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 may require changing sooner, at the first maintenance service after each 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 you 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 retailer check your cooling system.

Notice: If extra inhibitors and/or additives are used in the vehicle's cooling system, the vehicle could be damaged. Use only the proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants for more information.

The surge tank is located on the driver's side of the engine compartment. 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 parked on a level surface. When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be near the cold fill line. When your engine is warm, the level should be at the cold fill line or a little higher.

If the COOLANT warning message comes on and stays on, it means you are low on engine coolant.

Checking Intercooler System Coolant (2.0L L4 Engine Only)

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

Notice: This vehicle has a specific coolant fill procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could cause the engine to overheat and be severely damaged.

Adding Coolant

If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture at the surge tank and/or intercooler fill neck, but only when the engine is cool. See Cooling System for instructions on how to add coolant to the coolant surge tank and/or intercooler fill neck.

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 a pressure cap, make sure it is hand-tight and fully seated.