Coolant

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tcazes

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So I'm finding mixed reviews. What coolant should I top my radiator off with when I replace my thermostat tomorrow? Some say anything pre mixed and orange, some say hoat specific, my biggest thing is what can I get local from O'Reillys, auto zone, Napa, etc. I don't want to have to order radiator fluid like I have to do for oil with pup lol
 

SyN

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Does it have Dexcool in it now? Or should I say Dexcool Clone? (Orange)
 
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Burla

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Is your vehicle OAT or HOAT? How many miles? Just do a distilled water flush and refill? Save the fluid you drain off and put back?
 
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tcazes

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Manual says 10yr/150k mile OAT. orange coolant in the radiator. Engine has 56k on the clock.
 

Burla

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Dude, that is fked up, lol. Orange is HOAT that I know of. Pink or Purple is OAT. I got my orange off ebay last week old stock, it is orange HOAT. I would look at doing an entire flush and add some RM-I25, just in case you need to clean some slime out. You have near 60k, so a flush is do anyhow. Ask Syn what you should put back. Let me check if Ram used orange OAT.

It is a 2013 Ram 5.7 American truck? not Canada?
 

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tcazes

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Now you see why I was confused!!!!!

It's a 2013 American 5.7 hemi Laramie long horn. 2wd with towing package.
 

Burla

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coolant Ram 2013

Your a bubble truck, you likely got HOAT old stock. I would definitely do some type of flush, maybe run Zerex G05, seams to have a following, definitely dont take my word, research that. You are smart for double checking and not just tossing some coolant in there.
 

Hipps2000

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Be careful I have a 13 as well went to dealer to have mine flushed...but be sure you know which you have in there. Mine is orange when I open cap as well...but I did read a post on here that had a star bulletin from ram stating that oat does look Orange under some conditions i.e in the rad looking down and a different color purple when in a cup. Weird. Don't mix the 2 or you'll have big problems...this is why I went to my dealer because if they **** it up its on them. Lol

Just make sure you know which you have HOAT or OAT

I believe everything 13 and up is OAT


Here is a pic of mine.
 

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SyN

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I know Dexcool is meant for a pressurized system.

Suck some out into a clear glass container and observe the true color. (Cold)
 
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Burla

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You are thinking Ram used Dex in his truck? How can you trust that knowing Ram used Orange HOAT for many years prior. It is a quagmire, no way to trust that orange coolant is either HOAT or OAT. Time for a full flush anyhow.
 
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tcazes

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Well hell. I'm surely nervous now! I'll pull some out I guess. Or just be very careful to catch everything going that spills when I do my thermostat lol. Let me go snap a picture to show yall.
 
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tcazes

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OK so it's in the 40s outside so it's cold enough to be low in the radiator top but perfect in the reservoir. Anyways. Here's some pictures
 

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tcazes

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No way in he'll that would be purple in a clear container lol
 

Burla

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Here's the thing, if it is HOAT, it is time to flush anyhow. You can get a kit. Go back at it with distilled water after a long hose flush, be on the watchout for soccer mom's with camera phones. Put back whatever floats your boat. Your truck wasn't made for Dex, GM's have done specific things that allow them to run dex. Read that coolant link, Ram OAT took the bad stuff out of Dex. It is like a dex clone but w/o the bad stuff, forget what it is called.

I dont know a better way to flush, I am all ears if anyone does. Capture the old coolant best you can, I'm sure someone takes it.
 
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R.L.K.

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Why are you replacing the thermostat?
 
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tcazes

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O'Reilly says to run oat but offers dex cool. Wtf? I wish I could just find a store where I can pull the **** off the shelf and walk out! Sorry. Frustrated at the moment.

I'll do a flush and fill for sure. Do yall suggest pulling the heater hose or what? I've honestly never kept a vehicle long enough to worry about it. I usually just drain the radiator, hose it out, run distilled water through it, refill and go but some say you should go through the heater core etc
 

SyN

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I will stay out of this! You have plenty of help! But I agree with Burla --->It is time for a drain & Flush.

Perfect time to pour back in a OAT coolant.
 

Hipps2000

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Here is a pic that does show some oat orange
 

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