Why? I have a Honda Civic and the manual never required the changing of the radiator cap. Do I really need to, because I have better things to spend $30 on.

 

I checked and found the recommendation in the 60,000 mile/48 month premium maintenance schedule. Sounds like wise idea to prevent overheating. I can afford $30 every 60,000 miles.

 

I replaced mine with the Nismo cap. Not sure what good it does, but I'm at 76,000 miles and I've never once came near overheating. Stays nice and cool.

 

Nissans "premium" maintenance schedule recommends replacing it every 30k miles.

A little info on radiator caps...
http://www.womanmotorist.com/index.p...524/event=view

 

For 30 bucks I'll take the word of the manual

 

Oooops. Then I forgot to replace mine at 30,000 miles. Guess I will catch it at 60,000 miles.

 

The Cap holds pressure that in turn raises the boiling point of ur coolant depending on how much its rated at in PSI. Cap gets old,---Rubber seal on Cap loses it ability to hold pressure. Thats why u replace the Cap. Its not the end of the world but its a good idea to replace it every so often.

 

If you don't want to pay the costs associated with the Premium Maintenance Schedule, don't follow it! I don't. (And I'm an engineer that spent 30 years in machinery maintenance.)

The so-called Premium Maintenance Schedule is just a profit-maker for the service department.

bill

 

It just depends on if you're the type that would rather wait for a belt to break or a hose to spring a leak or a dead battery to leave you stranded rather than preventing it with pre-emptive maintenance.

Like Eazy said... "it's not the end of the world, but it's a good idea to replace every so often."

 

After several years of use, the spring in the cap will weaken and it won't hold the full pressure anymore. The rubber seal will deteriorate and leak. That will lead to overheating. Think about the conditions that the radiator cap is exposed to every day you drive the car.

It's probably not a bad idea to replace it, but first have them test the radiator cap.