2020 CHRYSLER 300 radiator cap

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY225
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can
reduce the potential for overheating by taking
the appropriate action.
On the highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place the trans -
mission in NEUTRAL, but do not increase the
engine idle speed while preventing vehicle
motion with the brakes.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition:
If your Air Conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off.
The A/C system adds heat to the engine
cooling system and turning the A/C off can
help remove this heat.
You can also turn the temperature control to
maximum heat, the mode control to floor and
the blower control to high. This allows the
heater core to act as a supplement to the
radiator and aids in removing heat from the
engine cooling system.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
To move the vehicle in cases where the
transmission will not shift out of PARK (such as
a depleted battery), a Manual Park Release is
available.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming
from under the hood, do not open the hood
until the radiator has had time to cool. Never
try to open a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If the temperature
gauge reads HOT (H), pull over and stop the
vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops
back into the normal range. If the pointer
remains on HOT (H), and you hear continuous
chimes, turn the engine off immediately and
call for service.
WARNING!
Always secure your vehicle by fully applying
the parking brake before activating the
Manual Park Release. In addition, you should
be seated in the driver's seat with your foot
firmly on the brake pedal when activating the
Manual Park Release. Activating the Manual
Park Release will allow your vehicle to roll
away if it is not secured by the parking brake,
or by proper connection to a tow vehicle.
Activating the Manual Park Release on an
unsecured vehicle could lead to serious injury
or death for those in or around the vehicle.
6

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE247

Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic
converter will not require maintenance. However,
it is important to keep the engine properly tuned
to ensure proper catalyst operation and prevent
possible catalyst damage.

NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being
assessed against you. In unusual situations involving grossly
malfunctioning engine operation, a scorching
odor may suggest severe and abnormal catalyst
overheating. If this occurs, stop the vehicle, turn
off the engine and allow it to cool. Service,
including a tune-up to manufacturer's
specifications, should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter
damage:
Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the
ignition when the transmission is in gear and
the vehicle is in motion.
Do not try to start the engine by pushing or
towing the vehicle.
Do not idle the engine with any spark plug
wires disconnected or removed, such as
when diagnostic testing, or for prolonged
periods during very rough idle or malfunc
-
tioning operating conditions.
NOTE:
Your vehicle’s exhaust system may be equipped
with an Electronic Exhaust Valve (EEV) system,
if the exhaust system is replaced with after -
market products a Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(MIL) will illuminate.
COOLING SYSTEM
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection
every 12 months (before the onset of freezing
weather, where applicable). If the engine
coolant (antifreeze) is dirty, the system should
Damage to the catalytic converter can
result if your vehicle is not kept in proper
operating condition. In the event of engine
malfunction, particularly involving engine
misfire or other apparent loss of perfor -
mance, have your vehicle serviced
promptly. Continued operation of your
vehicle with a severe malfunction could
cause the converter to overheat, resulting
in possible damage to the converter and
vehicle.
CAUTION! (Continued)
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam
coming from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has had time to
cool. Never open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is
hot.
Keep hands, tools, clothing, and jewelry
away from the radiator cooling fan when
the hood is raised. The fan starts automati -
cally and may start at any time, whether the
engine is running or not.
When working near the radiator cooling fan,
disconnect the fan motor lead or turn the
ignition to the OFF mode. The fan is
temperature controlled and can start at any
time the ignition is in the ON mode.7

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248SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
be drained, flushed, and refilled with fresh
OAT coolant (conforming to MS.90032) by an
authorized dealer. Check the front of the
radiator for any accumulation of bugs, leaves,
etc. If dirty, clean by gently spraying water from
a garden hose vertically down the face of the
condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for
brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and
tightness of the connection at the bottle and
radiator. Inspect the entire system for leaks. DO
NOT REMOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP
WHEN THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
Cooling System — Drain, Flush And Refill
NOTE:

Some vehicles require special tools to add
coolant properly. Failure to fill these systems
properly could lead to severe internal engine
damage. If any coolant is needed to be added to
the system please contact an authorized dealer.

If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
contains visible sediment, have an authorized
dealer clean and flush with OAT coolant
(antifreeze) (conforming to MS.90032).
Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” in this section
for the proper maintenance intervals.
Selection Of Coolant
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical
Specifications” for further information.
NOTE:
Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other
than specified Organic Additive Technology
(OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may result
in engine damage and may decrease corro -
sion protection. Organic Additive Technology
(OAT) engine coolant is different and should
not be mixed with Hybrid Organic Additive
Technology (HOAT) engine coolant (anti -
freeze) or any “globally compatible” coolant
(antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine coolant
(antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling
system in an emergency, the cooling system
will need to be drained, flushed, and refilled
with fresh OAT coolant (conforming to
MS.90032), by an authorized dealer as soon
as possible.
Do not use water alone or alcohol-based
engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not
use additional rust inhibitors or antirust prod -
ucts, as they may not be compatible with the
radiator engine coolant and may plug the
radiator.
This vehicle has not been designed for use
with propylene glycol-based engine coolant
(antifreeze). Use of propylene glycol-based
engine coolant (antifreeze) is not recom -
mended.
Some vehicles require special tools to add
coolant properly. Failure to fill these systems
properly could lead to severe internal engine
damage. If any coolant is needed to be added
to the system please contact an authorized
dealer.
Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved
engine coolant (OAT coolant conforming to
MS.90032) that allows extended maintenance
intervals. This engine coolant (antifreeze) can
be used up to 10 years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km) before replacement. To prevent
reducing this extended maintenance period, it
is important that you use the same engine
coolant (OAT coolant conforming to MS.90032)
throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for
using Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine
coolant (antifreeze) that meets the
requirements of FCA Material Standard

