[surfahjammer]

Hey all. I've decided to flush my radiator and refill with new fluid. Anybody got any recommended procedure to do the radiator flush?

 

[joefrontier2]

If you want a good flush. First order a new thermostat and get some RTV seal. Then order some engine block plugs (there is one to each side to allow the you to drain the coolant from the lowest part of the engine). By pulling the plugs you allows the crap to drain out first before flush. Pulling the lower plugs is optional in a flush. Also order new plugs just in case. To remove the plugs remove both tires.

1. Get a big pan.
2. pull the top engine air relief plug
3. Drain the radiator.
4. Pull lower hose
5. Pull upper hose and remove thermostat.
6. Drain from lower engine plugs (optional).
7. Put lower hose back on, put plugs back in and LEAVE OUT thermostat.
8. Put water hose in radiator fill cap.
9. Turn water on till you get all antifreeze out.
10. Undo everything and drain all water out.
11. Put everything back together. Including new thermostat.
12. Fill everything back up (leave off the air relief plug on top of engine).
13. Run engine and let warm up, add coolant when needed.
14. Air will escape the air relief plug as needed.
15. When everything is good put plug back in and drive truck around.
16. Check fluid level for the next couple days.

If the engine block has not been flushed you may have enough crap in the lower engine plugs that antifreeze will not come out. Caution: If the plugs are removed and hole is clean the antifreeze will spray out like Niagara falls.

This description maybe overkill to some but this is the best flush and fill you can get and helps to eliminate clogging of the heater core with debris from the lower part of the engine.

Cheers and good luck - It's a messssssy job.

 

[TwoBills]

Good step by step, Joe. I'd add one thing. When you're done flushing, run 4 or 5 gallons of distilled water thru. Mix your own 50/50 w/dist. wat. and you're good to go. Cheap distilled at Wal-mart.

 

[t2stone]

The BIG Flush

Thanks Mr. Joe,

I need to do this on my 03 XE soon now I don't have to search, just "print"...
(although I have to do it secretly). I am restricted from any "fluid changes",
at the condo I have been staying at.:thatswck:..

I think I will do this in the late evening.....:wtf:


T.C.

Thanks Mr. Joe,

I need to do this on my 03 XE soon now, I don't have to search, just "print"...
(although, I have to do it secretly). I am restricted from any "fluid changes",
at the condo I have been staying at.:thatswck:..

I think I will do this in the late evening.....:wtf:


T.C.

 

[massbaster]

just an fyi....

not sure how different your 01 is from the 04 but here is the actual procedure from factory service manual pretty much word for word.
i am sure either way is fine.


Flushing cooling system:

1.) fill radiator from the filler cap above the radiator upper hose and reservoir tank, with water and reinstall the filler cap above the upper radiator hose.

2.) run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.

3.)press engine accelerator 2-3 times under no load.

4.) stop engine and wait until it cools down.

5.) drain radiator.

6.) repeat 1 thru 5 until radiator drains clear water.


like i said, dont want to knock the other guys advice but just thought that might help. its what the nissan tech would do if ya brought it in so maybe the other way is much better.

If you want a good flush. First order a new thermostat and get some RTV seal. Then order some engine block plugs (there is one to each side to allow the you to drain the coolant from the lowest part of the engine). By pulling the plugs you allows the crap to drain out first before flush. Pulling the lower plugs is optional in a flush. Also order new plugs just in case. To remove the plugs remove both tires.

1. Get a big pan.
2. pull the top engine air relief plug
3. Drain the radiator.
4. Pull lower hose
5. Pull upper hose and remove thermostat.
6. Drain from lower engine plugs (optional).
7. Put lower hose back on, put plugs back in and LEAVE OUT thermostat.
8. Put water hose in radiator fill cap.
9. Turn water on till you get all antifreeze out.
10. Undo everything and drain all water out.
11. Put everything back together. Including new thermostat.
12. Fill everything back up (leave off the air relief plug on top of engine).
13. Run engine and let warm up, add coolant when needed.
14. Air will escape the air relief plug as needed.
15. When everything is good put plug back in and drive truck around.
16. Check fluid level for the next couple days.

If the engine block has not been flushed you may have enough crap in the lower engine plugs that antifreeze will not come out. Caution: If the plugs are removed and hole is clean the antifreeze will spray out like Niagara falls.

This description maybe overkill to some but this is the best flush and fill you can get and helps to eliminate clogging of the heater core with debris from the lower part of the engine.

Cheers and good luck - It's a messssssy job.

i actually am gonna have the plugs out on thursday or friday for some other work and i may look into removing those engine plugs and checking for build up since i will have the coolant drained already.
glad i read this post. thanks

 

[joefrontier2]

not sure how different your 01 is from the 04 but here is the actual procedure from factory service manual pretty much word for word.
i am sure either way is fine.


Flushing cooling system:

1.) fill radiator from the filler cap above the radiator upper hose and reservoir tank, with water and reinstall the filler cap above the upper radiator hose.

2.) run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature.

3.)press engine accelerator 2-3 times under no load.

4.) stop engine and wait until it cools down.

5.) drain radiator.

6.) repeat 1 thru 5 until radiator drains clear water.


like i said, dont want to knock the other guys advice but just thought that might help. its what the nissan tech would do if ya brought it in so maybe the other way is much better.



i actually am gonna have the plugs out on thursday or friday for some other work and i may look into removing those engine plugs and checking for build up since i will have the coolant drained already.
glad i read this post. thanks

I've read this before from the FSM and I doubt Nissan tech would do this. For one reason that would have to wait for the engine to cool down to do this again, and again. At 65.00$+ hr your coolant flush and fill would take all day. They just hook it up to machine to flush your system with some additive to loosen the gunk. That is why you sometimes they heater core clogs because all the gunk ends up in the heater core. Had an old S10 do this to me and the water pump leak after the dealership flush and fill.

My explanation came from Hayes manual, which made more sense to me than the FSM.

 

[massbaster]

yup

Joe from what i have come to experience from nissan, it doesnt surprise me theres a better way. since i only have 2 cats attached and cleaning the exhaust with no codes or change in running performance, obviously nissan over engineered that part of the design, for what? money.
i digress

i also wouldn't doubt that some nissan stealerships might actually follow the FSM just for the money.

anyhow, thanks for the info. i still plan on locating the plugs and draining it fully.

 

[Q451990]

Some Q45s have had cracks develop near the block drains, and they're a real pain to get to, so we routinely just leave them alone. The Frontier's iron block is probably a different animal though... how hard are they to reach?

I typically just drain and refill the radiator multiple times with a case of distilled water and then add the correct amount of coolant at the end.

Heath

 

[joefrontier2]

If you remove the wheels you can get to them. If you try from below it's hard to see them and there is no way to get to them from above.

I removed both but I screwed one up so next time I need to remove it I will replace it. When putting them back in just put some rtv seal on them (upper threads, so you don't get rtv seal in the engine block). I did not use rtv seal on them and they have not leaked yet.


Removing the lower plugs are just optional. But it does help to clean the lower part of the engine. My engine had about 50,000 miles on it when I did this and I saw no gunk flowing out. However, it's completely messy, coolant sprays everywhere. Where some goggles and gloves and cloths that you don't mind getting dirty.