radiator cap DODGE RAM 5500 CHASSIS CAB 2009 4.G Owners Manual

Cooling System
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the hood,
do not 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 the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
rusty in appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed and refilled with fresh engine coolant (anti-
freeze). 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
engine coolant (antifreeze) from the radiator drain cock.
If the cap is sealing properly, the engine coolant (anti-
freeze) will begin to drain from the coolant recovery
bottle. DO NOT REMOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE
CAP WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
348 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

NOTE:Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types will
decrease the life of the engine coolant (antifreeze) and
will require more frequent engine coolant (antifreeze)
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of engine
coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure that engine coolant
(antifreeze) 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!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine coolant (antifreeze)
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 scalding or injury, do not remove the
pressure cap while the system is hot or under
pressure.
•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 351
7

Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant (antifreeze) is
a regulated substance requiring proper disposal. Check
with your local authorities to determine the disposal
rules for your community. To prevent ingestion by ani-
mals or children, do not store ethylene glycol based
engine coolant (antifreeze) 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 engine coolant (antifreeze) 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 forengine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point or replacing en-
gine coolant (antifreeze). 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 engine coolant (antifreeze) 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 (a
few kilometers) of operation, you may observe vapor
coming from the front of the engine compartment. This is
normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the radiator and being vapor-
ized when the thermostat opens, allowing hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) to enter the radiator.
352 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Emergency Starting..................... 326
Saving Feature (Protection) ............... 124
Belts, Seat .............................. 36
Body Builders Guide ....................... 6
Body Mechanism Lubrication ............... 343
B-Pillar Location ........................ 262
Brake Fluid ............................ 379
Brake System ........................ 255,353
Anti-Lock (ABS) ....................... 256
Fluid Check .......................... 353
Master Cylinder ....................... 353
Parking ............................. 254
Warning Light ........................ 168
Bulb Replacement ....................... 370
Bulbs, Light ............................ 370
Cab Top Clearance Lights .................. 375
Calibration, Compass ..................... 141
Capacities, Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ........ 377Capacities, Fluid
........................ 377
Caps, Filler Oil (Engine) .......................... 339
Power Steering ........................ 253
Radiator (Coolant Pressure) ............... 351
Car Washes ............................ 360
Carbon Monoxide Warning ................. 284
CD (Compact Disc) Player ...............173,187
Cellular Phone .......................... 86
Center Lap Belts ......................... 45
Center Seat Storage Compartment .........148,150
Certification Label ....................... 287
Chart, Tire Sizing ........................ 259
Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light) ............... 168
Child Restraint .......................... 60
Child Restraint Tether Anchors .............64,67
Child Seat ............................ 60,66
Cigar Lighter ........................... 145
INDEX 411
10

CleaningWheels ............................. 361
Climate Control ......................... 204
Clock ........................ 172,175,189,195
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 203
Compass ........................... 140,141
Compass Calibration ..................... 141
Compass Variance ....................... 143
Computer, Trip/Travel .................... 136
Contract, Service ........................ 403
Coolant Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap) .......... 351
Cooling System ......................... 348
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) .............. 350
Coolant Capacity ...................... 377
Coolant Level ...................... 348,352
Disposal of Used Coolant ................ 352
Drain, Flush, and Refill .................. 349
Inspection ........................... 352
Points to Remember .................... 352 Pressure Cap
......................... 351
Radiator Cap ......................... 351
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) .........349,378
Cruise Control (Speed Control) .............. 133
Cupholders ............................ 146
Customer Assistance ..................... 401
Data Recorder, Event ...................... 57
Daytime Running Lights ................... 126
Dealer Service .......................... 337
Defroster, Rear Window ................... 153
Defroster, Windshield ................74,205,208
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers ................. 129
Differential, Limited-Slip .................. 249
Dipsticks .............................. 338
Power Steering ........................ 253
Disposal .............................. 340
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ............... 352
Engine Oil ........................... 340
412 INDEX

Power Steering Fluid..................... 379
Pregnant Women and Seat Belts .............. 47
Programming Transmitters
(Remote Keyless Entry) .................... 24
Radial Ply Tires ......................... 272
Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap) .......348,351
Radio, Navigation ....................... 194
Radio Operation ...................... 173,187
Radio Remote Controls .................... 201
Radio, Satellite ....................... 195,197
Radio (Sound Systems) .................173,187
Rear Axle (Differential) .................355,356
Rear Window Features .................... 153
Rear Window, Sliding ................... 34,154
Reclining Front Seats ..................... 116
Recorder, Event Data ...................... 57
Recreational Towing ...................... 304
Shifting into Transfer Case Neutral (N) ....305,307 Shifting out of Transfer Case
Neutral (N)
....................... 306,309
Reformulated Gasoline .................... 281
Refrigerant ............................ 343
Reminder, Seat Belt ....................... 46
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) ................. 21
Remote Sound System (Radio) Controls ........ 201
Remote Starting System .................... 26
Replacement Keys ........................ 16
Replacement Parts ....................... 337
Replacement Tires ....................... 274
Reporting Safety Defects ................... 404
Resetting Oil Change Indicator .............. 167
Restraint, Head ......................... 117
Restraints, Child ....................... 60,66
Restraints, Occupant ...................... 35
Rotation, Tires .......................... 279
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle ................. 74
420 INDEX