Nissan Versa

 Sedan Service Manual

Maintenance (MA) » Engine maintenance
Engine coolant

ENGINE COOLANT : Inspection

CHECKING COOLING SYSTEM HOSES

Check hoses for the following:

• Improper attachment
• Leaks
• Cracks
• Damage
• Loose connections
• Chafing
• Deterioration

CHECKING RESERVOIR LEVEL

• Check that the reservoir tank engine coolant level is within the MAX (A) to MIN (B) range when the engine is cool.
• Adjust the engine coolant level if necessary.

CAUTION: Refill the engine cooling system with the specified coolant or equivalent. Refer to MA "Fluids and Lubricants".

ENGINE COOLANT : Draining Engine Coolant

WARNING:

• Do not remove radiator cap when engine is hot. Serious burns could occur from high-pressure engine coolant escaping from radiator.
• Wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap. Slowly turn it a quarter of a turn to release built-up pressure. Then turn it all the way.

1. Remove engine under cover. Refer to EXT "Exploded View".

2. Connect a drain hose to the radiator drain plug.

    - Use a suitable hose with the dimensions as shown.

Diameter (A) : 0.8 mm (0.31 in)

Length (B) : 300 mm (11.81 in)

3. Open radiator drain plug (A) at the bottom of radiator, and then remove radiator cap.

Front

CAUTION:

• Perform this step when engine is cold.
• Do not spill engine coolant on the drive belt.

4. It is necessary to drain the cylinder block when draining all of engine coolant in the system. To drain the cylinder block, open the water drain plugs on cylinder block. Refer to EM "Exploded View".

5. Remove reservoir tank if necessary, and drain engine coolant and clean reservoir tank before installing.

Refer to CO "Exploded View".

6. Check drained engine coolant for contaminants such as rust, corrosion or discoloration. If contaminated, flush the engine cooling system. Refer to MA "ENGINE COOLANT : Flushing Cooling System".

ENGINE COOLANT : Refilling Engine Coolant

1. Install the radiator drain plug. Install the reservoir tank and cylinder block drain plug, if removed.

CAUTION:

• Be sure to clean drain plug and install with a new O-ring.
• Apply sealant to the threads of the cylinder block drain plug. Use Genuine High Performance Thread Sealant or equivalent. Refer to GI "Recommended Chemical Products and Sealants".

Radiator drain plug : Refer to CO "Exploded View".

Cylinder block drain plug : Refer to EM "Exploded View".

2. Set the vehicle heater controls to the full HOT and heater ON position. Turn the vehicle ignition ON with the engine OFF as necessary to activate the heater mode.

3. Install the Tool by installing the radiator cap adapter onto the radiator neck opening. Then attach the gauge body assembly with the refill tube and the venturi assembly to the radiator cap adapter.

Tool number : KV991J0070 (J-45695)

4. Insert the refill hose into the coolant mixture container that is placed at floor level. Make sure the ball valve is in the closed position.

CAUTION: Do not use any cooling system additives such as radiator sealer. Additives may clog the cooling system and cause damage to the engine, transmission and/or cooling system.

NOTE: Use recommended coolant or equivalent. Refer to MA "Fluids and Lubricants".

Engine coolant capacity (with reservoir tank) : Refer to MA "Fluids and Lubricants".

5. Install an air hose to the venturi assembly. The air pressure must be within specification.

Compressed air supply pressure : 549 - 824 kPa (5.6 - 8.4 kg/cm2, 80 - 119 psi)

CAUTION: The compressed air supply must be equipped with an air dryer.

6. The vacuum gauge will begin to rise and there will be an audible hissing noise. During this process open the ball valve on the refill hose slightly. Coolant will be visible rising in the refill hose. Once the refill hose is full of coolant, close the ball valve. This will purge any air trapped in the refill hose.

7. Continue to draw the vacuum until the gauge reaches 28 inches of vacuum. The gauge may not reach 28 inches in high altitude locations; use the vacuum specifications based on the altitude above sea level.

Altitude above sea level Vacuum gauge reading

0 - 100 m (328 ft) : 28 inches of vacuum

300 m (984 ft) : 27 inches of vacuum

500 m (1,641 ft) : 26 inches of vacuum

1,000 m (3,281 ft) : 24 - 25 inches of vacuum

8. When the vacuum gauge has reached the specified amount, disconnect the air hose and wait 20 seconds to see if the system loses any vacuum. If the vacuum level drops, perform any necessary repairs to the system and repeat steps 6 - 8 to bring the vacuum to the specified amount. Recheck for any leaks.

9. Place the coolant container (with the refill hose inserted) at the same level as the top of the radiator. Then open the ball valve on the refill hose so the coolant will be drawn up to fill the cooling system. The cooling system is full when the vacuum gauge reads zero.

CAUTION: Do not allow the coolant container to get too low when filling, to avoid air from being drawn into the cooling system.

10. Remove the Tool from the radiator neck opening.

11. Fill the cooling system reservoir tank to the specified level and install the radiator cap. Run the engine to warm up the cooling system and top up the system as necessary.

12. Install engine under cover. Refer to EXT "Exploded View".

ENGINE COOLANT : Flushing Cooling System

1. Install radiator drain plug and reservoir tank, if removed.

Radiator drain plug : Refer to CO "Exploded View".

CAUTION: Be sure to clean drain plug and install with new O-ring.

2. If water drain plugs on cylinder block were removed, close and tighten them. Refer to EM "Exploded View".

3. Remove air duct from between air cleaner case and electric throttle control actuator. Refer to EM "Removal and Installation".

4. Disconnect heater hose (1) at location ( ) as shown.

•  : Front
•  Position heater hose as high as possible.

5. Fill radiator until engine coolant flows out of the disconnected heater hose and then reconnect the heater hose.

6. Finish filling the engine and reservoir tank with water and reinstall the radiator cap.

7. Install air duct in between air cleaner case and electric throttle control actuator. Refer to EM "Removal and Installation".

8. Run the engine and warm it up to normal operating temperature.

9. Rev the engine two or three times under no-load.

10. Stop the engine and wait until it cools down.

11. Drain water from the system. Refer to MA "ENGINE COOLANT : Draining Engine Coolant".

12. Repeat steps 1 through 11 until clear water begins to drain from radiator.

Drive belt

Engine coolant

Fuel lines

Air cleaner filter

Engine oil

Oil filter

Spark plug