The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only DEX-COOL® extended life coolant.

The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with engine overheating, see Engine Overheating .

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant will:

Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL® can cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always use DEX-COOL® (silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.

Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do not need to add anything else.

Caution: Adding only plain water to the cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could get too hot but would not get the overheat warning. The engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant.

Notice: If an improper coolant mixture is used, the engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts.

If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, have your dealer check your cooling system.

Notice: If you use the proper coolant, you do not have to add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to improve the system. These can be harmful.

The coolant surge tank is located in the engine compartment on the driver's side of the vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overview for more information on location.

Caution: Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure cap -- even a little -- when the engine and radiator are hot.

The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the COLD FILL line.

Adding Coolant

If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture at the coolant surge tank, but only when the engine is cool. If the coolant surge tank is empty, a special fill procedure is necessary. See Engine Overheating for instructions on "How to Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank."

Caution: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.

When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is hand-tight and fully seated.

The intercooler system fill neck is located in the front of the engine compartment, near the center of the vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overview for more information on location.

Caution: Turning the fill neck pressure cap when the engine and intercooler are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly. Never turn the fill neck pressure cap -- even a little -- when the engine and intercooler are hot.

Park your vehicle on a level surface and turn off the engine. When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be visible within the horizontal tube section of the fill neck. When the engine is warm, the coolant level could be as high as the FULL HOT line on the fill neck, or a little higher.

Adding Coolant to the Intercooler System Fill Neck

If coolant is not visible in the fill neck, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant at the fill neck, but be sure that the cooling system, including the fill neck pressure cap, is cool before you do so.

Caution: Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system can blow out and burn you badly. They are under pressure, and if you turn the intercooler system pressure cap -- even a little -- they can come out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the intercooler system, including the intercooler system pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the intercooler system and intercooler system pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn the pressure cap.

Caution: Adding only plain water to your intercooler system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. With plain water or the wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot. Your engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant.

Notice: In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, intercooler, and other parts. Use the recommended coolant and the proper coolant mixture.

Caution: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.

1. You can remove the fill neck pressure cap when the intercooler system, including the upper intercooler hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly counterclockwise about one-quarter of a turn. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any remaining pressure to be vented.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
3. Add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture to the fill neck, until there is coolant visible in the horizontal tube section of the fill neck.
4. With the fill neck pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run for at least 30 seconds. Watch out for the engine cooling fan. Turn the engine off. By this time, the coolant level inside the fill neck may be lower. If the level drops so that coolant is no longer visible in the horizontal tube section of the fill neck, add more of the DEX-COOL® coolant mixture to the fill neck until the level is again visible in the horizontal tube section.
5. Replace the intercooler system pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.

If the coolant is not at the proper level when the system cools down again, see your dealer.