SMOD bypass Xterra Frontier Pathfinder 2005+

A free mod to prevent the transmission killing "Strawberry Milkshake Of Death" that kills many of the 2005-2010 Xterras, Pathfinders and Frontiers.
This is not needed for any Xterra/Frontier/Pathfinder made before 2005
This is not needed for any Xterra/Frontier/Pathfinder made after 2010
This is not needed for any manual transmission Xterra or Frontier
This is not needed for any V8 pathfinder
All V6 Auto Xterra/Frontier/Pathfinder 2005+ should have a secondary trans cooler behind the grill; in front of the radiator.
What is SMOD? Early models had faulty radiator design from the manufacturer Calsonic. The radiator handles coolant and transmission fluid. These fluids can mix when the partition fails. When the coolant and transmission fluid mix, it creates a substance that looks like melted strawberry milkshake. This substance will cause erratic and poor operation of the transmission. Many times this destroys the circuitry in the transmission valve body requiring a new valve body and/or transmission. This is an extremely common failure that has been discussed countless times in the Nissan communities.
This bypass removes the risk of the coolant and transmission fluid breaching at the expense of cooling the transmission. This is ideal for anyone who just learned about the issue to get in there and 1st, prevent the issue and 2nd, have some time to choose and order a replacement radiator. This bypass is not supposed to be a long term setup. Certain driving conditions can generate heat that the trans cooler can't handle effectively. Low vehicle speeds with throttle input can create excessive heat. Offroading and towing can create excessive heat.
Generally speaking, any newly manufactured radiator should be suitable and more reliable than the defective OEM radiators from years past.
If you have a 2010 model, you may not need to bypass if you have radiator part number 21460-ZL31A on the top of your radiator. This part number may have been used on some models that year and is allegedly a part number that's exempt from SMOD.
All other 2005-2010 parts numbers are
21410-EA200
21410-EA205
21460-EA215
21460-EA265
21460-ZL11A
These are known to be susceptible to SMOD or suspected to be susceptible to SMOD according to www.thenewx.or...
Part number 21460-9CAOE is the latest part number. Used in the later models and may show up in older models if a replacement occurred.

[@sethbarby3891]

Very well explained and documented. So glad you made it simple and just got to the work

[@tonyyayo2115]

Thanks....I made sure to save this vid as I'm currently shopping for either an R51 Pathfinder or Xterra in model range

[@lazerrred]

The problem with the trans cooler on the PRE 2010 was built into the Nissan radiator. It corroded internally and allowed the trans fluid to mix with engine coolant. That’s why they called it the STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE OF DEATH. “SMOD”. Supposedly it was taken care of on 2010 production. That said, there were some 2011’s + that had the issue.

[@mitchellspringer7025]

Very early 2011s might have used left over parts from 10’ is why, there’s a forum a guy posted all the affected rad part numbers to see

[@robbirobson7330]

i got a good price for a nissan xtrail year 2005 has already 160 000 kilometers i dont know if the radiator has been change but if it has already so many kilometers maybe this one does not have this problem or it got resolved back then what do you think?

[@jttaylor5236]

Nice job without playing any loud music.💯

[@warrenkernot4522]

Explained very well thank you!

[@Quackaddict-nt9bs]

Best video on this issue on KZbin

[@pandroidigital]

Awesome tutorial!! 💯

[@OgnenBojkovski]

Great tutorial, but is this applies for Spanish built Navara D40 2007 year with 2.5 diesel engine with automatic transmission (5 speeds)?

[@SamSam-ih6nt]

Save yourself 75% trouble and time, swamp the passenger side hoses... Transmission-out barb connected to the radiator out hose.

[@SamSam-ih6nt]

@1:09 hose instead of feeding from Rad, connect to transmission feed

[@SamSam-ih6nt]

@1:24 remove hose from rad and attach to transmission

[@RebirthMusicStudios]

Are the hoses long enough to do it this way?

[@steevegmtech7326]

What size barb did you use

[@wrmartinez]

Great video but wouldn't it be easier to just put keep the driver side to passenger and put the one from the transcooler direct to where the driver side is connected it's only to hose switch without taking fully off take 1 end switch and another hose end and switch done

[@suqmadiq68]

This was the unnecessarily complicated way of accomplishing this.

[@navi6463]

What's the simple way? Looking at doing this myself, just got an 08 pathfinder recently and am now learning about this issue lol

[@suqmadiq68]

@@navi6463 : You don't have to mess with the cooler up top. This video isn't great, but it's the quick solution. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5u7hH2Bqsh_r6s

[@CH4RLYG777]

​@@suqmadiq68yeah that links takes you to a video that is not even well recorded the guy who explains it did a terrible job, no thanks I'll stay with this one

[@suqmadiq68]

@@CH4RLYG777 : There's no need to dick around with the oil cooler. Switch the two lower hoses. If you need more info than that, you shouldn't do it yourself.

[@richardr5013]

@suqmadiq68 I THINK you meant to say, connect the 2 lower hoses together, which bypasses the trans cooler section of the radiator. That seems logical. I'm debating capping off the 2 previously used connectors on the bottom of the radiator, in case the main section later leaks into the trans cooler section. Since the whole reason we're doing this is in anticipation of the 2 internal radiator sections being mixed together at some point.

