Hope someone can help me with this....

Im having cooling issues. My temp gauge goes up above normal duing hot days (90+ degrees F). But it only goes up if in on any incline (any slight incline on freeway....like 15N going to Vegas). The normal temp usually reads 199-203 deg F. but when going uphill with AC on, it climbs to 226-234 deg F based on my Blitz VIT. The needle is also climbing. I pulled over and there was actually coolant in the radiator.

Well...i took it to Glendale Infiniti and they did a flush and new coolant. Then the next day it happened again....220 deg F with AC. Took it back and they did another flsuh. Seemed to be ok. I also replaced the radiator cap with the Nismo cap. All seemed well for 3 weeks and it happened again...226 deg F. I went to TS and reflashed the ECU back to stock thinking that the A/F was leaning out causing it to heat up. Seemed a little better now....but it went to 214 deg F. The stock water temp needle starts to move upward after 224+ deg F. (at least what i've noticed). I then took it to Tustin Infiniti to see if they can help me out. They couldnt find a thing wrong with it (nor did Glendale)...no leaks & thermo opens regular. I dont see any oil in my coolant when i opened the rad cap as well.

One thing I noticed and failed to mention to them (because i forgot) was that when the auxilary fan kicks in, i smell coolant. Last week, I had coolant in the reservoir and radiator. I checked it last Sunday and found out that i had no coolant in the reservoir and i had to fill up the radiator but not that much.

What other test can i do to to check this issue? Thanks.

 

is it a 350z? or a G35?

If its a 350Z we can check it out and fix the problem.. most likely it should be covered under warranty...

 

Will it cool off if you slow down or get on level ground?
Do you have an aftermarket grill or something blocking air to the radiator?
Do you have an aftermarket front bodykit?

Sounds to me like an airflow or air pocket problem. Check to make sure your splash guard is still intact and inplace. Also check to see if you have plenty of heat out of the heater at idle. Put the thermostat on highest heat setting, on panel and put your hand in front of the vent 2 to 4 inches away, with the blower on high. With the car at normal operating temperature within 25 to 35 seconds your hand should start to burn. If it does not burn your hand then you have an air pocket or unfull cooling system and it needs to be bled. See if those help and let me know. I will do what I can for you.

Tony

 

Hey Jason. It's a G35 Coupe. Actually, i was the one that got the brake fluid from you last week.


Hey Tony. Well, i turn off the AC when I see the needle moving upward. I also ease off the gas to 65mph. I also turned on the heater when this happened. Hot air was coming out from my vents and it was also around 101 deg F outside. So, i was getting heat from both worlds at this point. Oh...this happens just going at 80mph. When it's leveled or on a decline, with AC, it's ok. The I have the Gialla front grill with the stock bumper with the Data Systems front lip. I never had this issue before until late July '05 with the crazy hot weather. Well i proceeded to add Water Wetter and so far, it seems to be slightly better. But im just doing a patch on it and dont trust it if im heading up to Vegas.

I'll try those suggestions and let you know. Thanks Tony.

 

If it only happens when on an incline I'm inclined to believe you have entrapped air that finding it's way to the highest point in the cooling system and reducing the coolant flow thru the rad..IMHO

 

gopedg5, did you, at some point prior this issue, have your coolant drained for any reason?

Based on your symptoms, you definately have some air in your cooling system. This needs to be purged, and it can be a bit messy and tricky. I am surprised....well..not really...that your local Infiniti dealer was unable to fix this for you. You need a spill funnel, and some time.

Have your mechanic call me and I can walk him through it. The VQ is notoriously difficult to purge of air pockets in the cooling system.

Wait, I think you have a 350Z...so if under warranty...by all means take it to Performance Nissan. They are one of the few dealerships that actually knows WTF they are doing!

 

Hi Sharif. Prior to this no coolant has been drained. The coolant was drained and refilled with new coolant after I started having this issue by Glendale Infiniti.

I have a G35 though...can't I take it to Performance Nissan even though it's not a 350Z?

Well, just to let everyone know here...I filled up the reservoir tank and radiator with coolant on Saturday. Today, I checked it again and no coolant in the reservoir tank (added coolant to MAX line) and I had to add a bit of coolant in the radiator as well. Is this an issue with the air pockets as well?

 

Yes...its all related. I have seen some very good mechanics struggle with evacuating all of the air from the cooling system. It is very strange that this occurring on your car, given the coolant was never drained.

 

Well, just to let everyone know here...I filled up the reservoir tank and radiator with coolant on Saturday. Today, I checked it again and no coolant in the reservoir tank (added coolant to MAX line) and I had to add a bit of coolant in the radiator as well. Is this an issue with the air pockets as well?

Entrapped air wouldn't cause you to loose coolant would it? Gotta find out how it's leaving the system..

 

Yes it does. You arent "loosing" coolant, but the air pockets are slowly working their way back out through the resevoir, and the those air pockets are being replaced by coolant, so your coolant reservoir can appear depleted. This is a good thing...but you should still do a full purge.

 

He would have to have a hell of a lot of entrapped air if he fills up the reservoir and adds some to the radiator..This is the second fill and he reports smelling anti freeze when the fan is on...?

 

If he burning coolant, this is a much larger problem. But his car is relatively stock, so this is probably unlikely. Is it possible you have a leak somewhere?

I have seen massive air entrapment, but always after the coolant was drained. This is a unique case, as I have never seen this issue on cars that have never had their coolant drained.

Maybe a compression check? Get this car to the dealer..ASAP.

 

Well, I will check around thouroughly to see if there are any visible coolant residue later today. I've previously done a small walk through and all looks ok. I was also thinking of doing a compression check myself but it's so hard to get into the spark plugs. Anywhere else I should check? The radiator cap was already replaced because the stock radiator cap was not even holding pressure. Where are other possible causes that the air could be coming from aside from the reservoir?

I'll call Glendale Infiniti again and let them know the issue.

Thanks for all the inputs.

 

Make sure the heater core purge line is capped off. The cap is located near the passenger side fire wall, in the engine back. Take a Large phillips. Dont use a small one or you will strip it...since its made of plastic.

 

My z eats about 1/2 to 3/4 gal of antifreeze a oil chang with no problems. There are vacume bleaders that will help you purge the air if you are fed up and just want to do it yourself

 

Which vacuum bleaders are good?

 

i know snap on makes one im not sure who else does il ask my tool vendor when he comes next week.

 

Well, I was able to check the heater valve and no air was coming out of it when i had the radiator cap off. Coolant was immediately flowing out of the valve as i was unscrewing it. I didnt see any milky/oil on my radiator cap nor on the coolant when checking. Only one way to check this out again is to run the car on an incline going toward Victorville again.

As for taking the car to Glendale Infiniti, (they know me pretty well by now) said unless the temps go up on normal road conditions, then the car isn't overheating. I mentioned to the service manager aobut the refilling I was doing on the reservoir and the radiator and he said that it depends on the temps of the engine when i check it. I told him that i check it cold everytime. Then he said something about the reservoir to me that just went in one ear and out the other. Ehh!!!

 

That rediculouse if the temp ever goes out past the normal range the car is over heating i dont car if its at an idle or while driving threw the sun

 

Well, I know what you mean...this was pretty frustrating when they said that. Im going to get a leak check done from my mechanic soon. If anything arises from the test, I'll have Glendale Infiniti deal with it since im still under 60k.