2005 DODGE MAGNUM cooling

Cooling System
Inspection
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, turn
the ignition key to the OFF position. The fan is
temperature controlled and can start at any time
when the ignition key is in the ON position.
•You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant
or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear
steam coming from under the hood, don’t 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.
Coolant Checks
Coolant protection checks should be made every 12
months (prior to the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh
coolant. 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 cooling system hoses for brittle rubber, crack-
ing, tears, cuts and tightness of the connection at the
bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for leaks.
Cooling System—Drain, Flush and Refill
At the intervals shown in the appropriate maintenance
schedule, the system should be drained, flushed and
refilled.
If the solution is dirty or contains a considerable amount
of sediment, clean and flush with a reliable cooling
system cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing to remove
all deposits and chemicals. Properly dispose of old
antifreeze solution.
Selection Of Coolant
Use only the manufacturers recommended coolant, refer
to Recommended Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts
for correct coolant type.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 295
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CAUTION!
•Mixing of coolants other than the specified HOAT
coolant may result in decreased corrosion protec-
tion and engine damage that may not be covered
under the new vehicle warranty. If a non-HOAT
coolant is introduced into the cooling system in an
emergency, it should be replaced with the speci-
fied coolant as soon as possible.
•Do not use plain water alone or alcohol base
antifreeze products. Do not use additional rust
inhibitors or antirust products, as they may not be
compatible with the radiator coolant and may
plug the radiator.
•This vehicle has not been designed for use with
Propylene Glycol based coolants. Use of Propy-
lene Glycol based coolants is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
When adding coolant, or refilling the system, a minimum
of 50% solution of ethylene glycol antifreeze coolant inwater should be used. Higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) are required if temperatures below
34°F
(
37°C) are anticipated.
Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized
water when mixing the water/antifreeze solution. The
use of lower quality water will reduce the amount of
corrosion protection in the engine cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant
changes.
Coolant Pressure Cap
The coolant pressure cap must be fully tightened to
prevent loss of coolant, and to insure that coolant will
return to the coolant bottle from the overflow tank. The
coolant pressure cap should be inspected and cleaned if
there is any accumulation of foreign material on the
sealing surfaces.
296 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•The warning words“DO NOT OPEN HOT”on
the coolant pressure cap are a safety precaution.
Never add coolant to the cooling system when the
engine is overheated. Do not loosen or remove the
coolant pressure 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 coolant 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
engine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal. Check with your
local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by animals or children
do not store ethylene glycol based engine coolant in open
containers or allow it to remain in puddles on theground. 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 off and cold, the coolant level should be between
the ranges indicated on the bottle. Some darkening of the
coolant bottle will occur over time. This is normal.
When additional coolant is needed to maintain the
proper level, it should be added to the coolant bottle. Do
not overfill. See your authorized dealer to properly fill
the cooling system.
Points to Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles 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 accumulat-
ing on the radiator and being vaporized when the
thermostat opens, allowing hot coolant to enter the
radiator.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 297
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If an examination of your engine compartment shows no
evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the vehicle may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate.
•Do not overfill the coolant bottle.
•Check coolant freeze point in the system.
•If frequent coolant additions are required, the cooling
system should be pressure tested for leaks.
•Maintain coolant concentration at 50% ethylene glycol
antifreeze (minimum) in water for proper corrosion
protection of your engine which contains aluminum
components.
•Make sure that the radiator and coolant bottle hoses
are not kinked or obstructed.
•Keep the front of the radiator and the front of the A/C
condenser clean.
•Do not change the thermostat for summer or winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory cooling performance.
•Increasing engine speed at idle does not reduce cool-
ant temperature! Put transmission in NEUTRAL and
let engine idle at normal engine idle speed.
Hoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses
Inspect surfaces of hoses and nylon tubing for evidence
of heat and mechanical damage. Hard or soft spots,
brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, abrasions, and exces-
sive swelling indicate deterioration of the rubber.
Pay particular attention to those hoses nearest to high
heat sources such as the exhaust manifold. Inspect hose
routing to be sure hoses do not come in contact with any
heat source or moving component which may cause heat
damage or mechanical wear.
Insure nylon tubing in these areas has not melted or
collapsed.
Inspect all hose connections such as clamps and cou-
plings to make sure they are secure and no leaks are
present.
Components should be replaced immediately if there is
any evidence of wear or damage that could cause failure.
298 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

