Hi all

Any ideas on a good brand of radiator cleaner? I have some mild scale in my 04 SL. I've always tossed in a can of Prestone cleaner every two or three years before changing the anti-freeze, but never really noticed whether it had much of an effect. Who's had good luck with this task? Or, is it not really a do-it-yourself thing? Also, some think distilled is superior to tap water--does this sound right? Thanks much...

 

The Prestone cleaner is probably effective if you follow the instructions but how do you get scale in a rad??? Well water?? Should use distilled or deionized water. My wife's Corolla is 14 years old. Pop the cap and the inside looks new.

The Prestone 50/50 mix use demineralized water. It must be a plus if they use it. Distilled water is $1.50 a gallon at the grocery store. That's all you need for the Max, plus one gallon of Prestone.

 

how often should this be drained?

 

Do you have an owners manual?

 

Nmexmax,

Owners manuals don't cover everything. Mine doesn't even tell me when to flush my tranny. Unless of course I have a CVT. My car was made before they introduced the CVT's for it.

 

But, the information on where to get the proper service manuals/schedule you need is in the back of the owners manual.

 

You know I dont understand this about people, we are all here to help each other out, I ask you a general ?, you go out of your way to tell me to look at my manual. It takes less enery to say every --,000 miles or every - months I mean if manuals covered everything then why do we need maxima.org? Might as well shut it down right?

 

I change mine every 30k miles . Whether the manual says it or not. Should be done twice/year. IMO.

From the manual in my 95, it states to replace it at 60k, then every 30k after that, or 24 months. But, I can't remember when the last time was that someone actually took my advice, so..

 

Yes, my brother, I do. But my question centered around the question of how best to CLEAN my radiator...I simply assumed that the manual wouldn't deal with which brands of cleaner would be best, so did not refer to my manual at all, as you correctly inferred.

 

Ouch, a little lively debate eh?

My point still stands. It isn't printed in my service booklet!!!! (Not for my tranny anyway). That booklet is what I use to follow correct servicing guidelines. Those are according to Nisssan's standards.

Also Lobewiper,
I agree with your point. I'm not too certain that the Service booklets with our cars tell us how to clean the radiator.

 

Are you that lazy that you can't open your OWNERS MANUAL?

 

Sometimes its simply good to have a opinion? Theres alot of **** in the owners manual you don't do, Like when it says to change your cabin filter, Do you do that exactly like it tells you to? Probably not therefore I just wanted a opinoin from someone who seemed like they knew there stuff on these things therefore I asked? I don't understand why its such a pain in the *** to answer one simple question?

 

You didn't answer mine
Are you really that lazy?


BTW: It takes less energy to open your f'ing owners manual then it does to ask a stupid question here.

 

How often you change the antifreeze depends on usage (severe or normal) and if you are obsessed like me and replace it every two years. The real test is a PH test. The illusive drain valve is under the rad, next to the lower rad hose, and requires a philips head screwdriver. Hold about 7 quarts since some is left in the block.

For general info, recall, specs on the MAX go to:
http://www.nissanhelp.com

For help on how to maintain your car:
http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/Maxima/Diagnose.htm

For a full set of service manuals, goto:

http://www.phatg20.net/modules.php?n...ownload&cid=73

Get winrar to extract the PDF's.

For a PDF version of the owner's manual, goto:
http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/nissa...p?dept%5Fid=37

May the force be with you.