Replacing antifreeze in Nissan Note e-Power: a complete guide with photos and videos

Nissan Note e-Power - a unique hybrid combining a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Its cooling system works under increased load, so quality and timely replacement of antifreeze critical to the longevity of the power plant. In this article, we will look at how to change the coolant yourself without harming the system, and why ignoring the regulations can result in overheating of the inverter or failure of the internal combustion engine (ICE).

The manufacturer recommends replacing antifreeze every 90,000 km or 6 years (whichever comes first), but for regions with extreme temperatures or aggressive use, this interval should be shortened. We analyzed the manuals Nissan, reviews from owners and advice from service engineers to collect the most accurate instructions - from choosing a fluid to bleeding the system.

Why antifreeze in Nissan Note e-Power requires special attention

Hybrid system e-Power differs from traditional cars in that The gasoline engine operates primarily as a generator, and not as a source of traction. This means:

• 🔥 Increased thermal loads on the inverter and electric motor, which are cooled by the same antifreeze as the internal combustion engine.
• ⚡ More frequent heating/cooling cycles, accelerating the degradation of additives in liquids.
• ⚠️ Risk of galvanic corrosion due to the interaction of antifreeze with copper elements of the system (radiators, pipes).

Ignoring replacement is fraught with:

• 🚨 Inverter overheating — its repair will cost 150,000+ rubles.
• 🔧 Formation of deposits in the radiator, reducing cooling efficiency by 30–40%.
• 💧 Leaks through leaky pipes (antifreeze Nissan L255 Over time it becomes aggressive towards rubber).

Owners Note e-Power on forums they often complain about cloudiness of the liquid after 40–50 thousand km. This is due to the peculiarities of the hybrid system, where antifreeze circulates even when the engine is turned off (for example, while charging the battery). Therefore fluid condition monitoring must be regular.

What antifreeze to fill: original vs analogues

The manufacturer recommends using original liquid Nissan Coolant L255 (article KE902-99932) — it is designed taking into account the materials of the cooling system e-Power. However, its price (about 2,500 rubles for 5 liters) forces us to look for alternatives. It is important to understand that not every “universal” antifreeze will work.

Parameter	Nissan L255	Coolstream Premium	Sintec Unlimited	Motul Inugel Optimal
Type	Hybrid (HOAT)	Hybrid	Lobridny	Hybrid
Color	Blue	Blue	Red	Orange
Service life	6 years	5 years	5 years	5 years
Compatible with e-Power	100%	Yes	Conditionally*	Yes
Approximate price (5 l)	2,500 rub.	1,800 rub.	2,200 rub.	2,000 rub.

* Sintec Unlimited requires flushing the system when switching from Nissan L255 due to different additive packages.

Key requirements for antifreeze for Note e-Power:

• 🔹 Specification: must match Nissan MESO Z15 or JIS K 2234.
• 🔹 Type: only hybrid (HOAT) or lobrid — carboxylate (G12+) are not suitable!
• 🔹 Color: not critical, but mixing liquids of different colors is prohibited.

If you decide to save money, be sure to flush the system special composition (for example, Liqui Moly Kuhlerreiniger) before adding new antifreeze. Otherwise, the remnants of the old fluid may react with the new one, forming a precipitate.

Preparing for replacement: tools and safety precautions

To work you will need:

• 🔧 10 mm wrench (for radiator drain plug).
• 🔧 14 mm head (for the plug on the engine block).
• 🛢️ Drain container (minimum 7 l).
• 🧤 Gloves and glasses — antifreeze is toxic!
• 🚿 Distilled water (10 l for rinsing).
• 🔥 Heat gun or hair dryer (to warm up the pipes).

Drain old fluid (radiator + engine block)|

Flush the system with distilled water|

Check the condition of the pipes and clamps|

Prepare new antifreeze (dilute if necessary)|

Make sure there is no air in the system after filling -->

Warnings that 90% of owners ignore:

⚠️ Attention: Never drain antifreeze on a hot engine! Risk of burns and deformation of aluminum parts. The optimal temperature for work is 20–30°C.

⚠️ Attention: B Note e-Power There is two drain plugs: on the radiator and on the engine block. If you drain the liquid only from the radiator, up to 1.5 liters of old antifreeze will remain in the system!

Before starting work turn off the ignition and remove the negative terminal from the battery — this will prevent the cooling fan from accidentally turning on. We also recommend:

• 📸 Take a photo of the location of the pipes — during assembly it is easy to confuse them in places.
• 🔋 Charge e-Power battery to 80% — when filling in new antifreeze, the system may start pumping.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing antifreeze

The replacement process takes about 2 hours. Follow the algorithm strictly step by step:

Step 1. Drain the old antifreeze

1. Place the car on a level surface and jack up the front end (this will help drain as much liquid as possible).
2. Remove the engine protection (4 x 10mm bolts).
3. Place the container under radiator drain plug (lower right corner) and unscrew it with a 10 mm wrench.
4. Unscrew plug on the engine block (14 mm head, located behind the generator).
5. Wait until it drains completely (about 15–20 minutes).

Step 2: Flush the system

• 💦 Fill in distilled water through the expansion tank to the maximum.
• 🔄 Start the engine and let it run for 10 minutes at idle (turn the heater on high).
• 🔥 Drain the water and repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the liquid becomes transparent.

What to do if the system is very dirty?

If you find flakes or thick sediment when draining, use a special cleaner (for example, Wynns Radiator Flush). Fill it with water instead, let the engine run for 30 minutes, then flush the system 3-4 times with distilled water.