FLUIDS AND CAPACITIES
U.S. Metric
Fuel (approximate)
2.7 Liter Engines (87 Octane) 18 gallons 68 liters
3.5 Liter Engines without All Wheel Drive (89 Octane) 18 gallons 68 liters
3.5 Liter Engines with All Wheel Drive (89 Octane) 19 gallons 72 liters
5.7 Liter Engines (89 Octane) 19 gallons 72 liters
Engine Oil-With Filter
2.7 Liter Engines (SAE 5W-30, API Certified) 6.0 qts. 5.7 liters
3.5 Liter Engines (SAE 10W-30, API Certified) 6.0 qts. 5.7 liters
5.7 Liter Engines (SAE 5W-20, API Certified) 7.0 qts. 6.6 liters
Cooling System *
2.7 Liter Engines (MoparAntifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile
Formula)9.5 qts 9.0 liters
3.5 Liter Engines (MoparAntifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile
Formula)10.3 qts 9.75 liters
5.7 Liter Engines (MoparAntifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile
Formula)14.0 qts 13.3 liters
* Includes heater and coolant recovery bottle filled to MAX level.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 319
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Clean Air Gasoline...................... 243
Climate Control........................ 185
Compact Disc Maintenance............... 184
Compact Spare Tire..................... 231
Compass............................. 144
Compass Calibration.................... 144
Compass Variance...................... 145
Computer, Trip/Travel................... 143
Console.............................. 118
Console, Floor......................... 118
Console, Overhead...................... 106
Contract, Service....................... 342
Coolant Pressure Cap.................... 296
Cooling System........................ 295
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze)............. 296
Coolant Capacity..................... 319
Coolant Level........................ 297
Disposal of Used Coolant............... 297
Drain, Flush, and Refill................. 295
Inspection........................... 295
Points to Remember................... 297
Pressure Cap........................ 296
Radiator Cap........................ 296Selection of Coolant.............295,319,320
Cruise Control......................... 103
Cup Holder........................ 117,306
Customer Assistance.................... 340
Data Recorder, Event..................... 47
Dealer Service......................... 280
Defroster, Rear Window.................. 185
Defroster, Windshield...............58,187,192
Delay Wipers........................... 95
Diagnostic System, Onboard............... 278
Dimmer Switch, Headlight................. 95
Disposal
Antifreeze........................... 297
Door Locks............................ 15
Door Locks, Automatic................... 17
Door Opener, Garage.................... 107
Drive Belts............................ 286
Drive Shaft Universal Joints............... 292
Driving
On Slippery Surfaces.................. 269
Electric Remote Mirrors................... 64
352 INDEX

Electrical Power Outlets.................. 115
Electronic Speed Control................. 103
Electronic Stability Program............... 101
Electronic Vehicle Information Center........ 141
Emergency, In Case of
Overheating......................... 256
Emission Control System Maintenance....279,324
Engine............................276,277
Air Cleaner.......................... 287
Air Cleaner Filter..................... 287
Block Heater......................... 201
Break-In Recommendations............... 56
Checking Oil Level.................281,282
Compartment.....................276,277
Coolant............................ 320
Cooling............................ 295
Exhaust Gas Caution................26,246
Fails to Start......................... 200
Fuel Requirements.................243,319
Oil ..........................281,319,320
Oil Change Interval................... 283
Oil Selection......................284,319
Oil Synthetic......................... 286Overheating......................... 256
Temperature Gauge................... 134
Enhanced Accident Response Feature......... 42
Event Data Recorder..................... 47
Exhaust Gas Caution.............26,57,246,294
Exhaust System........................ 294
Exterior Folding Mirrors.................. 63
Filters
Air Cleaner.......................... 287
Air Conditioning..................194,291
Engine Fuel......................... 287
Engine Oil.......................286,320
Engine Oil Disposal................... 286
Flashers
Hazard Warning...................... 256
Turn Signal.......................... 135
Flash-To-Pass........................... 95
Flat Tire Changing...................... 257
Floor Console.......................... 118
Fluid Capacities........................ 319
Fluid Leaks............................ 58
INDEX 353
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