coolant temperature DODGE AVENGER 2008 Owners Manual

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS
1. Fuel Gauge
When the ignition switch is in the ON position, the
pointer will show the level of fuel remaining in the
fuel tank.
2. Fuel Door Reminder
This is a reminder that the Fuel Filler Door is
located on the left side of the vehicle.
3. Temperature Gauge
The temperature gauge shows engine coolant tem-
perature. Any reading below the red area of the
gauge shows that the engine cooling system is
operating properly. The gauge pointer may show a
higher than normal temperature when driving in hot
weather, up mountain grades, in heavy stop and go
traffic, or when towing a trailer. If the pointer rises to the H (red) mark, the instrument
cluster will sound a chime. Pull over and stop the vehicle.
Idle the vehicle with the air conditioner turned off until
the pointer drops back into the normal range. If the
pointer remains on the H (red) mark, turn the engine off
immediately and call for service.
There are steps that you can take to slow down an
impending overheat condition. If your air conditioning is
on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the engine cooling system and turning off the A/C
removes this heat. You can also turn the Temperature
control to maximum heat, the Mode control to Floor and
the Fan control to High. This allows the heater core to act
as a supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
4. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed in miles per hour Ð MPH.170 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

WARNING!A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, refer to Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
ENGINE OIL OVERHEATING (2.4L ENGINE ONLY)
Ð IF EQUIPPED
During sustained high-speed driving or trailer tow up
long grades on a hot day, the engine oil temperature may
become too hot. If this happens, the ªHOTOILº message
flashes in the odometer and the vehicle speed will be
reduced to 53 mph (85 km/h) until the engine oil
temperature is reduced. NOTE: The vehicle speed is reduced to a maximum of
53 mph (85 km/h). You may of course, reduce your
vehicle speed further if needed.
JACKING AND TIRE CHANGING
WARNING!² Getting under a jacked-up vehicle is dangerous.
The vehicle could slip off the jack and fall on you.
You could be crushed. Never get any part of your
body under a vehicle that is on a jack. If you need
to get under a raised vehicle, take it to a service
center where it can be raised on a lift.
² The jack is designed to use as a tool for changing
tires only. The jack should not be used to lift the
vehicle for service purposes. The vehicle should
be jacked on a firm level surface only. Avoid ice or
slippery areas.350 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!² Mixing of coolants other than specified HOAT
engine coolants, may result in engine damage and
may decrease corrosion protection. If a non-HOAT
coolant is introduced into the cooling system in an
emergency, it should be replaced with the speci-
fied coolant as soon as possible.
² Do not use plain water alone or alcohol-base
engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use
additional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as
they may not be compatible with the radiator
engine coolant and may plug the radiator.
² This vehicle has not been designed for use with
Propylene Glycol based coolants. Use of Propy-
lene Glycol based coolants is not recommended. Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
coolant can be used up to 5 Years or 100,000 mi (160 000
km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this ex-
tended maintenance period, it is important that you use
the same coolant throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for using Hybrid
Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) coolant.
When adding coolant:
² The manufacturer recommends using Mopar t
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology).
² Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below 2 34F( 2 37 C) are
anticipated.390 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

² Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolant
solution. The use of lower quality water will reduce
the amount of corrosion protection in the engine
cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner's responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE: Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
coolant, and to ensure that coolant will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery bottle. The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!² The warning words ªDO NOT OPEN HOTº on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add coolant when the engine is
overheated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to
cool an overheated engine. Heat causes pressure to
build up in the cooling system. To prevent scald-
ing or injury, do not remove the pressure cap while
the system is hot or under pressure.
² Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result. MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 391
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Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal. Check with your
local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by animals or children,
do not store ethylene glycol based engine coolant in open
containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the
ground. If ingested by a child, contact a physician
immediately. Clean up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
4 Cylinder Engines Ð the coolant bottle provides a quick
visual method for determining that the coolant level is
adequate. With the engine idling and warm to normal
operating temperature, the level of the coolant in the
bottle should be between the ªADDº and ªFULLº lines,
shown on the bottle. 6 Cylinder Engines Ð the level of the coolant in the
pressurized coolant bottle should be between the
ªCOLDº and ªFULLº range on the bottle when the
engine is cold.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is
no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
coolant freeze point or replacing coolant. Advise your
service attendant of this. As long as the engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle need only
be checked once a month. When additional coolant is
needed to maintain the proper level, it should be added
to the coolant bottle. Do not overfill.
Points To Remember
NOTE: When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles
(kilometers) of operation, you may observe vapor coming
from the front of the engine compartment. This is nor-
mally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high392 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Fuel System Caution ..................... 329
Fueling ............................... 328
Fuses ................................ 406
Garage Door Opener (HomeLink t ) ........... 143
Gas Cap (Fuel Filler Cap) ............ 328,330,371
Gasoline, Clean Air ...................... 320
Gasoline (Fuel) ......................... 319
Gasoline, Reformulated ................. 320,321
Gauges
Coolant Temperature .................... 170
Fuel ................................ 170
Odometer ........................... 172
Tachometer .......................... 172
Gearshift .............................. 270
General Information ................. 17,115,319
General Maintenance ..................... 374
Glass Cleaning .......................... 404
Glove Compartment ...................... 161 Gross Axle Weight Rating ............... 332,335
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating ............. 332,334
GVWR ............................... 332
Hands-Free Phone (UConnectŸ) ........ 89,223,224
Hard Drive (HDD) .................... 220,223
Hazard
Driving Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow
Standing Water ........................ 289
Hazard Warning Flasher ................... 348
Head Restraints ......................... 125
Headlights ............................ 412
Bulb Replacement ...................... 412
Cleaning ............................ 402
High Beam ........................ 134,179
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch ........ 134
On With Wipers ....................... 137
Passing ............................. 131
Switch .............................. 130 INDEX 451
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Side Window Demisters (Defrosters) .......... 253
Signals, Turn ........................... 416
Slippery Surfaces, Driving On ............... 288
Snow Chains (Tire Chains) ................. 309
Snow Tires ............................ 309
Sound Systems (Radio) ................. 220,223
Spare Tire ....................... 303,304,351
Spark Plugs ............................ 379
Specifications
Oil ................................ 376
Speed Control (Cruise Control) ........... 140,174
Speedometer ........................ 170,172
Speedometer and Odometer ................ 168
Starting ............................... 261
Engine Fails to Start .................... 263
Starting Procedures ...................... 261
Steering
Linkage ............................. 386
Power ........................... 287,385 Tilt Column .......................... 139
Wheel, Tilt ........................... 139
Steering Wheel Mounted Sound System
Controls .............................. 236
Storage ............................ 160,411
Storage, Vehicle ......................... 253
Stuck, Freeing .......................... 361
Sun Roof .............................. 150
Supplemental Restraint System - Airbag ........ 51
Synthetic Engine Oil ...................... 377
System, Navigation ...................... 223
Tachometer ............................ 172
Taillights .............................. 416
Telescoping Steering Column ............... 139
Temperature Control, Automatic (ATC) ........ 246
Temperature Gauge, Engine Coolant ....... 170,349
Tether Anchor, Child Restraint ............... 71
Theft Alarm (Security Alarm) ................ 18 INDEX 459
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