Coolant flush done at dealership...what color?

[mikewire]

Took my Pathfinder into the local dealership here in town for general recall/TSB work, asked to have the front tires balanced and the coolant checked out.

Got a call back from a service adviser that my battery "failed" a CCA test, and my coolant was "only" good to -25.

I said, don't' worry about the battery, I'll take care of it (it cranks fine, maybe just getting a bit old) BUT to please flush the coolant, because it's the green stuff and I have no idea how old it is. I understand the Nissan OEM coolant is specific to aluminium parts etc. and is also blue in color.

So I pay the $85.00 bill and it all looks correct, so I don't think too much about it and drive home. They didn't balance my tires

Over the weekend I take a look in the reservoir and see green coolant. Pop the radiator cap and it's also green.

So, I'm asking myself...did I actually get a coolant flush? Should they have used blue coolant, and/or is there a green Nissan coolant as well?

[Towncivilian]

Blue is Nissan's new stuff. Green is what came with our Pathfinders. Either color can be used; if you were getting a flush at the dealer, might as well switch to the blue stuff since it's newer and completely compatible, and it'd be the same price.

[mikewire]

Blue is Nissan's new stuff. Green is what came with our Pathfinders. Either color can be used; if you were getting a flush at the dealer, might as well switch to the blue stuff since it's newer and completely compatible, and it'd be the same price.

Totally agree.

Now, how do I go about letting the dealer know they should do that, or rather, should have done that...after I've already paid? As far as I can tell, they simply topped off the coolant and charged me $85.

[Towncivilian]

It's hard to say. You can use antifreeze tester to verify concentration and maybe stick a voltmeter in the coolant to check for electrolysis - the lower voltage the better IIRC. You could also get a coolant analysis done but that's $25 or so.

I don't think you could get the dealer to flush again with blue for no charge. There's no TSB stating that all flushes should be done with blue coolant, unfortunately.

You should also inspect your radiator cap according to the TSB posted in the general info thread.

[carnal_c30]

Personally I have been using Nissan green and both, I like the green since its not premixed, so it comes in handy when doing flushes with distilled water on cars and not wanting to drain the block.

The blue is 50/50 and which I use on cars where I can do a 70/30 mix.

[Towncivilian]

I agree - I wish the blue version was available in concentrate. It is available as concentrate in one quart bottles, but no way am I buying four just to get a gallon's worth.

I ought to drain & fill my coolant... maybe I'll just have it flushed with blue at the dealer instead in a few months.

[mikewire]

Thanks for the repiles - I *mostly* trust they did the job. Strange they used green coolant, but if it's the bulk type, I understand why the use it and it makes little difference to me what the color is.