Parked mine up for the winter having done around 10,000 miles in it last year and time to sort some niggles ready for when she comes out again in the spring time.

 

I had a Water system issue with the car last year, it was forcing Water out of a little heater pipe join right against the bulk head, right at the top behind the engine. I replaced the hose and the metal joining piece and no more water was coming out of there and I continued to use the car.

 

The car however did still always smell hot after that and did always smell a bit of burning coolant at the end of the journey although the temp goes up and down as it should and always has done. What I found is that the Water level seems to drop if I fill the rad right up until I can see it but then its almost like it possibly finds a level which is out of site when opening the rad but seems to lose alot less if any at all at that point. I'm not sure if I should be filling it right up to the rad or not. I suspect that if the level shouldnt be right to the top of the rad then maybe I have been causing the problem all along by over filling it and then it over pressurises and spits it out of a weak point. Alternatively should I be filling the rad right up in which case the car has got a problem somewhere?

 

Someone did mention something to me during the year about some sort of Water bypass system and said that standard plumbing on the car wasnt good and is a common fault and there is an aftermarket system that is worth changing to. Is this the case?

Assuming your radiator cap is working properly, any excess water will be allowed to escape into the overflow reservoir and be

drawn back in when the car cools down. You can fill the radiator up to the filler cap. In the first instance, check that the overflow

pipe is connected to the radiator (by the filler cap) and the other end is connected to the overflow tank. You can see if the overflow

tank has water in by checking the dipstick (by the n/s front wing).

Is it a standard Radiator or an aftermarket aluminium one ?

 

Standard shoud be filled right up and will work as above. Aftermarket ones tend not to hold the full levey and always require 500ml to 1 Litre top reguarly. Don't ask me why, they just do

Is it a standard Radiator or an aftermarket aluminium one ?

 

Standard shoud be filled right up and will work as above. Aftermarket ones tend not to hold the full levey and always require 500ml to 1 Litre top reguarly. Don't ask me why, they just do

 

I never have to top up my Koyo aftermarket radiator.

I always had to. Had new hoses when it was fitted but it always overfilled the expansion bottle. Jimmer also commented that he's never seen one of those hold all it's water !

I never have to top up my Koyo aftermarket radiator.

 

I have to top mine up when it spits it all over the sandy asphalt of a Mediterranean road, doh!

Assuming your radiator cap is working properly, any excess water will be allowed to escape into the overflow reservoir and be

drawn back in when the car cools down. You can fill the radiator up to the filler cap. In the first instance, check that the overflow

pipe is connected to the radiator (by the filler cap) and the other end is connected to the overflow tank.

 

Andrew, can I ask a question on this... given that the radiator cap is sprung closed and the pressure moves it up to allow the water to pass into the overflow bottle, how does it then go back into the radiator when things cool down? I've never understood how this could possibly happen. So I'm genuinely curious about it.

Is it a standard Radiator or an aftermarket aluminium one ?

 

Standard shoud be filled right up and will work as above. Aftermarket ones tend not to hold the full levey and always require 500ml to 1 Litre top reguarly. Don't ask me why, they just do

 

That is interesting thanks very much, it is an aluminum after market one which the guy had put on not long before I bought it. Maybe that explains why I have to keep topping it up

Do you think it is advisable to still brim the after market ones then? Just worry its going to push its way out of a weak point and make it weaker if I keep doing it

Andrew, can I ask a question on this... given that the radiator cap is sprung closed and the pressure moves it up to allow the water to pass into the overflow bottle, how does it then go back into the radiator when things cool down? I've never understood how this could possibly happen. So I'm genuinely curious about it.

 

This little video explains the recovery system:

 

[video=youtube_share;tTEmfMaKsB4]

Do you think it is advisable to still brim the after market ones then? Just worry its going to push its way out of a weak point and make it weaker if I keep doing it

 

Yes, the system is pressurised and if working (no other leaks) behaves as in the video above.

This little video explains the recovery system:

 

[video=youtube_share;tTEmfMaKsB4]

Thanks mate. So where's the vaccuum vent valve the opens to refil the radiator

 

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Thanks mate. So where's the vaccuum vent valve the opens to refil the radiator

 

It's part of the cap:

 

Thanks mate. So where's the vaccuum vent valve the opens to refil the radiator

 

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

 

All the magic happens in the cap

 

It's part of the cap:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]115860[/ATTACH]

 

Doh, I should’ve refreshed!

Are we genuinely taking away from this thread that a serviceable coolant system with no leaks but with an aftermarket radiator will need topping up regularly just because? :confused1:

Are we genuinely taking away from this thread that a serviceable coolant system with no leaks but with an aftermarket radiator will need topping up regularly just because? :confused1:

Cheers lads. Kind of want to look at my cap now.

 

Anyway, i don't see why an aftermarket rad would work differently. My koyo always seemed full.

 

Could it be if you delete the expansion tank and it's therefore not bringing water back?

 

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Are we genuinely taking away from this thread that a serviceable coolant system with no leaks but with an aftermarket radiator will need topping up regularly just because? :confused1:

 

Nope.... Well, not from me anyway!

 

Like Andrew says, I don't have to regularly top up my coolant either - even with an aftermarket radiator; in my case, a Mishimoto. Just as you both say the secret is in the radiator cap - which arguably is the weakest link in the system - and is often overlooked! Even OEM Nissan ones have, on occasion, been faulty from point of supply. I know - I bought a brand new one from Nissan a few years back and suffered from coolant loss... Replacing it with another cured the problem!!

Do you think it is advisable to still brim the after market ones then? Just worry its going to push its way out of a weak point and make it weaker if I keep doing it

 

Yes - fill to the top.... And then replace your radiator cap - oh, and also ensure that the overflow pipe is properly connected to the expansion tank from the radiator!!

 

When you do fill it, be sure to release any air bubbles which have accumulated in the system. Start the engine and loosen the little nut on the opposite side of the filler neck, until the air bubbles stop and coolant alone starts to seep out.

I have a Japspeed radiator fitted in June 2015 and it never needed toped up. So plenty of good after market rads out there.

Waterpump bearing, there is a weep hole that leaks a little bit when it is time to replace the water pump.

 

I recently found out my 37,000 km water pump has failed.

Is it a standard Radiator or an aftermarket aluminium one ?

 

Standard shoud be filled right up and will work as above. Aftermarket ones tend not to hold the full levey and always require 500ml to 1 Litre top reguarly. Don't ask me why, they just do

 

My Koyo also needs topping up slightly, after use. Time to change the cap maybe, as I m sure I do not have a leak.

Is someone able to supply me with a good link I could buy a new Rad Cap from? Sounds a bit of a no brainer to change this as a starting point to me.

Is someone able to supply me with a good link I could buy a new Rad Cap from? Sounds a bit of a no brainer to change this as a starting point to me.

 

https://www.allcarpartsfast.co.uk/nissan/nissan-2143054p00-cap-assy-pressu/

https://www.allcarpartsfast.co.uk/nissan/nissan-2143054p00-cap-assy-pressu/

 

Part numbers are:

2143054P00 or

2143037P00 or

2143030P00 or

2143074N02 (which is used on a few other Nissans).

 

Also give Mike Feeney a call and your local Nissan dealership.