Quick coolant change for 2000 Q45T

[Victor]

They are coming to ship my daughters 2000 Q45T to Guam tomorrow and I wanted to do a quick coolant change or at least a partial coolant change before they come. I don't want to open up a can of worms by removing the engine drain plugs or thermostat and possibly causing a leak which I wouldn't have time to fix. Also, I saw a complicated procedure for opening up the heater core, couldn't I just turn the heater on and run the engine until it gets hot?But anyway, I see a rubber plug in the plastic shield covering the bottom of the car. If I pull that out is that covering the radiator drain plug? I don't want to have to remove the whole plastic shield if I can get to the radiator drain plug by removing the rubber plug. Also, is there any plug in the top of the engine for releasing trapped air like on a G20, and if so where is it?

[DrewQ45]

Just drain and fill the radiator a few times, running the car to warm between each drain.

[DrewQ45]

Just drain and fill the radiator a few times, running the car to warm between each drain. If you go pulling stuff on the engine, you may end up doing more harm than good. (oops, didnt mean to double post)

[maxnix]

Use distilled water only a a dilutant.

If you do it that way, use only a compatible AF. Better to completely change it and go to an OAT AF at about 35% for Guam.

Fill trunk with air filters, cabin filters, fuel filters (1 of each per annum of duty tour +1 for margin), crush washers, M1 oil filters from Joe. Install new ones before it is shipped. Check battery.

[paranoidjack]

Lol, I wonder how many luxury cars are tooling around Guam with 8 cabin air filters in the trunk. 0....maybe 1?

[Victor]

Guam I think is only about 12 miles by 30 miles or there abouts, so I doubt she is going to put more than ten thousand miles on the car in the two years she will be there. So she shouldn't have to change any fluids or filters during that time other than maybe an oil change or two.The Peak long life antifreeze I am planning to put in says its good for 150,000 miles, so she may never have to change coolant again.
Modified by Victor at 2:53 PM 7/20/2009

[maxnix]

Never believe advertising!

Coral roads would generate some very abrasively nasty dust.

[dzznuts671]

she should be fine for the two years she is on Guam. she would probably just need to do oil change and filters (at the monthly recommended intervals). Depending on which base she is stationed at she will be doing some driving. Don't let the size fool you. You will put some mileage on the car. People have the misconception that everything is very close by. The two military bases are on the opposite sides of the island. Going from one end to the other can take about 45 min or more depending on traffic. And no the roads are not entirely made of coral. It is mixed in with asphalt. It doesn't make the roads dusty. But do be careful because the rain can make the roads rather slick at times. Hope this helps.

[paranoidjack]

Brian's right about the air filters. Cheap money, the car will need them anyway in time.

[Victor]

Just some information about changing coolant in a 2000 Q45. You can only drain one gallon of the three gallons the cooling system holds just using the drain plug on the bottom of the radiator (remove rubber plug in plastic shield, then use a number 3 Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the plastic drain plug). I assume to get the other two gallons out you would have to use the two drain plugs on the engine block. You can get a little more out by running the engine with the radiator plug removed, but I didn't want to do this for more than a few seconds to avoid damaging the engine or water pump. So for my quick coolant change I only changed one third of the coolant, but its better than nothing. I did flush the radiator once though using clean water. I didn't see any dirt particles, although the coolant I drained out was a darker green color than the new stuff I put in.

[DrewQ45]

Just some information about changing coolant in a 2000 Q45. You can only drain one gallon of the three gallons the cooling system holds just using the drain plug on the bottom of the radiator.

That's why I suggested repeating the process a few times, running the engine till warm. Must reach proper operating temp for the thermostat to fully open and mix the new coolant with the old in water jackets.

[Victor]

I was going to do what you suggested but the plastic drain plug was giving me a hard time and wouldn't screw in. Finally got it in but didn't want to risk taking it out again and not being able to get it back in. I had to use a mirror to see the plug through the hole in the plastic shield. I didn't want to have jack the car up and take the plastic shield off just to get a better view of where the plug screws in.

[gammer_ghn]

why not just buy a cheap truck for her so she can go off roading too. In the end she can sell it for more than what its worth as you guys say and a good Q wont have the chance of getting messed up. You guys realise there were not too many of these cars made right? i cant find one in a junk yard in the 40 mile radius. wow

[dzznuts671]

+1 on the truck idea. I think she would enjoy the island life a lot better in a truck!! She can go to the beach, the jungle and off roading with no worries! Island life is very laid back. A truck or SUV would def fit in better. I know this is a nissan site but a soft top jeep would be awesome!!Just my .02

[Victor]

She shipped the Q45T today. Should arrive in Guam by mid August. Good thing she didn't buy a lot of car parts, the car has to be shipped without anything in it other than what comes factory equiped. We even had to remove the floor mats and cigarette lighters and ash trays and license plates and put them in a separate box. No more than a quarter tank of gas. If there is even a spot of bird s*** on the car they put it on the inspection list.

[maxnix]

Presume the ¼ or less fuel in the tank restriction is to ensure it will explode rather than merely burn so the Navy can get a new ship?