Has anyone changed/flushed their coolant yet? When should I change it, other than the manual speficified? I have seen some dirt inside my coolant reservoir, is it normal?
Also, should I use coolant other than Nissan's?

My Main question:

DO I NEED TO USE DISTILLED WATER? If so, where can I get it?

 

Haven't flushed my coolant yet--think it's too early. Anyway, if you feel you need to do it, distilled water is available at K-Mart. I got it there for $0.99 per gallon (cheap!)--used to top off fluid level in battery.

Good luck

 

you can find distilled water at Kmart, Walmart, or ANY grocery store.

 

Dirt should not be in the reservoir. Use distilled water in battery and radiator, will keep water pump working longer.

 

really , i have not heard about distilled water for the radiator. thanks for the info

 

distilled water does not have minerals,etc in it that can help cause rust and such. Any quality antifreeze is good, Prestone, havoline....

Antifreeze only protects your car from rust for a year or 2. (protects from boiling/freexing for longer). You should flush your system out at lease every other year.

 

i started changing mine every year. i ended up with an all STEEL radiator when my OEM one split on the side.

 

in my other car i switched to the 5yr orange coolant. I'll do the same to my max next year. Its only for alum radiators.

 

has anyone tried achohol in it? some guy says achohol helps.. i highly doubt this. someone enlighten me.

 

achohol boils at a low temp. Cant see why this would help? It might help against freezing though. Possible uses as a cleaner before you refill???

 

I did mine this year... this is what I do....


Nissan uses the green stuff, So I replace with the green stuff. The Haynes manual says that the coolant system holds about 8 quarts. Draining radiator drains 4 quarts, or about half the cooling system. So....

1) Drain radiator. Flush if you want to, but it wont matter. Refill with Distilled water (you now have 50% old fluid in system). Drive car with heater on for about 10-15 minutes and let everything circulate. Let cool

2) repeat #1. You now have about 25% old fluid. Always refill with distilled.

3) repeat. you now have 12.5% old fluid
4) Drain radiator. you now have 6.25% old fluid. Refill with 1 gallon of antifreeze. You have an appx 50/50 mix of antifreeze/distilled, and have removed about 94% of the old coolant. For coolant, this is perfectly acceptable.

BTW. the reason you use distilled is to prevent the build up of scale... that white powdery stuff that builds up over time that is minerals in the water. If you have ever had a fish tank or vaporizor, you would be familiar with it.