dropped my engine coolant cap

JARblue · 02-20-2013, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakexlee

yes im sure it is... hahahah

thanks for the response. ive been driving since for about 4 days. . . damn i should've known... my engine coolant (antifreeze) was pretty much empty, do i need to refill this soon as well? anyways more responses would be appreciated!

I lost the cap for the engine coolant then... is the cap required? or can i still run it without.

Yikes! I would have the coolant system flushed asap. That is the engine coolant overflow reservoir cap. Ask wherever you take if they can replace it for you or find the one you dropped down in the engine bay.

jakexlee · 02-20-2013, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JARblue

Yikes! I would have the coolant system flushed asap. That is the engine coolant overflow reservoir cap. Ask wherever you take if they can replace it for you or find the one you dropped down in the engine bay.

thanks. i dont know how to flush it but should i just go to a local gas station mechanic? or autoshop? damn... this sucks.

DEpointfive0 · 02-20-2013, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakexlee

thanks. i dont know how to flush it but should i just go to a local gas station mechanic? or autoshop? damn... this sucks.

Get Nissan's fluid and go to another mechanic, or have Nissan do it... Don't drive much, or hard with that crap in your engine

Ask to have them run your car with water as well before they do the final fill

SouthArk370Z · 02-20-2013, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakexlee

yes im sure it is... hahahah

thanks for the response. ive been driving since for about 4 days. . . damn i should've known... my engine coolant (antifreeze) was pretty much empty, do i need to refill this soon as well? anyways more responses would be appreciated!

I lost the cap for the engine coolant then... is the cap required? or can i still run it without.

The bottle is vented to atmosphere so lack of a cap won't affect operation, but you're likely to slosh antifreeze into the engine compartment - messy stuff.

I'd ask an expert (or two or three) about how the washer fluid will affect the coolant before driving very much.

JARblue · 02-20-2013, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

The bottle is vented to atmosphere so lack of a cap won't affect operation, but you're likely to slosh antifreeze into the engine compartment - messy stuff.

I'd ask an expert (or two or three) about how the washer fluid will affect the coolant before driving very much.

If you're concerned about sloshing, use some foil and wire to cap off the reservoir

Similar to plastic wrap and a rubber band, but I would use materials that can handle the heat being in the engine bay.

jakexlee · 02-20-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

The bottle is vented to atmosphere so lack of a cap won't affect operation, but you're likely to slosh antifreeze into the engine compartment - messy stuff.

I'd ask an expert (or two or three) about how the washer fluid will affect the coolant before driving very much.

alright. well i put less about half of the washer fluid bottle/gallon idk in the engine coolant.... i filled the white reservoir tank about halfway i guess and i checked recently its about gone. i guess ill go check the nissan dealership. im afraid they'll charge me a shitload..

JARblue · 02-20-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakexlee

alright. well i put less about half of the washer fluid bottle/gallon idk in the engine coolant.... i filled the white reservoir tank about halfway i guess and i checked recently its about gone. i guess ill go check the nissan dealership. im afraid they'll charge me a shitload..

That's concerning that the fluid level has already dropped such a significant amount in a just a few days. Just guessing, it will probably cost several hundred dollars at a dealership, but I would recommend you do it immediately for precautionary sake. I can't imagine it would be too terrible for the car, but I'm sure it's compromised the coolant in some manner.

Trips · 02-20-2013, 02:30 PM

Honestly the Op could do these himslef but I have no idea what skill level he has to attempt to advise him to fix it himself, He's already shown what little knowledge he has.

I'm NOT dumping on him but facts are fact.

If the Op is capable? He could

1. remove the overflow bottle and rinse it out with water along with reinstalling it.

2 Buy a flush radiator kit and flush out and refill the engine coolant

3. removed the front portion of the splash guard to make sure the coolant cap isn't lying there.

Alternative TAKE IT TO THE DEALER

That is all carry on.

