HI all... three questions regarding how I've been changing my coolant on my 95 Maxima.
The owners manual and factory service manual differ a bit in what to do before draining. The owners manual says to simply set the heat to high temp before opening radiator drain plug and engine block drains. The FSM has a somewhat more complicated procedure that I honestly don't know what it does - it involves turning ignition on while pressing certain buttons on the automatic temp control till a certain number is displayed.
1. Does anyone know what this does? (The manual does call for opening engine drain plugs which I never do - perhaps this has something to do with it). During my coolant change today when I also replaced the hoses, I forgot to perform the automatic temp control step but performed it after draining the radiator. I hope that was OK.
After very slowly filling the radiator again with my funnel (the FSM says to fill slowly as to not trap air), I start the engine with heat on high and blower fan on and watch the coolant level and keep an eye on the temp gauge over the next hour while the car idles. Eventually, I can sort of see a flow in the neck of the radiator and the hoses get quite warm telling me the thermostat has opened up now allowing flow through the radiator.
2. I read on some DIY sites to just have the heat temp on high but no blower on during the warm-up step. The only reason I can figure out for that it probably delays opening of the the thermostat as engine heat is being bled off through the heater. therefore prolonging circulation of coolant through the radiator for cooling. Correct?
3. The FSM says to wait till radiator fans turn on before shutting down the engine. I assume the fans turn on when additional cooling is needed but the thermostat is probably nearly or full open before that, right?
I then watch the coolant level over the next few days and in fact upon the first cool down, I find some coolant is now missing from the reservoir tank.
The owners manual and factory service manual differ a bit in what to do before draining. The owners manual says to simply set the heat to high temp before opening radiator drain plug and engine block drains. The FSM has a somewhat more complicated procedure that I honestly don't know what it does - it involves turning ignition on while pressing certain buttons on the automatic temp control till a certain number is displayed.
1. Does anyone know what this does? (The manual does call for opening engine drain plugs which I never do - perhaps this has something to do with it). During my coolant change today when I also replaced the hoses, I forgot to perform the automatic temp control step but performed it after draining the radiator. I hope that was OK.
After very slowly filling the radiator again with my funnel (the FSM says to fill slowly as to not trap air), I start the engine with heat on high and blower fan on and watch the coolant level and keep an eye on the temp gauge over the next hour while the car idles. Eventually, I can sort of see a flow in the neck of the radiator and the hoses get quite warm telling me the thermostat has opened up now allowing flow through the radiator.
2. I read on some DIY sites to just have the heat temp on high but no blower on during the warm-up step. The only reason I can figure out for that it probably delays opening of the the thermostat as engine heat is being bled off through the heater. therefore prolonging circulation of coolant through the radiator for cooling. Correct?
3. The FSM says to wait till radiator fans turn on before shutting down the engine. I assume the fans turn on when additional cooling is needed but the thermostat is probably nearly or full open before that, right?
I then watch the coolant level over the next few days and in fact upon the first cool down, I find some coolant is now missing from the reservoir tank.
Last edited: