I need to do the 60K service and change the coolant. The Chilton's manual I have says there is an air purge valve. Does anyone know if the VQ has one and where it is, because I can't find it? I figured the picture (useless) might be for the other engines, but my old Altima did have one, so I'm curious. Thanks

 

The Chilton's manual is incorrect. That valve exists on the VG30E and VQ30DE engines on 3rd gen Maxes, but no such one exists on the VQ.

 

Your 4Gen Maxima engine does not have an air purge port.

The Chilton repair manual covers 3Gen and 4Gen Maximas. They don't always distinguish between them, and this is a good example. The Haynes repair manual does a better job of this. Haynes (page 1-25) says Note: on 1993 and 1994 models, loosen the air relief valve plug on the engine (see illustration).

IMHO the Haynes book is better than the Chilton book for most purposes.

 

I just did this on my '97 SE 5spd. I just opened the radiator cap (BE CAREFUL!) let it cool down. Then open the radiator drian plug. Drain, refill with clean water, start car (put the cap on, or stuff jumps out) and idle til the thermostat opens, you can see the flow start thru the radiator, upper hose gets warm, stop, drain. Do this 3 or 4 times, til you drain pretty clean water. Then refill with 4 qts anti-freeze. Don't forget to flush and fill the resevoir (overflow bottle). Check the bottle after a couple heat ups & cool down, refill to proper level.

$5.00 and about an hour or so.

 

Thanks everyone for clearing that up!