Step 3. Filling with new antifreeze

• 🛢️ If you use concentrate, dilute it with distilled water in a 50/50 ratio.
• 🔧 Tighten the drain plugs (tightening torque: 10 Nm for the radiator, 20 Nm for the block).
• 🚗 Fill antifreeze through the expansion tank to the mark MAX.
• 🔄 Start the engine, let it run for 5 minutes, then add fluid to the level (the system will “expel” the air).

Step 4. Bleeding the system

This is the most important stage! B Note e-Power air may remain in inverter radiator, which will lead to overheating. To avoid this:

1. Raise the engine speed to 2,000–2,500 rpm and hold for 2–3 minutes.
2. Check the temperature of the pipes - they should be evenly warm.
3. If necessary compress the upper radiator hose hand to speed up the release of air.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced car owners make mistakes when replacing antifreeze in Note e-Power. Here are the most common:

1. Incomplete drainage of old fluid

As already mentioned, up to 1.5 liters of antifreeze remains in the system if it is not drained from the engine block. This leads to:

• 🔬 Mixing additives - the new liquid loses its properties.
• 💨 Foam formation when the engine is running.

2. Using the wrong antifreeze

Карбоксилатные жидкости (например, Coolstream A-110) are not compatible with e-Power. They are:

• 🔥 Разъедают алюминиевые детали inverter
• 🛑 Radiator channels are clogged gel-like deposits.

3. Ignoring system bleeding

Air jams in Note e-Power особенно опасны, так как могут:

• 🚨 Disable the inverter (repair cost - from 200,000 rubles).
• 🌡️ Cause false temperature sensor readings.

4. Exceeding the tightening torque of the plugs

Aluminum drain plugs are easy to break. Maximum torque:

• 🔧 Radiator: 10 Nm.
• 🔧 Engine block: 20 Nm.

Checking the system after replacement

2-3 days after replacing the antifreeze, be sure to:

1. 📋 Check fluid level in the expansion tank (must be between MIN And MAX).
2. 🔍 Inspect pipes and connections for leaks.
3. 📊 Count the mistakes via a diagnostic scanner (for example, Launch CReader). Pay attention to the codes P0128 (low coolant temperature) and P0597 (thermostat malfunction).

If you notice any of these symptoms, stop immediately:

• 🚨 Sudden rise in temperature on the dashboard.
• 💨 Cold air from the stove when the engine is warm.
• 🔊 Noise from under the hood (may indicate cavitation in the pump).

To be completely sure of the quality of the replacement, you can antifreeze test:

• 🔬 Refractometer check the concentration (should be 40–60%).
• 📉 Test strips determine the pH level (normal: 7.5–11).

When unscheduled replacement is required

In addition to routine replacement, antifreeze in Note e-Power needs to be changed if the following signs occur:

Symptom	Possible reason	Actions
Antifreeze has turned brown or black	Oxidation of additives, corrosion of metals	Immediate replacement + flushing
Flakes or sediment appear	Mixing incompatible liquids	Complete flushing of the system
Leakage from pipes	Rubber degradation from old antifreeze	Replacement pipes + new antifreeze
Inverter overheating (error P0A9F)	Air lock or low level	Bleeding the system

Pay special attention winter period. If antifreeze is diluted with water in the wrong proportion, it can:

• ❄️ Freeze at −20°C, damaging the radiator.
• 🔧 Impair heat transfer, which is critical for a hybrid system.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to mix Nissan L255 antifreeze with other fluids?

Mix Nissan L255 only possible with antifreeze based monoethylene glycol and with a similar additive package (HOAT or lobrid). It is strictly forbidden to mix with:

• 🚫 Carboxylate (G12, G12+).
• 🚫 Antifreeze (traditional liquids).

In emergency cases, topping up is allowed distilled water (no more than 200 ml), but then the system needs to be flushed and fresh antifreeze refilled.

How much antifreeze is needed for a complete change in Note e-Power?

Total volume of the cooling system - 6.5–7 liters. However, when draining, you will get about 5–5.5 liters, since some of the liquid remains in the block and radiator of the stove. For a complete replacement you will need:

• 🛢️ 7 liters of ready-made antifreeze (if you buy concentrate - 3.5 liters of concentrate + 3.5 liters of water).
• 💧 10 liters of distilled water for rinsing.

Do I need to flush the system when replacing antifreeze?

Flushing required, if:

• 🔄 You change the type of antifreeze (for example, from G12 to HOAT).
• 💨 Old liquid is cloudy or has sediment.
• ⏳ More than 100,000 km have passed since the last replacement.

For rinsing use only distilled water or special means (for example, Liqui Moly Kuhlerreiniger). Do not pour tap water under any circumstances - salts and impurities form scale!

How often should I check the antifreeze level in Note e-Power?

Control the level every month or before long trips. It is especially important to do this:

• 🌡️ In summer (risk of overheating).
• ❄️ In winter (risk of freezing).
• 🚗 After active use (for example, towing a trailer).

The level should be between MIN And MAX on cold engine. If antifreeze drains faster than 200 ml per month, look for a leak!

Is it possible to replace antifreeze yourself without experience?

Yes, but with reservations:

• ✅ If you carefully follow the instructions and take your time, the risks are minimal.
• ⚠️ Main difficulties:
• 🔧 Access to the engine block drain plug (you need an extension for the key).
• 💨 Bleeding the system (requires patience).
• 🚗 If in doubt, contact the service. Mistakes when replacing antifreeze in a hybrid are costly.