[Here2Learn]

Hi. Tuesday morning, my truck overheated (2.4 L, 2003 XE). I drove it home for a few minutes as it got worse. What sort of damage does that usually cause? It was going 12 mph before I got home. It was doing a lot of bucking back and forth. I cranked it on Friday, and it started. I went back in the driveway about 150 feet, then pulled back to where I was parked.

Thanks.

 

[RamTest]

Probably no damage at all. It was only going 12 mph because it was in limp mode, only firing 1/2 the cylinders 1/2 the time to keep as cool as possible. Repair the cause of the overheat, change the oil, you're good to go.

 

[Here2Learn]

It went from 45 to slower and slower over about 5 minutes or so.

limp mode?? Are you basically saying:

 

[Mailman]

If it really got hot, it could have scored the cylinder walls and cooked the piston rings. Thus, dropping compression. A compression test may be in order.

 

[Here2Learn]

I put in some anti-freeze, then I started it. I let it run for 45 minutes, then drove it about ten miles total on two trips. I can't tell a difference. I am amazed.

Thank you for the replies. I guess it DID go into limp mode.

 

[RamTest]

Limp mode actually turns it into an air-cooled engine, by pumping through a lot of air that never gets ignited.
Crude but effective...for a short time.

It wouldn't hurt to change engine oil and transmission fluid. That extra heat can take its toll on fluids.

 

[Here2Learn]

Thank you for educating me. It was 25 degrees that morning, so it was some cold air getting pumped through.

Thank you for the suggestion on replacing the motor oil and transmission fluid. I have another truck to drive around, so I can do the changes before "really" driving this Frontier. I already had a new filter for the motor oil and a new gallon of Valvoline transmission fluid on standby.

 

[propav8r]

Personally I'd still do a compression test anyway to ease my mind or get an idea of what work might be needed in the future.

Definitely take a good look at the engine oil you drain out and see if it looks like a milkshake. If you did pop a head gasket, coolant and oil will mix causing that. Also take the rad cap off (cold) and see if there's any gunk/residue in the radiator or overflow tank.

 

[Here2Learn]

I will read up on how to do a compression check. I do have a gauge. I have done it on a two-stroke dirt bike (Kawasaki KDX), but never on an auto.

I checked the motor oil dipstick yesterday. It looked a somewhat dark brown. I think it has about 1,250 miles since the last motor oil change. I put 1/2 quart of Marvel Mystery Oil in it for cleaning. There was no foam. It looked better than my usual oil checks on various vehicles. It looked lighter / fresher / newer.

I took the cap off. It was one inch from overflowing. I couldn't see the fluid level as it was poor lighting. I just poured anti-freeze for a second before it hit the top. There was no crust.

 

[propav8r]

Sounds like you got lucky.

 

[Here2Learn]

I think so!

 

[RamTest]

Here2, did you determine what caused the underlying overheat condition in the first place?

 

[Here2Learn]

I drained the radiator, then filled it with distilled water and a 22 ounce bottle of Prestone radiator cleaner. After a few days, I was doing a few cycles of "drain radiator / refill with distilled water / run it for a couple of days / repeat. Due to a few factors, I didn't complete the series and refill with the proper ratio of anti-freeze and distilled water. I basically got caught with a high percentage of water in the system when a cold snap came through (around 20 the night before).

When the gauge went up, I turned the heater on high, but it was not hot air.

This past Saturday, when I drove the truck, the heater blew warm air, but not hot. It was about 60 degrees outside. It had been running for 45 minutes, so it should have been hot. I am not sure what all would cause that, but it seems like another problem to look into.

Thanks.

 

[RamTest]

It overheated because your hoses and radiator were full of ice, blocking the coolant flow. Put extra antifreeze in the coolant overflow bottle, overfill it, which will get the air out of the system, then you'll have plenty of heat, assuming your temp gauge is showing normal.

 

[Here2Learn]

That makes sense on the ice.

I will overfill it with anti-freeze, then see how it goes. I will report back with results in a couple of days. The gauge is right in the middle, same as any day besides a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Here2Learn]

We have been flash flooded, and now rain for days. I will get back to the truck soon. Thank you.

 

[Here2Learn]

OK, so after a pandemic, tornado and near fatal months long illness of my father, I am back to working on "Buddy Lee", my 2003 Nissan Frontier XE, 2.4L truck.

I changed the transmission oil, and it looked fine.
I changed the motor oil, and it looked fine. I didn't see ANY milkiness, cloudiness, off-color streaking, frothing, foaming, etc. that made me think there was a drop of coolant in it.

Thank you for the suggestions and tips! I am going to drive the truck around some, and see how it goes.

 

[wtxbadger]

I have a 2000 Frontier KC XE 2.4 and overheated it last year when it threw a fan belt. It was smokin hot by the time I pulled over and it shut it off. Put on a new belt and its been running fine ever since it happened. Fingers crossed yours does just fine.

 

[bauertime]

My 84 frontier 2.4l overheated and I shut it off just when it the H on the gauge. It blew a head gasket a year later. It had about 150,000 miles on it.

 

[Here2Learn]

The reason that my avatar is Buddy Lee of Lee Jeans fame is because it is related to the ads from around the late 1990's, when they brought him back out for ads, stating "Can't bust 'em!" After the truck cranked up after the overheating episode, I thought of that ad, "Can't bust 'em!", so he is called Buddy Lee.