Daz_rad Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Hey guys my pathfinder is not handling the hot days too well over here in Australia and I was curious is anyone knows what I can do to help? It's a TD27T (turbo diesel) with aftermarket intercooler and bonnet scoop. My first thoughts were to get a bigger radiator, does anyone know what type of radiator is bigger but still fits well? My second thought was to take up someone's suggestion and look into an oil cooler from a Terrano II (Mistral) does anyone know if this is effective and efficient? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz_rad Posted October 3, 2012 Author Share Posted October 3, 2012 It has a snorkel too... Thought i better mention that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92Path_68CJ Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 My first thoughts are, is the fan clutch going out? Is the radiator stock? Has it handled hot days before? You could always just get a radiator with more cores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverton Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 I would wash out the fins of the radiator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92Path_68CJ Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Also, going with what silverton said, could the fins be clogged up, or the radiator itself clogged? My CJ's heater wasn't working so well, so I pulled the core and chunks of crud came out when it was flushed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayneoR3M Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 fan clutch , water pump. thermostat and hoses . replace em all.. if you can stretch to it.. im on the look outfor a bigger radiator as mine has the same problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Get the radiator professionaly cleaned out inside first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tungsten Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 Sometimes the coolant will separate and jelly will clog your radiator. You can either clean the radiator out or get a new one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 check the fan clutch first, no need in replacing parts that may not need it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted October 3, 2012 Share Posted October 3, 2012 What temps are you talking about? When does it overheat, fast, slow or all the time? I'm not familiar with the diesels but I'll go by common practice which may vary due to the answers above. Make sure your fan clutch is working properly. Make sure the radiator is not clogged and flush the cooling system with a proper descaling product. Make sure your temperature sender is functioning correctly. If your tranny runs hot, it could be adding heat to the coolant so an aftermarket cooler would help a little. You are running properly mixed antifreeze, not just water, right? I've owned 4 Nissan trucks over the last 17 years and live in California where it gets to 35-40*C every year (last 3 days actually) and I have never had engine temperature issues if everything was working properly so I suspect there is a culprit, not an overall system weakness. Again, I am only speaking from petrol motor experience though. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz_rad Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 What temps are you talking about? When does it overheat, fast, slow or all the time?I'm not familiar with the diesels but I'll go by common practice which may vary due to the answers above. Make sure your fan clutch is working properly. Make sure the radiator is not clogged and flush the cooling system with a proper descaling product. Make sure your temperature sender is functioning correctly. If your tranny runs hot, it could be adding heat to the coolant so an aftermarket cooler would help a little. You are running properly mixed antifreeze, not just water, right? I've owned 4 Nissan trucks over the last 17 years and live in California where it gets to 35-40*C every year (last 3 days actually) and I have never had engine temperature issues if everything was working properly so I suspect there is a culprit, not an overall system weakness. Again, I am only speaking from petrol motor experience though. B Thanks to everyone for the replies, I still don't have answers for my questions though. By hot I am talking about three quarters of the temp gauge and if it's a hot day it will be hot all the time and get close to the top of the gauge before I stop pushing it. Fan clutch is in perfect working order. Radiator is clean with fresh coolant 80/20 coolant/water. Transmission does run hot but nothing drastic. It had a tranny cooler attached. To be honest I am fairly mechanical minded and maintain my car to the best of my ability. I find that all the guards trans cooler and thermo fan are blocking the air from passing through the radiator. I never got an answer as to wether a larger radiator fits or any feedback about the oil cooler do I am going to take my radiator to a specialist and have them turn the standard into a three core radiator. There's heaps of room for thickness and it will save me remounting a different type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahardb0dy Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 (edited) can you tell if the thermostat is opening? Is the coolant circulating? The truck should run cooler so there has to be a problem. It should run cooler with the stock sized radiator in it. Edited October 4, 2012 by ahardb0dy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz_rad Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 can you tell if the thermostat is opening? Is the coolant circulating? The truck should run cooler so there has to be a problem. It should run cooler with the stock sized radiator in it. It runs cool during most winter days. We had a couple hot days and it was running just above halfway. It wouldn't be a problem except... I am a keen off road driver and regularly push the old girl very hard up sandy hills and over sandy beaches and driving with 31" wide tyres she works hard as it is. I am not having problems just looking do an upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz_rad Posted October 4, 2012 Author Share Posted October 4, 2012 Also... Does anyone know where I can get the handbrake cable and shoes for my pathfinder? My mechanic is trying to charge me $700 to import it from Japan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Radiator is clean with fresh coolant 80/20 coolant/water. It may have clean water in it, but as I said, take the radiator into a specialist shop and get the cores cleaned out, they get clogged over time. They will take the top and bottom tanks off and clean it properly for you. Can you not source the pads etc yourself from a brake shop and replace them, there is bno diference from petrol to diesel running gear there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwipete Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 It runs cool during most winter days. We had a couple hot days and it was running just above halfway. It wouldn't be a problem except... I am a keen off road driver and regularly push the old girl very hard up sandy hills and over sandy beaches and driving with 31" wide tyres she works hard as it is. I am not having problems just looking do an upgrade. This confirms my suspision that the core is blocked. I had a similar issue with my TD27 recently. Check towards the end of my "members rides" post for the issue.................