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More Coolant Nonsense

3K views 17 replies 15 participants last post by  BenoA 
#1 ·
About three months ago, I took my 2013 JKUR into Brown Daub Jeep in Easton, PA for what sounded like a chirp (when hot and idling) from the serpentine belt or alternator. Brown Daub diagnosed a defective water pump and replaced under warranty.

Yesterday while topping up the windshield washer reservoir, I eyeballed the coolant expansion tank and saw it was empty. I started reading all the coolant threads on HOAT versus OAT, etc. and became concerned when I went to Brown Daub for a jug of coolant to top up the expansion tank and they sold me the older PN 68048953-AB coolant. I pointed out my 2013 called for the OAT coolant - PN 68163849AA and the parts guy gave me a disgusted look and said "we don't even stock that coolant".

So now I was concerned that when they did the water pump replacement they used the older coolant, which I verified they did. The service writer told me they flushed the system and filled with the HOAT coolant and it's OK to do so as long as they flush and remove the 2013 OAT coolant.

I was really pissed that these guys pretty much just ignored what Chrysler specified for the 2013 Pentastar and used the HOAT coolant spec'd for the 2012. Now I'm worried that if the flush was done half-assed, or not at all, if I have remnants of the factory OAT fill coolant still in there and now mixing with the older HOAT coolant and setting me up for problems down the road. I have a Max Care warranty so I guess I shouldn't let it bug me but still, it just irks me that I cant even buy the OAT coolant at my local dealer and re-flush myself. The parts guy pissed me off too. Just needed to vent....thanks.
 
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#2 ·
Not to ruin your night, but that is exactly what happened to me. The dealer changed my water pump and refilled with HOAT. I didn't even know about coolant differences at the time. Three months later I was sludged with no heat. I would find a new dealer, explain the situation and get reverse flushed with no thermostat. Good luck.
 
#8 ·
So after much reading on here I am still confused if I have a problem or not. I have a 2014 Wrangler that I picked up last weekend and it has Orange coolant in the radiator, and purple in the overflow. Do I have a problem?
I picked mine up June 17th and and just didn't my first oil change and tire rotation today. And upon inspection mine looks the exact same. A vertical line with orange on one side and purples on the other!!!

WTF is going on here? I called my service manager and he tried telling me that they don't top up on PDI and that's the way it came from the factory. And that the purpose was to tell if you had a leak or some bullshit!!!

Can anyone explain the vertical split? After it's warmed up it looked mixed and swirly. Do I have 2 different coolants in my system? That aren't mixing because they aren't comparable? Wouldn't one sit above the other and not create a vertical line while cold and a swirl after running?
 
#4 ·
HOAT 2012, OAT 2013, 2014.
My 2013 was manufactured in Feb of 2013. I have purple OAT, both in my radiator, and overflow bottle. And this is what all of you should also have with 2013, and 2014s.
Since you don't, then it is the Dealers responsibility to make it right.
A trip to your Dealers is now justified!!!!!
 
#7 ·
These threads on the coolant type have been going forever.I can honestly believe that Goldberg had this issue at that particular dealer. Had a similar issue a few moths ago at the same dealer getting my power steering recall done...The tech left a bungie cord still on the Jeep, behind the front wheel to hold up the plastic mud/water shield. I saw it after they parked the vehicle, went and looked( it was yellow) couldn't believe what he rigged up..Went into the service manager, walked him out and he actually told me that "that wasn't done by anyone here".. I flipped on the guy,told him to get the service tech that did the job, he came out and admitted that it was his, he forgot to remove it...The mgr. shook his head and walked away.The plastic was rubbing the tire when the guy parked the car for me to pick up!..Same dealer, Daub in Easton....Plus I had to take it back for the replacement hose/tube missing a rubber bushing... So, I could see them just dumping in any coolant they have there....Next oil change, I'll be sure to question Daub about this.I bought my 2012 JKU there brand new and I don't want them mixing up Hoat and Oat If I ever need my overflow topped off.
 
#9 ·
About three months ago, I took my 2013 JKUR into Brown Daub Jeep in Easton, PA for what sounded like a chirp (when hot and idling) from the serpentine belt or alternator. Brown Daub diagnosed a defective water pump and replaced under warranty.

Yesterday while topping up the windshield washer reservoir, I eyeballed the coolant expansion tank and saw it was empty. I started reading all the coolant threads on HOAT versus OAT, etc. and became concerned when I went to Brown Daub for a jug of coolant to top up the expansion tank and they sold me the older PN 68048953-AB coolant. I pointed out my 2013 called for the OAT coolant - PN 68163849AA and the parts guy gave me a disgusted look and said "we don't even stock that coolant".

So now I was concerned that when they did the water pump replacement they used the older coolant, which I verified they did. The service writer told me they flushed the system and filled with the HOAT coolant and it's OK to do so as long as they flush and remove the 2013 OAT coolant.

I was really pissed that these guys pretty much just ignored what Chrysler specified for the 2013 Pentastar and used the HOAT coolant spec'd for the 2012. Now I'm worried that if the flush was done half-assed, or not at all, if I have remnants of the factory OAT fill coolant still in there and now mixing with the older HOAT coolant and setting me up for problems down the road. I have a Max Care warranty so I guess I shouldn't let it bug me but still, it just irks me that I cant even buy the OAT coolant at my local dealer and re-flush myself. The parts guy pissed me off too. Just needed to vent....thanks.
That sucks man. Hope you felt better venting. We'd always be miserable if we let the sheer incompetence and laziness of people bring us down. So, yeah, vent away.

Honestly, you can flush it yourself. It's just going to take a while and be messy. You'd use deionized water. Once the water comes out clear, then you have to fill it with the proper coolant. YouTube has some videos on it.

If I were you, I'd flush it myself. It'd bug me every waking hour. It'd haunt me in my dreams. As I lay in bed awake, the blinds would open and I'd see my Jeep calling out to me: "Please, please help me! Don't you love me?"
 
#14 ·
The key here is the sludge. The OAT used in 2013-2014 tends to change color from purple to orange like. What complicates everything is that they had an orange version of OAT which I happen to believe they tried to dye purple. Big problem if HOAT and OAT are mixed. If this dealer put HOAT in with a not-so-complete flush, that would not be good at all. I regularly check my expansion tank by putting a flashlight directly against the bottom of the tank.
 
#16 ·
IMO the key is when in doubt flush it out. There is no way of knowing if the dealer screwed up and mixed the two together until its too late. I realize the coolant is expensive, but the hassle of them tearing out your dash and cooling system to resolve the problem in a $30,000-$40,000 vehicle and screwing it up even more makes the cost of a preemptive flush making a lot of sense. Opinions vary.
 
#17 ·
Here's two pics of the coolant in the coolant reservoir. It's purple.






Here's two pics of the coolant in the radiator. It looks orange, but when I put a little on a paper towel, it was actually a medium pinkish (maybe even purplish-pink) color.





I observed the bottom of the coolant reservoir, and I tilted it all the way to the side. I could see no sediment in the coolant reservoir.
 
#18 ·
Sorry to revive an old thread but I found it very interesting. Last evening while changing my engine air filter, I noticed an antifreeze/coolant smell. I checked my level and the coolant reservoir appeared almost empty (sorry no pic yet).

Looking at the pictures above:





Guys,are these the proper level I should be seeing? We're Saturday today, but I'll give a phone call to my dealer on Monday morning first thing.
 
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