Southbay
Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2020
- Posts
- 41
- Reaction score
- 12
- Location
- Long Island, NY
- Ram Year
- 2013
- Engine
- HEMI 5.7
Let me start out by saying I know this has been discussed a million times, I have read hours of stuff on it and still cannot figure what I have or what to do.
So everything I read says that starting in 2013 OAT is what was used. My coolant is clearly not purple, it is orange, not pink...orange. Truck is a 2013 HEMI, with 77K miles on it, if it's HOAT it's past needing to be flushed and if it's OAT is probably should be flushed soon too.
My problem is that I have read so many conflicting things that I have no idea if this orange in my truck is actually HOAT or the original orange OAT that may or may not have been produced and used before they changed OAT to purple. Took a cup full to a dealer, both parts guys were convinced it's orange HOAT. Tech who has worked there for 33yrs says it is definitely HOAT. My owner's manual says to use OAT, they ran my VIN and it specs OAT....but my factory fill is 100% orange and they all agreed and had no answer why orange HOAT would be in a 2013....except the 33yr tech said some early 2013's may have gotten leftover HOAT......may have. My manufacture date is 5/13. When I brought up that FCA possibly originally used orange OAT when it first came out, then changed the die to purple, they looked at me sideways.
Regardless, I need to do a flush anyway so I will. But is it best to re-fill with orange HOAT (5yr) or step up to what is specified for my truck and use the purple OAT? If I do use the OAT, how well do I have to flush the orange HOAT out to the point that I won't have a problem with OAT being put back in? Flush with water, run it up to temp driving around and repeat 2-3 times? Use a specific radiator flush chemical? Or is the only true way to keep is safe to re-use HOAT....but again, is there a chance that the orange in there is actually OAT that was originally orange??
Thanks for any help/answers. The only thing that keeps this from running around in my head is bourbon.
So everything I read says that starting in 2013 OAT is what was used. My coolant is clearly not purple, it is orange, not pink...orange. Truck is a 2013 HEMI, with 77K miles on it, if it's HOAT it's past needing to be flushed and if it's OAT is probably should be flushed soon too.
My problem is that I have read so many conflicting things that I have no idea if this orange in my truck is actually HOAT or the original orange OAT that may or may not have been produced and used before they changed OAT to purple. Took a cup full to a dealer, both parts guys were convinced it's orange HOAT. Tech who has worked there for 33yrs says it is definitely HOAT. My owner's manual says to use OAT, they ran my VIN and it specs OAT....but my factory fill is 100% orange and they all agreed and had no answer why orange HOAT would be in a 2013....except the 33yr tech said some early 2013's may have gotten leftover HOAT......may have. My manufacture date is 5/13. When I brought up that FCA possibly originally used orange OAT when it first came out, then changed the die to purple, they looked at me sideways.
Regardless, I need to do a flush anyway so I will. But is it best to re-fill with orange HOAT (5yr) or step up to what is specified for my truck and use the purple OAT? If I do use the OAT, how well do I have to flush the orange HOAT out to the point that I won't have a problem with OAT being put back in? Flush with water, run it up to temp driving around and repeat 2-3 times? Use a specific radiator flush chemical? Or is the only true way to keep is safe to re-use HOAT....but again, is there a chance that the orange in there is actually OAT that was originally orange??
Thanks for any help/answers. The only thing that keeps this from running around in my head is bourbon.