Dark Red Coolant

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duc1100

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The coolant in my 2018 1500 is a dark red. It's got 33k miles and I'm the second owner. The new Mopar I purchased to add to the reservoir is the expected purple. I'm wondering the dark red is due to age or a non-Mopar MS-12106 being added. Any ideas?
 

Brandon-w

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Flush it and put all of one type in it. You do not want to mess with mixing coolants. I've seen coolant gel a whole system because of chemical reactions. I don't reccomend taking that chance for a few bucks.

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MADDOG

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There may have been a change in standard coolant specs as well. But with 33K miles I'd drain, flush and refill.

Just make sure the coolant spec required for the truck is the spec you purchase for the refill.
 

crazykid1994

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The purple turns red after a while. My 2017 I did a full drain and flush because I lost coolant from something I did and used water to fill it till I could replace the coolant. I’ve had the truck since new so I know nobody touched the coolant. It was dark red. The purple when mixed and after a while it’ll turn red.
 

Burla

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take 1/2 cup or better in a glass and take a pic.
 
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duc1100

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coolant.jpg Left is out of the truck (dark red) and right is the new (purple). I'm aware of the OAT vs HOAT gel issue but suspect this isn't the case. Just curious if other see this. Maybe a "common antifreeze" added to cause the purple OAT Mopar to go red.

Do need to assess the need to flush. Not sure I can trust the mechanics I've used in the past for other vehicles and not sure I want to do a radiator/heater core/overflow reservoir/flush myself.
 

crazykid1994

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I did the flush myself and that’s exactly what my coolant looked like before the flush. Not sure why I can’t find my pictures anywhere. Not sure if it’s a tracer they have to help find leaks in the new coolant that loses its color over time or not.
 

crazykid1994

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I did the flush myself and that’s exactly what my coolant looked like before the flush. Not sure why I can’t find my pictures anywhere. Not sure if it’s a tracer they have to help find leaks in the new coolant that loses its color over time or not.
Found my pictures. Old coolant in bucket. 50/50 with distilled in the gallon jug

F7DE4B7A-2953-45A9-A131-32D5571A1794.jpeg

9D15E7C9-959C-426C-BD8F-8CC5EBDA2E3D.jpeg
 

Burla

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View attachment 233935 Left is out of the truck (dark red) and right is the new (purple). I'm aware of the OAT vs HOAT gel issue but suspect this isn't the case. Just curious if other see this. Maybe a "common antifreeze" added to cause the purple OAT Mopar to go red.

Do need to assess the need to flush. Not sure I can trust the mechanics I've used in the past for other vehicles and not sure I want to do a radiator/heater core/overflow reservoir/flush myself.

normal as shown, no need to flush but since you have some new coolant, why not just empty radiator and fill? keep it fresh.
 
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