MightyBobo · 02-20-2013, 03:42 PM

This isn't the end of the world...you could effectively drive a car with pure water in it, and windshield washer fluid isn't exactly soapy. In fact, antifreeze is likely added TO the fluid, to lower its freezing point to make it a de-icing fluid. Now, I'm not saying he should keep it in there, but don't lose your s-it here - the motor is going to be fine. Just get it flushed out and you'll be good to go.

DEpointfive0 · 02-20-2013, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

This isn't the end of the world...you could effectively drive a car with pure water in it, and windshield washer fluid isn't exactly soapy. In fact, antifreeze is likely added TO the fluid, to lower its freezing point to make it a de-icing fluid. Now, I'm not saying he should keep it in there, but don't lose your s-it here - the motor is going to be fine. Just get it flushed out and you'll be good to go.

This is true, but it has methanol and other crap
Aluminum doesn't like methanol

jakexlee · 02-20-2013, 04:18 PM

yeah i am not good with cars.... i called the nissan dealership. they said it costs $130 to flush out... and they;ll check the rest of the possible issues. =(

DEpointfive0 · 02-20-2013, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jakexlee

yeah i am not good with cars.... i called the nissan dealership. they said it costs $130 to flush out... and they;ll check the rest of the possible issues. =(

... Lie... Or take it to another dealer, don't admit your fault, they'll document it and if you ever need warranty work, they'll deny it

MightyBobo · 02-20-2013, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

This is true, but it has methanol and other crap
Aluminum doesn't like methanol

I'm just saying he could drive it to a shop and not lose his sh-t is all :-)

Sent from my Galaxy S3

MightyBobo · 02-20-2013, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEpointfive0

... Lie... Or take it to another dealer, don't admit your fault, they'll document it and if you ever need warranty work, they'll deny it

Yeah I'd go elsewhere, probably

Sent from my Galaxy S3

DEpointfive0 · 02-20-2013, 06:24 PM

OP, do you have any friends in the area who have a set of tools?
It's not hard to drain the system... I'd drain it and run distilled water then drive somewhere else to fix it (ONLY if this is your only car)

Or go to Nissan and get some coolant and do the flush!

02-20-2013, 02:30 PM	#23 (permalink)
Trips Administrator Join Date: May 2009 Location: Disneyland, Ca Posts: 8,730 Drives: 🔰 Rep Power: 10	Honestly the Op could do these himslef but I have no idea what skill level he has to attempt to advise him to fix it himself, He's already shown what little knowledge he has. I'm NOT dumping on him but facts are fact. If the Op is capable? He could 1. remove the overflow bottle and rinse it out with water along with reinstalling it. 2 Buy a flush radiator kit and flush out and refill the engine coolant 3. removed the front portion of the splash guard to make sure the coolant cap isn't lying there. Alternative TAKE IT TO THE DEALER That is all carry on. Waiz and JARblue like this. __________________ Last edited by Trips; 02-20-2013 at 02:33 PM.

02-20-2013, 03:42 PM	#24 (permalink)
MightyBobo A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Las Vegas, NV Posts: 8,465 Drives: No cars; only bikes Rep Power: 52	This isn't the end of the world...you could effectively drive a car with pure water in it, and windshield washer fluid isn't exactly soapy. In fact, antifreeze is likely added TO the fluid, to lower its freezing point to make it a de-icing fluid. Now, I'm not saying he should keep it in there, but don't lose your s-it here - the motor is going to be fine. Just get it flushed out and you'll be good to go. __________________ I don't own a car anymore.

02-20-2013, 06:24 PM	#30 (permalink)
DEpointfive0 Premium Member Bitches Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,824 Drives: a lot Rep Power: 17151	OP, do you have any friends in the area who have a set of tools? It's not hard to drain the system... I'd drain it and run distilled water then drive somewhere else to fix it (ONLY if this is your only car) Or go to Nissan and get some coolant and do the flush! __________________ Do YOU want to know what/where I got my username from? ( Click to show/hide ) NSFW due to language:

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02-20-2013, 04:18 PM	#26 (permalink)
jakexlee Base Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 125 Drives: Blue 370z Rep Power: 14	yeah i am not good with cars.... i called the nissan dealership. they said it costs $130 to flush out... and they;ll check the rest of the possible issues. =(