Coolant flush question

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JimmyGunz

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Recently purchased a 2011 4.7 118k miles. Want to do an oil change and coolant flush. Not sure what coolant is in there now but reading up a bit looks like its best to run HOAT coolant. Im definitely not the most mechanically inclined and although i think i could figure it out i understand these 4.7s have overheating issues so i just wanna make sure its done right, properly flushed and filled. Would you recommend a Dodge dealership for this job or you think a little quick lube change spot would be sufficient?
 

bigdodge

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It's critically you use the same coolant that's in there. Mixing oat and hoat will cause big problems. They don't mix

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kurek

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Two things come to mind, first is I like to run some distilled water through the cooling system in between the drain and the refill to just make sure everything is out of there. Distilled water is cheap compared to fixing leaks and replacing radiators and heater cores so I'll drain, refill with distilled, run to operating temperature, drain again... just get all of it out of there as much as possible and then refill and use one of those cheap gravity tools to make sure it's the right mix.

Second thing is, at least on my 2015 the coolant tank and the windshield washer tank are both black things on either side of the radiator with yellow lids - and we are a species of critter where our doctors occasionally amputate the wrong leg. So I'm just paranoid about hasty workmanship and do that kind of stuff myself. I'm not infallible but I'm also not in a hurry or likely to go on autopilot like a guy working in a busy shop might so if I make a mistake on my own truck, well that's on me and nobody else.

If I was going to hire a shop, probably would take it to the dealer for that. In my experience they're not terribly far out of line in cost for simple jobs like that and at least it's going to be something the techs are intimately familiar with and if your truck has the factory coolant fill in it from 10 years ago then they'll be putting the same stuff (fresh) back in it too, no chemical incompatibility problems.
 

Burla

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It is a G05 clone, but stick with Mopar. G05 is a different color, so once you move over it is hard to determine how clean it is. Stay with Mopar HOAT orange and it helps determine the shape of the cooling system. It is a 5 year coolant, but I like moving to a 3 year interval because it is near impossible to get drivers side bolt off, so you never get 100% out. Buy pre mix, or buy concentrate and mix it 50/50 with distilled water, and let nothing else go into the system.

coolant_application_chart_2015.jpg
 

Burla

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I'd rather do it myself, if you have a top not bolt that is the main thing you use to fill and keep air out, you dont use it to fill but when you fill it needs to be open. I don't know, I have the hemi. You can do a series of flushes, ignore what I said about drivers bolt that is for the hemi, I don't know what you have.
 

Wallyb4

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If you do it yourself make sure you get all the flush chemicals out of her before you refill.
 

GTyankee

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If it is not electronic & if it does not take some kind of WiTech machine
You don't need the dealership

You definitely don't need a AutoZone, Pep Boys, Advance Auto, or O'Reilys, they don't fix radiators, they are just a middleman & they will either send it to a Real Radiator Shop to have it flushed or they will sell you a radiator that you don't need.\

I would drive to an real Radiator Repair Shop & consult with them
don't go to a place that sells batteries & tires, as well as working on radiators

Chances are that you will need hoses, thermostat & radiator cap

There are Youtube videos about which coolant that you need

Don't forget that you will need to run your heater to get rid of the old fluid

Also back flush your complete cooling system
 
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JimmyGunz

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Great video. Appreciate you. The thermostat part was something else. Definitely gonna do a bit of homework and watch your video a couple times.
 

Gabriel-K

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Is my local dealership the best/ most economical place to purchase the OEM Hoat?
 
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