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 dealer/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 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 on a level surface. When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be between the MIN and MAX lines.

Adding Coolant

If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture at the surge tank, but only when the engine is cool. See Cooling System 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 cooling system in the vehicle is filled with a 50/50 pre-mixed DEX-COOL® coolant and deionized water. This coolant is designed to remain in the vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if only DEX-COOL® extended life coolant is added.

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

A 50/50 mixture of clean, deionized 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, deionized water and one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage aluminum parts. If this coolant mixture is used, there is no not need to add anything else.

Caution: Adding only water to the cooling system can be dangerous. Water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture. The vehicle coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With water or the wrong mixture, the engine could get too hot, but there would be no overheat warning. The engine could catch fire and someone could be burned. Only use a 50/50 mixture of clean, deionized 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 coolant has to be added more than four times a year, have the dealer/retailer check the 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.

Caution: Coolant from a hot cooling system can cause serious injury. If the coolant overflow recovery bottle cap is turned-even a little-the coolant can come out. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the coolant overflow recovery bottle cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and coolant overflow recovery bottle cap to cool if the cap ever has to be turned.

The coolant overflow recovery bottle is located at the front of the engine compartment. See Engine Compartment Overview for more information on location.

The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be between the minimum hot fill (A) and maximum cold fill (B) mark lines on the ISO symbols of the coolant overflow recovery bottle.

Adding Coolant

If the vehicle need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture at the coolant overflow recover bottle, but only when the engine is cool. See Cooling System.

Caution: Coolant can cause serious injury if spilled 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 coolant overflow recovery bottle cap, make sure it is hand-tight and fully seated.