RAM 3500 Truck 2WD V8-5.7L VIN D (2003)
Coolant: Description and Operation
ENGINE
COOLANT
DESCRIPTION - ENGINE COOLANT ETHYLENE-GLYCOL MIXTURES
CAUTION: Richer antifreeze mixtures cannot be measured with normal field equipment and can cause problems associated with 100 percent
ethylene-glycol.
The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Only Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant, 5
year/100,000 Mile Formula (ethylene-glycol base coolant with corrosion inhibitors called HOAT, for Hybrid Additive Technology) is recommended.
This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% distilled water to obtain a freeze point of -37 °C (-35 °F).
The required ethylene-glycol (antifreeze) and water mixture depends upon the climate and vehicle operating conditions. The antifreeze concentration
must always be a minimum of 44 percent, year-round in all climates. If percentage is lower than 44 percent, engine parts may be eroded by cavitation,
and cooling system components may be severely damaged by corrosion. Maximum protection against freezing is provided with a 68% antifreeze
concentration, which prevents freezing down to -67.7 °C (-90 °F). A higher percentage will freeze at a warmer temperature. Also, a higher percentage
of antifreeze can cause the engine to overheat because the specific heat of antifreeze is lower than that of water.
Use of 100 percent ethylene-glycol will cause formation of additive deposits in the system, as the corrosion inhibitive additives in ethylene-glycol
require the presence of water to dissolve. The deposits act as insulation, causing temperatures to rise to as high as 149 °C (300 °F). This temperature
is hot enough to melt plastic and soften solder. The increased temperature can result in engine detonation. In addition, 100 percent ethylene-glycol
freezes at 22 °C (-8 °F).
PROPYLENE-GLYCOL MIXTURES
It's overall effective temperature range is smaller than that of ethylene-glycol. The freeze point of 50/50 propylene-glycol and water is -32 °C (-26 °F).
5 °C higher than ethylene-glycol's freeze point. The boiling point (protection against summer boil-over) of propylene-glycol is 125 °C (257 °F ) at
96.5 kPa (14 psi), compared to 128 °C (263 °F) for ethylene-glycol. Use of propylene-glycol can result in boil-over or freeze-up on a cooling system
designed for ethylene-glycol. Propylene glycol also has poorer heat transfer characteristics than ethylene glycol. This can increase cylinder head
temperatures under certain conditions.
Propylene-glycol/ethylene-glycol Mixtures can cause the destabilization of various corrosion inhibitors, causing damage to the various cooling system
components. Also, once ethylene-glycol and propylene-glycol based coolants are mixed in the vehicle, conventional methods of determining freeze
point will not be accurate. Both the refractive index and specific gravity differ between ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.
DESCRIPTION - HOAT COOLANT
WARNING: ANTIFREEZE IS AN ETHYLENE-GLYCOL BASE COOLANT AND IS HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. IF
SWALLOWED, DRINK TWO GLASSES OF WATER AND INDUCE VOMITING. IF INHALED, MOVE TO FRESH AIR AREA. SEEK
MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT STORE IN OPEN OR UNMARKED CONTAINERS. WASH SKIN AND
CLOTHING THOROUGHLY AFTER COMING IN CONTACT WITH ETHYLENE-GLYCOL. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
DISPOSE OF GLYCOL BASE COOLANT PROPERLY, CONTACT YOUR DEALER OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR LOCATION
OF COLLECTION CENTER IN YOUR AREA. DO NOT OPEN A COOLING SYSTEM WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT OPERATING
TEMPERATURE OR HOT UNDER PRESSURE, PERSONAL INJURY CAN RESULT. AVOID RADIATOR COOLING FAN WHEN
ENGINE COMPARTMENT RELATED SERVICE IS PERFORMED, PERSONAL INJURY CAN RESULT.
CAUTION: Use of Propylene-Glycol based coolants is not recommended, as they provide less freeze protection and less corrosion protection.
The cooling system is designed around the coolant. The coolant must accept heat from engine metal, in the cylinder head area near the exhaust valves
and engine block. Then coolant carries the heat to the radiator where the tube/fin radiator can transfer the heat to the air.
The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant, 5
Year/100,000 Mile Formula (MS-9769), or the equivalent ethylene-glycol base coolant with organic corrosion inhibitors (called HOAT, for Hybrid
Organic Additive Technology) is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% ethylene-glycol
and 50% distilled water to obtain a freeze point of -37 °C (-35 °F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and replace with fresh
properly mixed coolant solution.
CAUTION: Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant, 5 Year/10O,000 Mile Formula (MS-9769) may not be mixed with any other type of antifreeze. Mixing of
coolants other than specified (non-HOAT or other HOAT), may result in engine damage that may not be covered under the new vehicle warranty, and
decreased corrosion protection.
COOLANT PERFORMANCE
The required ethylene-glycol (antifreeze) and water mixture depends upon climate and vehicle operating conditions. The coolant performance of
various mixtures follows:
Pure Water-Water can absorb more heat than a mixture of water and ethylene-glycol. This is for purpose of heat transfer only. Water also freezes at a
higher temperature and allows corrosion.
100 percent Ethylene-Glycol-The corrosion inhibiting additives in ethylene-glycol need the presence of water to dissolve. Without water, additives
form deposits in system. These act as insulation causing temperature to rise to as high as 149 °C (300 °F). This temperature is hot enough to melt
