How to Change the Coolant in a 2003 Nissan Frontier

Changing the coolant in your Frontier's radiator is a simple task. The coolant in your truck doesn't just provide a heat source. Its main job is cooling the entire engine with the help of the radiator and its fan. All Nissan models, including your Frontier, require a special "non-silicate coolant" for the cooling system to function correctly. Draining and filling your coolant system can be done safely in your driveway. The entire job should take one hour or less to complete.

Instructions

Check the radiator to see if it is hot. To do this, hold your your hand over the radiator's surface without actually touching it. Never open the radiator if the car has just been driven. Always wait one hour for proper cooling.

Slowly remove the radiator cap and set it to the side of your work area.

Locate the radiator's coolant drain plug. The coolant plug for your Frontier will be on the driver's side bottom of the radiator. The plug may be under the plastic splash guard on some models. If it is, use a flat head screwdriver to pop out the plastic holding clips.

Loosen the coolant drain plug, but don't remove it yet. Slide the coolant drain pan under the car. Quickly remove the drain plug and slide the drain pan into position to catch the coolant. Allow the coolant to drain completely (approximately 30 minutes).

Slide the coolant drain pan to the far left of the radiator, until it is directly under the filler hole. Move the coolant drain pan slowly, making sure the coolant doesn't spill.

Securely reinstall the drain plug on the radiator. One half turn past "hand tight" should be sufficient.

Insert the funnel into the radiator's filler hole and begin slowly pouring in the non-silicate coolant. Fill the radiator until it reaches, at minimum, 75% full. Remove the funnel.

Put your safety glasses on and start the car while the radiator cap is still off. Monitor the coolant level by peering into the radiator from afar. Pay close attention to the bubbles that you see. This is how the system relieves trapped air. Once the bubbles stop, the coolant level in the radiator will noticeably drop. Add additional coolant until the radiator is once again full. Quickly put the radiator cap on again, tightening it securely.

Refill the radiator's reservoir "overflow bottle" to the correct level. Look for the line on the outside of the bottle that reads "cold level." Slowly slide the coolant drain pan out from under the truck. Let the truck run for 20 minutes before you take it for a test drive.