[@dm1273]

no guys, you can't do that. the radiator oil in the antifreeze radiator is cooled. why did nissan engineers do that? unknown. before that I do such work. study the design of the antifreeze radiator to the end! everything is done there according to reason, the temperature of the radiator antifreeze is physics hot from above, cold from below. therefore at the bottom in addition oil coolers. such a complex design. but in this way the oil is further cooled. or you did it straight - then try to put the oil temperature gauge in the box and display it on the dashboard. if there will be more than 90 breasts (pharyngitis I do not know how many it will be) then the box overheats. and what will be easier to repair a box or a new radiator ?! it's all stupid. myself in Ukraine for the 2nd year riding a nissan xterra pro4x. no problems

[@jeremylee9092]

its done so you don't have to repair you transmission not your radiator. the radiator fails internally and lets coolant to mix with tranny fluid and ruins your tranny. this eliminates this from happening.

[@Flafster1995]

Тобто якщо обійти радіатор двигуна то радіатор для коробки перегріється? Правильно зрозумів? Виходить разом з ним і коробка згорить?

[@16sondra]

I put a new clamp on the in part of the trans cooler when you spliced it together. It seemed really loose with the standard clamp on it.

[@mikem8482]

Theres no need to plug the open barbs? Or put a jumper hose across them? Wouldn't dirt/debris do damage if it gets in?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

Correct, no need to plug them unless you have some oddball circumstance where you might need to reuse them

[@jaycolor994]

I'm going to plug mine, I live near the ocean and offroad from time to time and I think saltwater or sand could get inside and corrode it

[@harleybigdadbiker9503]

Gonna do my Xterra this weekend

[@tylerkimdura6690]

Omg thank you!!

[@averyneal481]

Have you upgraded the radiator yet? Is there a replacement you recommend that fixes this SMOD?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

In my personal Xterra, I'm using a Mishimoto and it's been doing great for the 2.5 years I've had it. The red Xterra shown is still driving around with the bypass setup with no problems

[@Rene12985]

So how does that trans cooler cool? I’m lost at that one And isn’t that full of the same nasty crap like the rad?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

Trans cooler is just it's own little radiator that relies on the big fan to pull air across the trans cooler that the transmission pushes fluid through. If a vehicle had smod already, you'd want to trash the trans cooler and replace with a new one before even thinking about running the vehicle again. This was fine for preventative purposes so the owner could get a newer revised radiator that is less prone to smod

[@harleybigdadbiker9503]

Just did this,seeing negative comments on the forums,has anyone had a transmission fail from doing this bypass?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

This owner's Xterra is still going strong. Although he doesn't tow with it or wheel it.

[@harleybigdadbiker9503]

@@dospathsgarage2854 good to know,I'm not going to do either,just short commutes to work in the snow,if I find out my 2010 radiator is safe,I'll switch it back,but will most likely get a new one.

[@dospathsgarage2854]

@@harleybigdadbiker9503 Sounds like a good plan. I own an early 2010 that had an affected radiator so I did the swap. I put in a Koyorad A2807 over a year ago. Seems like a good radiator for the price so far

[@bobfidguello7239]

Great video,what did they do different after 2010? I just bought a 2013.

[@pypypylinuxdotcom-nr2xp]

Issue was only 05-10, your 13 is outside the window and not a concern.

[@frankiefurt]

i'm looking on rockauto for a replacement radiator, should i get a OEM or aftermarket.? have a 06 and just got it, have no idea if it's been replaced but i want to be safe.

[@dospathsgarage2854]

I'd say most aftermarket designs are current and revised enough to be safe. If your current radiator has any of the following part numbers: 21410-EA200; 21410-EA205; 21460-EA205; 21460-EA215; 21460-9CAOE; 21460-EA265; 21460-ZL11A It's a factory calsonic to susceptible to smod You'll want to bypass immediately or replace it immediately. I personally am using a basic koyorad on my Xterra

[@jasonbee916]

Could you just replace the radiator with a newer model radiator ?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

@@jasonbee916 Yes. Oem replacements still on the market should all be the smod free variants by now and the general consensus on the forums is that aftermarket models are safe too.

[@What-ut8vu]

You are also bypass cooling from radiator? Over heat trans?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

Correct. This is bypassing the radiator's cooling and relying solely on the stand alone trans cooler. This vehicle has not overheated. However, this vehicle does not tow or off-road.

[@What-ut8vu]

So only trans cooler is enough for trans cooling for regular use?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

@@What-ut8vu there's some debate about it on forums about towing and wheeling with the bypass, so I'd recommend not towing or wheeling to stay on the safe side. The owner of this vehicle plans to replace the radiator and use the radiator cooling if his plans for wheeling and towing change

[@What-ut8vu]

Thanks for the info

[@johnettipio]

Does the Armada with the 5.6L V8 need to be bypassed?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

No, their radiators don't seem to have the smod issue

[@mitchellspringer7025]

Yes up to early 2011 has the same issues. Best thing to do it buy any aftermarket radiator that has the cooler built in. Did 4 shillens aluminum ones so far on them. Worth it I promise.

[@brainwashed7244]

lol rookies! knowledge is earned!

[@crazybobc1]

I have a 2008 Frontier 4 cylinder, automatic with 131K miles on it. Do I need to do this or is it just for the 6 cylinder version?

[@dospathsgarage2854]

That's a great question that unfortunately I don't know the answer. Couldn't find any answers online for that question either. It does appear that the QR25DE engines used a different radiator part number than the VQ40DE engines but that's all I got unfortunately

[@crazybobc1]

@@dospathsgarage2854 I found no definite answer online either. I will check my radiator numbers today. Thank you!