older Pathfinders with the back half of the frame rotted away due to salted roads. I see no reason a wrap wouldn't work well as a rust preventer on the outside, but rust usually starts behind panels and works its way through, so an undercoating might be a better solution if you're concerned about it.

Keeping it clean is the best solution. If you have access to a hot water pressure washer to keep the junk buildup off the truck, that'll go a long ways towards preventing rust.

[Q451990]

Congrats on the new (to you) Frontier!

I'm not sure if the "strawberry milkshake" ATF cooler issues had been resolved by 2011. Essentially the ATF cooler located in the end tank of the radiator can leak, causing coolant to enter the transmission. If you're confident in the 7/100K warranty (e.g. it was issued by Nissan) then I wouldn't worry about it until 9/20/2018 or 100K on the odometer

Heath

[ricbrk]

Thanks Heath for the info. I get free oil changes for a year and I did ask the Service manager about that issue recently after reading about it on this site. They claim the 2011 Frontier was corrected ? I also questioned him as to the idle. Sitting in park it idles smooth. In drive sitting at a stop it idles rough. The technician claims it is normal ? Really like the truck so far. I don't like the oil change interval, 3 month 3,750 miles. They said in our area that interval has to be followed. I'm retired and this is a second vehicle. I'll probably only put a maximum of 6,000 miles a year on it. Seems overkill to change the oil 4 times on that mileage. Oil isn't that expensive though and if any warranty issues arise, I'm sure they will want receipts.

[BRubble]

Any suggestions on helping this 2011 hold up

Follow the Maintenance Schedule in the Owner's Manual.

Clean the Vent on the Rear Axle,, and that's also a good time to change the Rear Axle Oil.

Put on seat cover's; they will pay for themselve's.

Like has been said,, Maintenance is Important,, but the way that it is Driven goe's a long way too.

That's what I did with a New '93 Hardbody, that I drove for 20 year's before getting a New '13 Frontier. Some have reported getting 300K out of the 2nd Generation Frontier's, so we'll see how it goe's.

Good Luck