quote:

Originally posted by Green Highlander:
Google the pink milkshake of death. Happened to my ‘08 at 108K miles.

So does replacing the radiator alone protect from this or do you have to also bypass the fluid?

I have the 06 Pathfinder. You can bypass (there transmission cooler) but if you plan on towing or anything other than moderate on road driving, hot should just verify that it has a replacement radiator.

My was replaced in 2010, no issues with it.

Keep an eye on the serpentine tensioner. They are finicky, and will squeal bad when they go. Unfortunately, the stock ones last the best, I went through 4 aftermarket ones in 3 years before going to the dealer.

You can put an external cooler on it or just replace the radiator.

Had an 07 Off Road that was trouble free for 5 years and 70k miles till somebody totaled it for me. I’d buy another one in a minute if they made them. Good rig. I had a buddy that had an exterra and got the pink milkshake under warranty and Nissan was really crappy about the situation. Cost him a bunch of money.

Marzy any particular brand radiator you recommend? Or just go OEM?

Find out when they’ve had the timing belt replaced. It’s inside and if it breaks...well, it can be bad and your motor toast. Replace it yourself if it hasn’t been already. Just sold our 2002 4wd XTerra to the neighbor. Has 260,000 miles on it and still running.

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:
Marzy any particular brand radiator you recommend? Or just go OEM?

In reality, I have over 100,000 on the lifetime Autozone radiator on mt Frontier.

The Nissan radiators had weak transmission coolers.

**UPDATE**

Well the pink milkshake of death has struck. Thankfully the car had a 30 day warranty from the dealer. I took it to a Nissan specific mechanic and he think the coolant issue started about 10k miles ago by how the fluid looked. Replacing the tranny and radiator will cost about $4k. I’m not one to do it myself. The mechanic was amazed how well it ran with the tranny issues. So my options are to return the car and get my money back or take another xterra. They have an 05 S model in manual (so no tranny concerns) that was priced higher but they will give it to me for the same price. The only issue is that it has higher (miles 201k on the clock.) I like that it’s a manual. It’s actually in better shape (interior and exterior) then the one I bought. I plan on taking it to that same mechanic on Friday to have them look at it before I make a decision. Since I have 2 other vehicles I figure I will put 5k miles or less on it a year. So the question is how will long can I expect it to last past 201k. I will say that after having one for a few days I really like the xterra. The other option is to drop $12-15k and get a newer one with lower miles. Manuals are hard to find though.

I wanted a manual until I watched a video of someone pulling the tranny to change the clutch. I decided quickly that I wouldn't be doing that one myself either, so I might as well get an automatic.


I don't think I'd buy one with that many miles myself.

I have an '01 with 103k on it. Paid $5200 a couple years ago with 77k on it.

I'd get my money back and find something different.

As far as the other SUV, 201K is a lot of miles. I would only consider it if I had all the receipts for work done to it over the years.

Also, I have to question the reputation of the dealership selling it with what was probably a known issue.

That's what I would do if it was my money on the table. Good luck.

Get your money back. And then watch as that car magically appears back on the lot in a few days, unfixed.

Now you know why it was such a killer deal. And why the last guy traded it in.

Yeah, they got rid of it because it is to late.

I had a 2005 frontier with the pink shake at 80K. I was able to get it covered under an extended warranty. They replaced transmission and radiator. I should have had them replace hoses, but didn't.

I sold it at 252K miles. I thought it needed exhaust based on codes thrown about O2 sensors and horrid mileage. Camshaft position sensors resolved the mileage issue for the new owner, I don't think he cares about the O2 issue.

Get your money back, and find another deal.

quote:

Originally posted by Dusty78:

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:
Frequent Gas Stations?

(ex Girlfriend had one. I liked it, but it averaged around 15mpg)

I’ve averaged about 18 in 2WD

Fair point. My example was in Colorado, and always in 4wd.

Shame about the pink milkshake...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 46and2,

get your money back- be patient and find the one you want. It's out there. You aren't desperate for the vehicle right now so time is on your side.

Yeah, take the money and run. That dealer knew exactly what they were doing. Their hope was that you didn’t. Another save by Sigforum.

Glad you caught it and you can get your money back.

For those playing the how to buy a car home game, the lesson to be learned is to ask these questions before doing the deal. I've bought a few things that afterwards I wish I'd have checked out better before hand.

So how do you prevent this?

Wife has an 05 Xterra and I have a Titan?

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
So how do you prevent this?

Wife has an 05 Xterra and I have a Titan?

The titan should have no issue.

The frontiers have a transmission line that goes into the bottom of the radiator to help cool the transmission. This isn't a design flaw, other makers have done and still so this. Mine failed where the line entered the radiator. It was a hairline crack, but temperature and pressure differences exacerbated the issue.

There are two fixes, replace radiator (what dealer recommends) or do a radiator cooler bypass. I did the bypass for awhile, but returned to OEM due to towing. Doing the bypass and adding a transmission cooler would be a solve too.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
So how do you prevent this?

Wife has an 05 Xterra and I have a Titan?

How many miles on her xterra? The Nissan mechanic I went to said the highest miled xterr her ever saw without fluid mixing was 147k miles. He’s never seen one above that on an original radiator without some mixing.