COOLANT
DESCRIPTION
Antifreeze is an ethylene-glycol base coolant and is harmful if swallowed or inhaled. If swallowed, drink two glasses of water and induce vomiting. If inhaled, move to fresh air area. Seek medical attention immediately. Do not store in open or unmarked containers. Wash skin and clothing thoroughly after coming in contact with ethylene-glycol. Keep out of reach of children. Dispose of glycol base coolant properly, contact your dealer or government agency for location of collection center in your area. Do not open a cooling system when the engine is at operating temperature or hot under pressure, personal injury can result. Avoid radiator cooling fan when engine compartment related service is performed, personal injury can result.
WARNING:
Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than specified Organic
Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may result
in engine damage and may decrease corrosion protection. Organic Additive
Technology (OAT) engine coolant is different and should not be mixed
with Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) engine coolant (antifreeze).
If a non-OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling
system in an emergency, it should be replaced with the specified engine
coolant (antifreeze) as soon as possible.
CAUTION:
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To find the coolant needed, (Refer to 04 - Vehicle Quick Reference/Capacities and Recommended Fluids - Specifications) .
The cooling system is designed around the coolant. The coolant must accept heat from engine metal, in the cylinder head area near the exhaust valves and engine block. Then coolant carries the heat to the radiator where the tube/fin radiator can transfer the heat to the air.
The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Mopar® Antifreeze/Coolant, or the equivalent ethylene-glycol base coolant with organic corrosion inhibitors (called OAT, for Organic Additive Technology) is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% ethylene-glycol and 50% distilled water to obtain a freeze point of -37°C (-35°F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and replace with fresh properly mixed coolant solution.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - COOLANT CONCENTRATION TESTING
Coolant concentration should be checked when any additional coolant was added to system or after a coolant drain, flush and refill. The coolant mixture offers optimum engine cooling and protection against corrosion when mixed to a freeze point of -37°C (-34°F) to -46°C (-50°F). The a hydrometer or a refractometer can be used to test coolant concentration.
A hydrometer will test the amount of glycol in a mixture by measuring the specific gravity of the mixture. The higher the concentration of ethylene-glycol, the larger the number of balls that will float, and higher the freeze protection (up to a maximum of 60% by volume glycol).
A refractometer, Tool 8286 (Refer to 07 - Cooling - Special Tools) will test the amount of glycol in a coolant mixture by measuring the amount a beam of light bends as it passes through the fluid.
Some coolant manufactures use other types of glycols into their coolant formulations. Propylene-glycol is the most common new coolant. However, propylene-glycol based coolants do not provide the same freezing protection and corrosion protection and is not recommended.
Do not mix types of coolant -
corrosion protection will be severely reduced.
CAUTION: