Is the transmission cooler part of the radiator?
Automatic transmissions generate heat in operation. To help eliminate the heat, Nissan has an automatic transmission cooler. Like many vehicles, the transmission cooler is part of the radiator. Unlike other vehicles, the 2005 through 2010 Nissan Pathfinder, X-Terra and Frontier radiators have a problem.
What happens when radiator coolant goes bad in Nissan?
Not only does the radiator stop cooling the transmission, but the resulting slurry of coolant and transmission fluid eats valves, erodes seals and speeds up corrosion. The liquid is known as the strawberry milkshake of death (SMOD)and it’s not because it tastes good (please don’t taste it). Great, now Nissan has ruined strawberry milkshakes for me
Why is the transmission fluid Milky in my Nissan?
Coolant will appear cloudy or milky in the transmission fluid. To cool the fluid, the automatic transmission pump pushes it though the radiator cooler, when the engine is running. This transmission-fluid pressure is greater than the cooling system pressure in the radiator. Automatic transmission fluid leaks out and mixes with the coolant.
When did Nissan extend the warranty on the radiator?
In October 2010, Nissan extended their radiator assembly warranty from 3 years / 36,000 miles to 8 years / 80,000 miles after reports from a “small percentage” of owners with internal cracks on the oil cooler tube. There was confusion about whether the radiatorwarranty extension covered resulting damage to the transmission.
When did the Trans fluid fail on the Nissan Frontier?
When the seal fails, the engine coolant and transmission fluid can cross-contaminate. This issue occurs on 2005 though 2010 Frontiers/Xterras/Pathfinders with the VQ40DE engine with the orignial, Calsonic radiator. Most of the failures have occurred on 05-07 models, but there have been failures on later models,…
What kind of radiator does a Nissan Frontier have?
Most of the aftermarket, plastic tanked radiators are made in China, including the popular Spectra Premium, but they are, on the whole, well-constructed and can be had in the $100 range. For the same $350 that you could spend on a Nissan value line radiator, you can get an all-aluminum, CSF radiator from Stillen Motorsports that will bolt right in.
Can a radiator be used to cool transmission fluid?
This method usually does a pretty good job at cooling the fluid and there is really no need to add an additional cooler, however, it does eliminate the radiator’s integral cooler’s ability to warm the transmission fluid (transmission fluid operates ideally around 175-200 degrees F.) as well as provide the ability for additional cooling, if needed.
Is the oil cooler on the 05-up frontier?
The big oil cooler is on all of the autos from the factory as you stated. One of the big selling points for the 05-up Frontier is the towing capacity. I’m sure that’s why they added the additional cooler. I spoke to the master service tech (30+ years experience) at my dealership about this issue regarding my ’06 LE KC.