ANTIFREEZE IN TRANSMISSION | Nissan Pathfinder, Nissan Frontier, Nissan exterra

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Wrench_Link
Water I'm transmission
These Nissan models have transmission problems due to antifreeze in the transmission fluid from a defective radiator.
The transmission fluid comes out of the transmission to a cooler in front of the truck and then it goes in the radiator to be further cooled down and then back to the transmission. The transmission fluid is not meant to mix with the antifreeze in the radiator, the radiator is as a transmission fluid cooler, a common design throughout other manufacturers other then Nissan. But in these models the radiator cracks internally leading to the antifreeze mixing with the transmission fluid.
The common signs of a cracked radiator in these models are: Transmission shifting problems, transmission fluid pressure problems (p0841), oil in coolant/antifreeze reservoir or brown looking fluid in coolant reservoir, white/pink transmission fluid (good transmission fluid is dark red), brown transmission fluid on transmission dipstick.

[@r.f.hopkins8163]

Thanks exactly what's wrong with my 2006 Frontier, wish I 'd know this earlier could have a got radiator before problem arrived. Wish you were my mechanic. You guys seem to be on the ball to catch this.

[@WrenchLink]

Thank you

[@jimv1484]

Thank you for the video.....very informative. I am looking at a 2005 Frontier automatic 2wd with only79k miles on it selling for asking price 11,500. Of course it would even be a little cheaper if the world was all crazy right now....but for now I think it is a good deal. From what I have read on the internet these are decent trucks if you buy them and replace the radiator. So if I buy and replace the radiator every 50k miles what else do I need to watch out for????? How about the timing chain issues? Is there any reason I should not buy this truck assuming the fluid is clean.....and no rust on the frame???? Thanks

[@WrenchLink]

To me, they are very good trucks except for that radiator issue. As far as the timing chain, a timing chain needs servicing every 80k to 130k miles depending on the manufacturer but I recommend every 100k miles

[@sweendawg7274]

Or add an external cooler for 50$

[@Ehvz539]

Thanks just decided to replace my radiator on 07 frontier 145k miles no problems but just decided to do it better safe than sorry

[@WrenchLink]

You're welcome

[@robertjackson7590]

Have you tried just converting to an Air to Oil cooler and plug the cooler ports in the radiator? This isolates the problem totally from the water in the Xtrans oil problem. Hayden makes coolers for this problem of all different sizes. They'll go by the engines HP rating to match the application. I've done this in industrial applications. Normally the Glycol in the Anti Freeze breaks down the bonding agent in the friction plates and in a short time the Xtrans fails bc of it. Is this what you find? I have a friend with an 11 Frontier and would like to give him the heads up. Is the type of Anti Freeze the problem? Thanks, great video.

[@WrenchLink]

The antifreeze isn't the problem. Problem is the little tube joint on the cooler in the radiator is too thin, cracks overtime. Adding external coolers Infront of the radiator would be a better idea

[@robertjackson7590]

@@WrenchLink I looked at my neighbors 2011 and there isn't room for the air to oil cooler unfortunately.

[@jorgematias5504]

Wow! That pathfinder needs love

[@WrenchLink]

For sure!

[@dyardsale5475]

I have a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The upper transmission cooler line and fitting broke off the radiator (I don't know why) with trans fluid and coolant leaking all over. Engine coolant is now leaking from the hole that has been created by the fitting breaking off. I want to know if engine coolant has gotten into my transmission.

[@WrenchLink]

You can drain the transmission fluid to find out. If the transmission looks like it has bubbles of water or looks pink or like a milk shake, then it has water in it

[@dyardsale5475]

@@WrenchLink it did

[@marterrr9065]

@wrenchLink My truck has both in both. Do you flush transmission first or coolant first ?Also I need to replace my heater inlet and outlet should I place those parts before the coolant flush? thank you in advance

[@sglee4708]

I have a 2013 frontier no problems yet should I change the radiator and is that a guarantee it won't happen are the new radiators better ? Thank you

[@WrenchLink]

It's not that it won't happen. The idea is to replace the radiator to get another 50k miles on it before you replace it again. I personally haven't done enough research on if the new radiators are better, and I don't know if I can trust what manufacturers say about their products.

[@karenloveland1428]

I just bought a 2020 Nissan Pathfinder. Now I’m wondering if I made a poor choice. I bought it for the third row to accommodate grandkids.

[@WrenchLink]

I'm not sure if the 2020 model has the radiator issue but it definitely has the CVT issue. You can see videos about that on my channel

[@briankress9997]

I have a 07 Nissan Pathfinder 190 thousand miles and this just happened. I am flushing a transmission. It took me almost 10 gallons to flush all that antifreeze out. I am hoping that I didn’t damage the transmission. Too bad it was shifting OK I just changed the transmission fluidabout two weeks ago so it’s only been in there. I guess two weeks so hopefully it didn’t ruin the transmission.

[@davidhuron6056]

I had this issue with my 2006 Xterra. Had to flush 4 times to get clean fluid.

[@WrenchLink]

Did you replace the radiator?

[@WrenchLink]

Or the transmission fluid cooler?

[@alcazzone]

Does this problem also affect the 2.5dci 6spd manual pathfinder too? Also mine is the European model not American. Thanks

[@WrenchLink]

Yours is not affected

[@erickohlhorst747]

We just purchased a 2009 Xterra with 167,000 miles on it for $6000. Shifts smooth for now with no signs of this......2009 clearly indicates from Xterra forums that 2009s the incident of this happening is way down but dispite that the vehicle has an appointmet for a new radiator on monday....it is killing me to change the radiator in a vehicle without a current problem only one that could happen. $750 for the service.