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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE249
MS.90032. When adding engine coolant
(antifreeze):

We recommend using Mopar Antifreeze/
Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile (240,000 km)
Formula OAT (Organic Additive Technology)
that meets the requirements of FCA Material
Standard MS.90032.

Mix a minimum solution of 50% OAT engine
coolant that meets the requirements of FCA
Material Standard MS.90032 and distilled
water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below −34°F
(−37°C) are anticipated. Please contact an
authorized dealer for assistance.

Use only high purity water such as distilled or
deionized water when mixing the water/engine
coolant (antifreeze) solution. The use of lower
quality water will reduce the amount of corro -
sion protection in the engine cooling system.

NOTE:
It is the owner's responsibility to maintain the
proper level of protection against freezing
according to the temperatures occurring in
the area where the vehicle is operated.
Some vehicles require special tools to add
coolant properly. Failure to fill these systems
properly could lead to severe internal engine
damage. If any coolant is needed to be added
to the system, please contact a local autho -
rized dealer.
Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types is
not recommended and can result in cooling
system damage. If HOAT and OAT coolant are
mixed in an emergency, have a authorized
dealer drain, flush, and refill with OAT coolant
(conforming to MS.90032) as soon as
possible.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss
of engine coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure
that engine coolant (antifreeze) will return to
the radiator from the coolant expansion bottle/
recovery tank if so equipped.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if
there is any accumulation of foreign material on
the sealing surfaces.Disposal Of Used Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based coolant (antifreeze)
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
coolant in open containers or allow it to remain
in puddles on the ground. If ingested by a child
or pet, seek emergency assistance
immediately. Clean up any ground spills
immediately.
WARNING!
Do not open hot engine cooling system.
Never add engine coolant (antifreeze) when
the engine is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the 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 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.
7

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250SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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
level of the engine coolant (antifreeze) in the
bottle should be between the ranges indicated
on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full,
so there is no need to remove the radiator/
coolant pressure cap unless checking for
engine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point or
replacing coolant. Advise your service attendant
of this. As long as the engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle
need only be checked once a month.
When additional engine coolant (antifreeze) is
needed to maintain the proper level, only
OAT coolant that meets the requirements of
FCA Material Standard MS.90032 should be
added to the coolant bottle. Do not overfill.
Points To Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles/
kilometers of operation, you may observe vapor
coming from the front of the engine compart -
ment. This is normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high humidity accumulating on
the radiator and being vaporized when the ther
-
mostat opens, allowing hot engine coolant (anti -
freeze) to enter the radiator.
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 expansion bottle.
Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator
and in the coolant expansion bottle. If engine
coolant (antifreeze) needs to be added, the
contents of the coolant expansion bottle
must also be protected against freezing.
If frequent engine coolant (antifreeze) addi-
tions are required, the cooling system should
be pressure tested for leaks.
Maintain engine coolant (antifreeze) concen -
tration at a minimum of 50% OAT coolant
(conforming to MS.90032) and distilled
water for proper corrosion protection of your
engine which contains aluminum compo -
nents.
Make sure that the coolant expansion bottle
overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your
vehicle is equipped with air conditioning,
keep the front of the condenser clean.
Do not change the thermostat for Summer or
Winter operation. If replacement is ever
necessary, install ONLY the correct type ther -
mostat. Other designs may result in unsatis -
factory engine coolant (antifreeze)
performance, poor gas mileage, and
increased emissions.
BRAKE SYSTEM
In order to ensure brake system performance,
all brake system components should be
inspected periodically. Refer to the
“Maintenance Plan” in this section for the
proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure
and possibly a collision. Driving with your foot
resting or riding on the brake pedal can result
in abnormally high brake temperatures,
excessive lining wear, and possible brake
damage. You would not have your full braking
capacity in an emergency.

