Engine coolant advice needed please

[walshie]

Hi guys, just checked the oil level in the wife's Murano and noticed the engine coolant is way below the minimum mark! Eek!

We're at the inlaws and the owners manual is at home, am I ok just to put water from the kettle in? Or am I going to need some fancy and expensive Nissan coolant?
Sorry forth amateur question, but I've never had to touch the coolant in my terrano!

All advice gratefully received!
Matt

 

[jims-terrano]

Assuming engine is cold?
Think level rises in expansion bottle when the engine is warm.

Personally I'd do same as you stick some water in and then get the coolant changed when you are home but don't forget to do it, cost a lot if your engine froze or corroded. I'd also be tempted to carry a bottle of water for journey home too, just in case.

 

[walshie]

Cheers, Yeh that's exactly what I was thinking.

Engine was slightly warm when I checked but not fully up to temperature, but there was only a trace of coolant in the bottom of the bottle. I wonder how long it's been like that eek

 

[Sweety]

Just top it up with water for now & once your home you could get the coolant percentage checked:thumbs

 

[glanrichbex]

My Terrano 2.7 is using / loosing water and I can't work out where from. It's been doing it since I got it 2 months ago and at first I thought it was due to a leaking water pump which I could see dripping.

I changed the pump and now it's not dripping but the truck goes through a pint of water a week

It runs fine, no water in the oil or vice versa, there is no trace of a leak around the rad, I've had the rad out and it looks to be in really good condition. I've listened and looked everywhere when she's hot and no sign of a leak at all. I parked it on tarmarc on a hot dry day waiting for a drip ....... nothing. I carefully removed the cap on top of the rad and found she's under pressure O.K, I've followed the pipe back to the expansion bottle and all seems to be in order but I can't find a leak anywhere!!!

 

[solarman216]

crude test for head gasket probs, remove the rad cap and place a modified cap on it that just seals the top flange, (or any other method you can come up with, plastic bag with rag to insulate your hand from the heat ) any gas that is entering the water ways will show as bubbles in the tank, if you get bubbles then head gasket is about to fail, or has failed, Rick