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted October 4, 2012 Share Posted October 4, 2012 Thanks to everyone for the replies, I still don't have answers for my questions though. By hot I am talking about three quarters of the temp gauge and if it's a hot day it will be hot all the time and get close to the top of the gauge before I stop pushing it. Fan clutch is in perfect working order. Radiator is clean with fresh coolant 80/20 coolant/water. Transmission does run hot but nothing drastic. It had a tranny cooler attached. To be honest I am fairly mechanical minded and maintain my car to the best of my ability. I find that all the guards trans cooler and thermo fan are blocking the air from passing through the radiator. I never got an answer as to wether a larger radiator fits or any feedback about the oil cooler do I am going to take my radiator to a specialist and have them turn the standard into a three core radiator. There's heaps of room for thickness and it will save me remounting a different type. My apologies, but not only is it hard to gauge new members mechanical experience, it is always good to make sure the basics are covered. Even the most experienced of us have missed 'obvious' solutions or become fixated. You can't see what you aren't seeing, eh? Ok, so the fluid is good and so is the fan clutch. All that's left is the radiator, thermostat and condition of the cooling passages. WHen it is warmed up and running, can you see good flow with the radiator cap removed? You really shouldn't need a larger radiator if everything is working correctly. I can't recommend one because I can't ever recall anyone replacing theirs with a larger model over stock. I can't tell you if a Terrano2 oil cooler is a good idea as I have never seen one. For some reason I read that as a transmission fluid cooler, so that was my mistake. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz_rad Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 My apologies, but not only is it hard to gauge new members mechanical experience, it is always good to make sure the basics are covered. Even the most experienced of us have missed 'obvious' solutions or become fixated. You can't see what you aren't seeing, eh? Ok, so the fluid is good and so is the fan clutch. All that's left is the radiator, thermostat and condition of the cooling passages. WHen it is warmed up and running, can you see good flow with the radiator cap removed? You really shouldn't need a larger radiator if everything is working correctly. I can't recommend one because I can't ever recall anyone replacing theirs with a larger model over stock. I can't tell you if a Terrano2 oil cooler is a good idea as I have never seen one. For some reason I read that as a transmission fluid cooler, so that was my mistake. B Sorry if I came across a bit strong mate I had no intention of having a dig at you, after reading over my reply it can be read as a bit snobby, sorry mate. Ok I warmed her up and checked radiator flow... Pretty slow and not a lot of movement, all hoses and pipes are new so they should be fine. The dude above might be right I think... Radiator blockage? Still haven't looked into an oil cooler but I am still considering getting at least one more core added to the radiator. I use it in boggy sand a lot and with the wide 31" tyres the engine is alway working overtime. I am not sure but I think the transmission cooler is from a supra as that's where the transmission is from. Is it worth looking into a bigger/better cooler for the same reasons as above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_RI Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 I am assuming you have heat? Are the upper and lower radiator hoses equally warm when the truck is warmed up good? This will indicate whether the waterpump or thermostat are working. I have had problems in the past with the truck running hot when the fins on my radiator deteriorated badly (Lots of salt use in winter here in Northeast). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted October 5, 2012 Share Posted October 5, 2012 Sorry if I came across a bit strong mate I had no intention of having a dig at you, after reading over my reply it can be read as a bit snobby, sorry mate. Ok I warmed her up and checked radiator flow... Pretty slow and not a lot of movement, all hoses and pipes are new so they should be fine. The dude above might be right I think... Radiator blockage? Still haven't looked into an oil cooler but I am still considering getting at least one more core added to the radiator. I use it in boggy sand a lot and with the wide 31" tyres the engine is alway working overtime. I am not sure but I think the transmission cooler is from a supra as that's where the transmission is from. Is it worth looking into a bigger/better cooler for the same reasons as above? No worries Bud. If you don't have much flow, it could obviously be the radiator partially blocked or the thermostat isn't opening up properly. The only way I have ever had a waterpump fail is by leaking, not lack of pumping. As long as the tranny is running at a reasonable temperature, then there is no reason to go with a larger cooler. Do you know the temperature? How does the fluid look? B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz_rad Posted October 5, 2012 Author Share Posted October 5, 2012 No worries Bud. If you don't have much flow, it could obviously be the radiator partially blocked or the thermostat isn't opening up properly. The only way I have ever had a waterpump fail is by leaking, not lack of pumping. As long as the tranny is running at a reasonable temperature, then there is no reason to go with a larger cooler. Do you know the temperature? How does the fluid look? B I don't have a gauge for the transmission temp only a warning light which only ever came on when the fan belt snapped. The trans oil smells a bit burned but doesn't look too bad. I may have damaged it driving too hot when the fan belt snapped and she was cooking. I plan on doing a round trip across the desert, over some mountains and through the tropics so I want to have 100% reliability in any situation hence the reason I am considering cooling upgrades (even if I do fix this little heat issue) I will check the thermostat opens and the water pump doesn't leak before pulling out the radiator. Can I service the radiator myself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Understood. I put in a temp gauge because I don't trust automatics, much less 'idiot lights'. Ideally the tranny temp should stay below 200*f (93* C) other than occasional spikes that cool down before they can heat soak in. You might want to change it before your trip then, especially if it has a lot of miles on it. Tranny fluid often gets neglected. I'm jealous of your planned trip and yeah, a little bit of foresight and precaution can make the difference between enjoying yourself or not. 20 years ago I used to use coolant system flush products that seemed to work, but as it shouldn't be too expensive to take to a shop it might be worth letting someone else deal with it (and disposing of the coolant). They might even point out something? I do almost all my own work, but some things shops are better equiped to deal with and dispose of. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trogdor636 Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 The only way I have ever had a waterpump fail is by leaking, not lack of pumping I've seen it happen on very old water pumps where basically the impellers have disentegrated. Normally the pump fails lone before that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgtplatt Posted October 6, 2012 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Don't know if anybody said it, but 80/20. If that's 80 antifreeze. Not good. Water displaces heat better than antifreeze, less antifreeze more water. Also, an additive like water wetter will go a very long way. Also, I hear of people using cascade for a dishwasher as an additive with great success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearindabush Posted December 14, 2012 Share Posted December 14, 2012 haha good use for cascade I reckon Cascade is a beer here in OZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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