My radiator leaks and need to be replaced.
For those who might ask, it's the dual core one, for the automatic transmission.
I noticed that it comes hotter that it used to be with the old VQ30.
I was wondering if the 02 VQ35 powered maxima had a thicker, more efficent radiator than the 4th gen?
If it does, would it fit on to the 4th gen fans shroud?
Also, should I replace the 0.9bar rad. cap by a 1.3bar one?
What would be the advantages of this?
Thanks twice to everyone for any help!

 

The units are nearly identical. So the 5th gen unit shouldn't be hard to fit. Higher pressure = higher BP.

 

Your 3.5 shouldn't be running hotter even with the dual core rad. Did you bleed the system correctly?

 

How do we know it's running hotter?

 

have you tried adding coolant?

 

The temp needle dont goes higher than it use to, but the engine is hot enough to burn yourself if you touch the IM or the radiator.

 

4th gens do the same thing.

VQ35's have more cooling passages anyways. Run 65-70% water and the rest coolant.

 

Yes, and the rad is always full, even if it leak slightly. It only leak when I'm in wot, pressure makes the top end-tank spray coolant under the hood.

So if the 4th gen and the 5th gen rad are the same, I will buy a new one, and propely bleed the system. I can buy it on ebay for less than $100.00.

 

Uh oh. I hope this isn't what I think it is. You're saying excess coolant sprays out of the overflow tank? Does the coolant bubble there on a regular basis?

 

I wished that we could have Florida's temperature, here up-north in Montreal, but we need more coolant and less water if we dont want it to freeze in winter. Right now, June 3 at midday, it's only 70 farenheit outside!
The 50-50% mix as always been good for our climate conditions.

 

No, it's not the coolant that boilling and the overflow tank is fine. It's just the top of the rad that spray when engine is in the +5000rpm.

 

huhmm.... interesting...
i just noticed a couple of days ago that my radiator (Top 2 corners of each side) is also leaking a bit......
i was actually thinking if its a sealant that seals it up or is it a type of gasket....
because if it is, shoudn't there be a fix for it?

 

That's exactly where my rad leaks too!
But dont use leak sealant in a bottle, that you put in the coolant.
It's not good for the water pump.
I putted some Automotive GOOP where its leaking and its holding quite good. But I still need to change my radiator.

 

Maximus and Roadrunner, you guys have a 10yo car, radiator doesnt last forever . As long as you dont have bubbling in your overflow tank (shrug.... I had it.... HG replacement fixed it :-X) you're good to go

 

haha that' true... just trying to save money since i spent so much on this swap already.... =)

 

LOL Me too.

 

I noticed my radiator leaking last month also. This seems to b a common problem with the swap. I hope my radiator doesn't quit on me.

 

Maybe we should start a post for a group buy...

 

ummmmm.....
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=487288