radiator cap DODGE DAKOTA 2008 3.G Owners Manual

Cooling System
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant or
steam from your radiator. If you see or hear steam
coming from under the hood, don't open the hood
until the radiator has had time to cool. Never try to
open a cooling system pressure cap when the radiator
is hot.
Engine Coolant Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every 12
months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh
coolant. Check the front of the A/C condenser for anyaccumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the
face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
coolant from the radiator drain cock. If the cap is sealing
properly, the engine coolant (antifreeze) will begin to
drain from the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT RE-
MOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE
COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 351
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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 miles (160
000 km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this
extended 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:
²The manufacturer recommends using Mopart
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology)
²Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below -34ÉF (-37ÉC) are
anticipated.
²Use 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 insure that coolant will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery bottle.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 353
7

The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!
²The 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.
²Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result.
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
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine cold, the level of the coolant in the coolant
recovery bottle should be between the ranges indicated
on the bottle.
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
354 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Ball Joints............................. 348
Battery............................... 345
Charging............................ 323
Emergency Starting..................... 323
Gas Caution.......................... 323
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE)....... 26
Saving Feature (Protection)............... 114
Belts, Drive............................ 342
Belts, Seat.............................. 36
Body Mechanism Lubrication............... 348
Box, Sound............................ 208
B-Pillar Location........................ 257
Brake Fluid............................ 386
Brake System........................249,357
Anti-Lock (ABS)....................249,250
Disc Brakes.......................... 357
Fluid Check.......................... 357
Hoses.............................. 358
Master Cylinder....................... 357Parking............................. 247
Warning Light.....................160,164
Brake/Transmission Interlock............... 225
Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle........ 68
Bulb Replacement....................... 374
Bulbs, Light............................ 373
Calibration, Compass..................... 130
Camper............................... 151
Capacities, Fluid........................ 384
Caps, Filler
Oil (Engine).......................... 340
Power Steering........................ 347
Radiator (Coolant Pressure)............... 353
Car Washes............................ 364
Carbon Monoxide Warning..............151,281
Cargo Light............................ 116
Cargo (Vehicle Loading)................... 288
Catalytic Converter...................... 343
INDEX 409
10

CD (Compact Disc) Player................. 197
Cellular Phone..................79,197,199,209
Center High Mounted Stop Light............ 379
Center Seat Storage Compartment............ 141
Certification Label....................... 288
Changing A Flat Tire..................... 313
Charging.............................. 323
Chart, Tire Sizing........................ 254
Child Restraint......................55,56,57
Child Restraint Tether Anchors.............59,64
Child Seat.............................. 61
Circuit Breakers......................... 367
Cleaning
Wheels............................. 365
Climate Control......................... 209
Clock........................167,172,184,199
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance............. 207
Compact Spare Tire...................... 265
Compass.............................. 130Compass Calibration..................... 130
Compass Variance....................... 131
Computer, Trip/Travel.................... 126
Console, Floor.......................... 140
Console, Overhead....................... 125
Contract, Service........................ 400
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap).......... 353
Cooling System......................... 351
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze).............. 353
Coolant Capacity...................... 384
Coolant Level......................351,354
Disposal of Used Coolant................ 354
Drain, Flush, and Refill.................. 352
Inspection........................... 354
Points to Remember.................... 355
Pressure Cap......................... 353
Radiator Cap......................... 353
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze)......352,384,385
Temperature Gauge..................... 158
410 INDEX

Preparation for Jacking.................... 318
Pretensioners
Seat Belts............................. 42
Programming Transmitters
(Remote Keyless Entry).................... 25
Quad Cab............................. 110
Radial Ply Tires......................... 264
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap).......351,353
Radio Broadcast Signals................... 168
Radio, Navigation....................... 197
Radio Operation......................198,209
Radio, Satellite....................197,199,201
Radio (Sound Systems).................... 197
Rear Axle (Differential).................... 362
Rear Cargo Area Utility Rails............... 149
Rear Convenience Storage Crates............. 142
Rear Window.......................... 146Rear Window Defroster................... 145
Rear Window Features.................... 145
Rearview Mirrors........................ 77
Reclining Front Seats..................... 106
Recorder, Event Data...................... 53
Recreational Towing...................... 305
Shifting into Transfer Case Neutral (N)....... 305
Shifting out of Transfer Case Neutral (N)..... 308
Reformulated Gasoline.................... 279
Refrigerant............................ 347
Release, Hood.......................... 111
Reminder, Seat Belt....................... 43
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)................. 21
Remote Sound System (Radio) Controls........ 205
Remote Starting System.................... 27
Replacement Keys........................ 16
Replacement Parts....................... 337
Replacement Tires....................... 268
Reporting Safety Defects................... 402
INDEX 419
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