Hey Scotty, I found a 2006 Frontier. 49000 miles, garage parked and well maintained by current owner. These trucks have a history of radiator and transmissions exchanging fluids. Owner wants $9500. Should I buy it and install a new radiator or is it pass the vulnerable period of radiator failure. Love your videos.
The first step is to determine whether such cross-contamination has already occurred. You should have a diagnostic pre-purchase inspection, by a good mechanic familiar with this issue, before you make a decision.
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Nissan had extended the warranty on this issue. This is from a Frontier Forum. It seems informed and credible. Read it and decide:
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From ClubFrontier.org: The URL: https://www.clubfrontier.org/threads/what-years-did-the-trans-fluid-coolant-cross-contamination-apply-to.305218/
+++Quote is Below+++
The issue was caused by a failure of a seal in the radiator's integral cooler; it's not a corrosion issue as some have suggested. When the seal fails, the engine coolant and transmission fluid can cross-contaminate. This issue occurs on 2005 though 2010 Frontiers/Xterras/Pathfinders with the VQ40DE engine with the orignial, Calsonic radiator. Most of the failures have occurred on 05-07 models, but there have been failures on later models, including 09-10 model years. That said, any radiator with an integral oil cooler (or coolers, as some vehicles have integral transmission fluid AND engine oil coolers) has the "potential" to experience a cooler failure, but they are, on the whole, very reliable and have been used for decades. It was just these particular Calsonic radiators had a high rate of cooler failures. Calsonic, as a company, has been a long-time manufacturer of parts for Nissans, including exhaust systems, air conditioning systems and even dashboards. Nissan bought out the company in the mid-2000's, which, ironically, is when the cooler problems started in the Frontiers/Xterras/Pathfinders and also when the problems with cracked, lower radiator tanks started in the Titans/Armadas.
There are several options to avoid the issue. The cheapest is to simply bypass the radiator's integral cooler and rely only on the factory installed, auxiliary tans cooler. This method usually does a pretty good job at cooling the fluid and there is really no need to add an additional cooler, however, it does eliminate the radiator's integral cooler's ability to warm the transmission fluid (transmission fluid operates ideally around 175-200 degrees F.) as well as provide the ability for additional cooling, if needed. Liquid to liquid coolers are far more efficient than liquid to air coolers. Also, those who have done the bypass method and measured their trans fluid temperatures have reported readings around 155-165 degrees F. under "normal driving conditions." While this is slightly below the "ideal" range, it is still okay, however, you do not want to run transmission fluid consistently at temperatures below 150 degrees F. The integral cooler will warm the fluid more quickly and better maintain it in the ideal range.
The other options include radiator replacement. The genuine Nissan radiator is around $550 ($450 online) and they have a value line option for $350, which is still a lot for a plastic tanked radiator. Most of the aftermarket, plastic tanked radiators are made in China, including the popular Spectra Premium, but they are, on the whole, well-constructed and can be had in the $100 range. For the same $350 that you could spend on a Nissan value line radiator, you can get an all-aluminum, CSF radiator from Stillen Motorsports that will bolt right in. Any option is better than gambling on whether the factory radiator will fail and ruin the transmission or not.
Yes, but not for $9500. Keep it <$5000.
No matter what, have a professional mechanic inspect it thoroughly, before purchase.