[@WrenchLink]

It sad, but definitely cheaper than having to replace the whole transmission

[@erickohlhorst747]

@WrenchLink yes, of course, but I'm certain there ARE Nissans out there that are still running without any modifications or preventative maintainace. I don't want to pay $750 for a radiator OR $5000 for a new transmission. I'll never know which one my kid is driving since the X goes in for service tomorrow.

[@cxp2001]

Hello,, Was the fluid milky in the transmission before you flushed it out?

[@WrenchLink]

Yes

[@drumtwo4seven]

Was thinking about the new 2023 frontier... Maybe go with a Tacoma instead

[@WrenchLink]

I'm not sure if the 2023 model would have the same issue

[@kencon74]

This only affected the 05 - 11 or so model years. Older 4.0L with 5speed auto transmission.

[@johnreno8909]

on xterra was the same issues. since which year on xterra they changed the system ??? does anyone know??? on pathfinder they changed from 2009 i guess. but i dont know if they did on xterra???

[@reynaldohernandez1425]

@john reno Xterras, pathfinder, frontiers with v6 until 2010. Same problem.

[@WrenchLink]

The pathfinder we are working on in this video is a 2010 pathfinder

[@johnreno8909]

@@reynaldohernandez1425 thnxs 4 reply.

[@johnreno8909]

@@reynaldohernandez1425 generally those models are not reliable cars.

[@H0lland0ates79]

So my 2014 Pathy has already started having the jittering in 2nd gear usually as you said between like 20-30 mph. My question is is it too late for the transmission? Or will a transmission flush/service added with a new radiator be enough to save it?

[@WrenchLink]

Sounds like it's still salvageable

[@onefastcyclist]

Did the owner change the cooling fluid and transmission fluid per the Maintenace schedule? Which heavy duty replacement radiator do you recommend?

[@Agent.K.]

Csf if you want aftermarket. Even oem from 2011+ is good.

[@justmyself1000]

Might want to put in the title that this affects 2005 - 2010 models.

[@jamiesharretto5605]

Do manual transmission have this problem ?

[@WrenchLink]

No

[@mohamedhosini2103]

Did you replace the radiator with an aftermarket one? If yes, could you please say which brand?

[@WrenchLink]

Yes, aftermarket. I use Murray radiators

[@JoseRodriguez-hr4rs]

Thats ok if you do the bypass at the radiator?

[@WrenchLink]

The transmission fluid is designed to get cooled down by the radiator so you shouldn't bypass the radiator altho it does have a secondary cooler in front of the radiator

[@drumtwo4seven]

WHAT ABOUT A SEPARATE TRANSMISSION COOLER... INDEPENDENT OF THE RADIATOR ?

[@WrenchLink]

That works too

[@WrenchLink]

Although it already has a separate cooler

[@drumtwo4seven]

@@WrenchLink I was looking up transmission coolers... was thinking cap off inlet outlet to radiator and use external transmission cooler instead

[@Agent.K.]

@@drumtwo4seven Mine had that from factory due to our hot weather (middle east specs). But I upgraded to Tru-cool 40k unit cooler. Great for 48-50 °C summer days.

[@alexperez9679]

Purple sticky oil in radiator fluid why would that be ?

[@jeff721]

That’s the issue he is referring to here. Flush both (cooling and trans) systems ASAP. Called SMOD in Nissans. Take the feed lines out of the radiator and route them directly to the trans cooler. Get new hoses and radiator, especially the heater core hose. There will be slime inside.

[@XChaoticComposerX]

Sir... just wondering have you seen Aisin transmissions go bad often? Thanks :)

[@WrenchLink]

Hi. it depends on which transmission that aisin produces you wanna know about

[@XChaoticComposerX]

@@WrenchLink the one in corolla 1.8 MFI with CVT K313? :)

[@luisfranco5704]

Should I buy a 2016 pathfinder with 110,000 miles ???

[@luisfranco5704]

I’m worried the transmission will go bad on me eventually.

[@WrenchLink]

I'd say yes, just make sure that the transmission doesn't have water in it and that it doesn't have shifting issues. And when you buy it, replace the radiator. it should be good from there

[@canyonero2050]

They fixed the faulty radiator (which leaked coolant into transmission) in 2010

[@JacobMireles]

Should you just replace the radiator with an aftermarket immediately? I’ve heard of people doing a “bypass” with another separate transmission cooler. Thoughts?

[@WrenchLink]

Bypass is better. A new good aftermarket radiator should last another 50k miles

[@fernandos6330]

I heard about bypass as well..and installing the small cooler in front of radiator.. Which one would be better?

[@elonsus9747]

The did the bypass, but I bought it with almost 200,000 miles, so I figured either “it’s going to happen at any moment better bypass for now” or “it’s already happened and the rads been replaced I might be okay.” I didn’t want to risk it.

[@johnp3095]

I had this problem it cost 3k to bypass the transmission cooler so I doesn't happen again.

[@jerryeastman170]

It should only cost around $100

[@MrMoth0102]

People are happy enough to purchase and accept average quality, so average manufactures will keep building average products.

[@carlossaenz4075]

Sir does this radiator problem also consist on the 2018 Nissan Frontier King Cab 4cylinder? You mentioned it was up to 2010 Nissan Frontiers but I'm led to believe that problem was corrected on the radiators is this true or not

[@WrenchLink]

It was fixed in 2011

[@nickolasmarotta5701]

They fixed the tranny issues in 2010

[@WrenchLink]

The Pathfinder I was working on in this video was a 2010 Nissan Pathfinder

[@H0lland0ates79]

They didn’t. My 2014 Pathy has this exact problem