Hey Scotty and Fellow Moderators, I have a 2011 Nissan Frontier 4L V6 4x4 5spd w/od automatic w/ 151K miles. So I have a bullydog GT tuner, and recently my coolant temperature has been going up (could be due to summer but my avg temps where I live currently are around 84 degrees) so about 4 months ago, my avg coolant temp was around 192-197F and now when I drive I’m averaging around 201-206F. I just replaced the radiator to see if that would fix it, it didn’t work. I do notice though, if I’m driving and I stomp on the gas pedal, my temperatures go down very quickly, like to 195F degrees, but then when I stop accelerating it slowly goes back up to 201-206F. I’ve been told it could be a weak water pump? But I don’t have any coolant leaks from under the front of the vehicle. I’ve been told it could be my fan clutch. Though I would just like to know anyone else’s experience with these 4L V6’s in these Nissans. Do they normally run 201-206 in summer? I had the cooling system burped so I don’t think their are air pockets either. I guess my question is, what is the normal operating temp for these Nissan 4L V6’s is my 201-206F temps normal in summer? I have a 180F thermostat too! Just by the way:
Yeppers
An 11 year old fan clutch may be the problem. And possibly and older and malfunctioning radiator cap. If when the engine is cold, you can easily rotate the fan by hand, it's probably time for a replacement. Same with the temperature sending unit. At that age, it could malfunctioning.
There is no problem when it’s warmer out you’re well within spec
Just as a common question, not particular for any vehicle. Is it normal for your coolant temps to run 6-8F degrees hotter in the summer months, rather than the winter months?
Hello Scotty! I just got told by my nearby shop that my fan clutch is too loose and is spinning more than it’s supposed too, and the thermostat doesn’t seem to run effectively. I’m getting both of them replaced. The only reason I brought it, was because my 2011 Nissan Frontier SV 4x4 153K miles, used to run @192 degrees F but now it runs operating temp @199-203 degrees F. So I have two essential questions,
1.) Will replacing these two things make my engine run cooler?
2.) With a 180 degree thermostat, (which is the oem set thermostat temp) what temperature should my coolant be with that thermostat in?
If the fan clutch is loose, the fan won't spin fast enough to provide adequate airflow to cool the radiator. If your engine cools down when you're driving and overheats when you sit, this is an indicator of issues with your fan.
A 180 degrees F thermostat will open when the coolant in the engine block reaches 180 degrees F. If the thermostat is operating correctly, the outlet to the radiator (top hose) should read in the neighborhood of 180 F if you check with an infrared temperature gun. If it's significantly above that and the fan/ cooling system is in otherwise good shape, the thermostat isn't operating correctly.
Thank you Justin, but it’s a very odd situation for me… the more strain I put on the engine, going up hill the higher the temperature goes. When I slow down and don’t apply any gas, it doesn’t get any hotter, in fact it cools down. But not to what it originally used to run which was @192 degrees. So I don’t really know how to diagnose this?
And even when I’m running at high way speeds 65-75mph it stays @199-201 degrees… so even with more airflow it still seems to run hotter than what it used to run… and I don’t want to replace the water pump because of the Nissan 4L V6 design where it’s connected to the timing chain. And you’d have to take the timing cover off to replace it. Which is a huge job.
the more strain I put on the engine, going up hill the higher the temperature goes. When I slow down and don’t apply any gas, it doesn’t get any hotter, in fact it cools down.
When you're putting a load on the engine (going uphill), it's burning more fuel, the additional heat needs to be absorbed and dissipated by the cooling system. When you're coasting (no throttle, rolling) the additional heat isn't being generated, so it cools down.
Have you checked the coolant level in both the radiator and overflow tank? If it's low, top it off and replace the radiator cap.
I don’t want to replace the water pump because of the Nissan 4L V6 design where it’s connected to the timing chain. And you’d have to take the timing cover off to replace it.
You will want to replace that water pump if it's wearing out. It will dump coolant into the oil pan if you drive it until it blows.
Yeah! Thank you, I’ve looked for all the signs of a bad water pump, there is no coolant leakage under the vehicle and I’m not losing any coolant. So I don’t believe the water pump is bad. I’ve been told signs of a bad water pump, are a white milk ish residue on the top of your oil cap, coolant leaking from the weep hole from your water pump, lost coolant for no apparent reason,, and overheating. I haven’t seen any of those symptoms. The only reason I took it to the shop is because it was running hotter on normal operating temperature. And I’ve checked the coolant levels and I replaced the radiator a month back to try to make it run cooler; and it didn’t fix anything. But I made sure the coolant was topped off and everything looked good.