I started smelling a little bit of coolant when I'd get out of my car walk around the front. It wasn't bad and first few times I figured it was someone else's car. Finally I smelled it with no other car around so I popped my hood and realized some coolant residue on the right side. Coolant over flow level was not too bad a little on the low side but still coolant left. I popped the radiator open (after it cooled off) and it was full too. I've been driving on it for about a week and watching the temp gauge and nothing has changed yet. I'm going to assume it's the radiator since most of the residue is on the radiator. I don't see any from the upper hose.

Is there transmission coolant lines going to the radiator or is there a separate cooler for the automatic transmission?

Also any tips on burping the coolant system after replacing the radiator?

 

Our radiators are notorious for cracking on the top black plastic area, usually on the driver's side.

 

how may miles on your maxima? I'm trying to figure if I should just replace my radiator now or wait until it starts leaking, as they all do.

 

22 ?? were the heck u located ??

 

It just doesn't leak, it will crack and spray out everywhere.

 

There is a transmission oil cooler built into the bottom tank of the radiator. Just about all replacement radiators come with the oil cooler built in.

There is a group deals section in Maxima.org and one of the sponsors, IRP, sells the Koyo brand radiator at a good price. Quality radiator, I'm on my 3rd Maxima and my 3rd Koyo radiator.

http://forums.maxima.org/group-deals...t-pricing.html

After you replace the radiator and are refilling it, have the front end of the car raised up a bit, like maybe parked on an incline. Run the car until the thermostat opens and you will probably see air bubbles coming out. Top off radiator and fill the overflow tank.

 

I do the following:

Fill radiator and leave cap OFF.
Start car, turn on heat full, and let warm up to operating temp to open thermostat.
Turn off car and let cool.
Squeeze coolant hose on drivers side of radiator to burp out air.
Top off radiator.
Repeat the process and then put cap on.
Fill overflow to proper level.

I will typically check the level in the radiator the following day and top off again if not full.

 

Yeah, that's exactly where it seems to be cracked at.

I have about 114k now.

Kansas City

 

Thanks for the info. It's right in line with Advanced Auto Parts. I'll order from the link you gave me to help support.

What about the transmission fluid? Proper way to make sure I have filled it right? What fluid to use to refill after new radiator?