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316 AWD Towing
....................................................... 229Axle Fluid............................................. 281, 283Axle Lubrication................................... 281, 283
B
Back-Up......................................................... 186Battery.................................................... 86, 238Charging System Light................................. 86Keyless Key Fob Replacement.................... 13Location.................................................... 238Belts, Seat..................................................... 143Beverage Holder Cooled (Cupholder).............. 73Beverage Holder Heated (Cupholder).............. 73Body Mechanism Lubrication........................ 244B-Pillar Location............................................. 257Brake Assist System........................................ 96Brake Control System...................................... 96Brake Fluid................................. 251, 281, 283Brake System...................................... 250, 275Fluid Check............................ 251, 281, 283Master Cylinder......................................... 251Parking...................................................... 150Warning Light..................................... 85, 275Brake/Transmission Interlock....................... 153Break-In Recommendations, New Vehicle..... 150Brightness, Interior Lights................................ 48Bulb Replacement......................................... 206Bulbs, Light.......................................... 145, 206
C
Camera, Rear................................................ 186Capacities, Fluid........................................... 280Caps, FillerOil (Engine)...................................... 236, 241Radiator (Coolant Pressure)..................... 249Car Washes................................................... 272Carbon Monoxide Warning................... 143, 279CargoVehicle Loading........................................ 190Cargo Area Cover............................................. 64Cargo Compartment........................................ 64Cellular Phone.............................................. 303Certification Label......................................... 190Chains, Tire................................................... 269Changing A Flat Tire...................................... 253Chart, Tire Sizing........................................... 254Check Engine Light
(Malfunction Indicator Light)............................ 93Checking Your Vehicle For Safety................. 142Checks, Safety.............................................. 142Child Restraint.............................................. 130Child RestraintsBooster Seats........................................... 133Child Seat Installation.............................. 140How To Stow An unused ALR Seat Belt.... 138Infant And Child Restraints....................... 132Lower Anchors And Tethers For Children.. 135Older Children And Child Restraints......... 132
Seating Positions...................................... 134Child Safety Locks............................................28Clean Air Gasoline......................................... 277CleaningWheels...................................................... 268Climate Control................................................50Automatic....................................................50Coin Holder......................................................71Cold Weather Operation................................ 149Compact Spare Tire...................................... 266ConsoleFloor............................................................71Contract, Service........................................... 312Cooling Pressure Cap (Radiator Cap)............ 249Cooling System............................................. 247Adding Coolant (Antifreeze)...................... 248Coolant Capacity....................................... 280Coolant Level................................... 247, 250Disposal Of Used Coolant......................... 249Drain, Flush, And Refill............................. 248Inspection................................................. 250Points To Remember................................ 250Pressure Cap............................................ 249Radiator Cap............................................. 249Selection Of Coolant (Antifreeze)......................... 248, 280, 281Corrosion Protection..................................... 272Cruise Control (Speed Control)............. 160, 163Cruise Light............................................... 91, 92

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321
Power Seats Forward
....................................................... 31Lumbar........................................................ 32Rearward..................................................... 31Recline........................................................ 32Power Steering Fluid...................................... 281Pregnant Women And Seat Belts...................119Preparation For Jacking................................. 218PretensionersSeat Belts.................................................. 120
R
Radial Ply Tires.............................................. 262Radiator Cap (Coolant Pressure Cap)............ 249Radio Operation............................................ 303Rain Sensitive Wiper System........................... 49Rear Axle (Differential)................................... 253Rear Camera................................................. 186Rear Cross Path............................................. 105Rear ParkSense System................................ 177Rear Seats, Folding......................................... 30Rear Wheel Drive (RWD)Towing....................................................... 229Recreational Towing...................................... 198Reformulated Gasoline.................................. 277Refrigerant.................................................... 242Release, Hood................................................. 61Reminder, Lights On........................................ 45Reminder, Seat Belt...................................... 115
Remote Keyless EntryArm The Alarm............................................. 22Panic Alarm................................................. 13Programming Additional Key Fobs........ 15, 21Unlatch The Trunk....................................... 13Remote StartingExit Remote Start Mode.............................. 19Uconnect Customer ProgrammableFeatures.................................................. 20Uconnect Settings....................................... 20Remote Trunk Release.................................... 62Replacement Bulbs...................................... 206Replacement Keys.................................... 15, 21Replacement Tires........................................ 264Reporting Safety Defects.............................. 313Restraints, Child........................................... 130Restraints, Head....................................... 35, 36Rocking Vehicle When Stuck........................ 227Rotation, Tires.............................................. 270
S
Safety Checks Inside Vehicle........................ 143Safety Checks Outside Vehicle..................... 145Safety Defects, Reporting............................. 313Safety Information, Tire................................ 253Safety Tips.................................................... 142Safety, Exhaust Gas...................................... 143Schedule, Maintenance....................... 231, 232Seat Belt Reminder.......................................... 87
Seat Belts............................................ 114, 143Adjustable Shoulder Belt.......................... 118Adjustable Upper Shoulder Anchorage..... 118Adjustable Upper Shoulder BeltAnchorage............................................ 118Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)........... 120Child Restraints........................................ 130Energy Management Feature................... 120Extender................................................... 119Front Seat............................... 114, 115, 117Inspection................................................. 143Lap/Shoulder Belt Operation.................... 117Lap/Shoulder Belt Untwisting................... 118Lap/Shoulder Belts................................... 115Operating Instructions.............................. 117Pregnant Women...................................... 119Pretensioners........................................... 120Rear Seat.................................................. 115Reminder.................................................. 115Seat Belt Extender.................................... 119Seat Belt Pretensioner.............................. 120Untwisting Procedure................................ 118Seat Belts Maintenance................................ 273Seats.................................................. 30, 31, 33Adjustment...........................................30, 31Easy Entry....................................................32Head Restraints....................................35, 36Heated.........................................................33Height Adjustment.......................................31
11

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