300M -Coolant Change?

I have a 1999 Chrysler 300M with 45,000 miles on it - is the coolant in this
car a 'lifetime coolant' or should it be changed? Any advice, suggestions
most appreciated.
thanks.. Ralph Griffith

 

There is no such a thing as a "lifetime coolant". It should be changed,
and you should use *only* the correct coolant formulation. There are lots
of different ones out there, many of which are the same color as one
another but not compatible. Dex-Cool is NOT OK.

 

The coolant is good for 100k miles according to Chrysler. I believe it also
have a time limit too but my owner's manual is in the car in the shop. My
300M has 41k miles on it and is in for another service. When I brought it
in I suggested to the service writer who has worked there at least 10 years
and whom I've dealt with for at least 5 years, that they change the coolant
while the car was in for service. He told me that he would have the tech
check the condition of the coolant but it was probably premature to change
it and a waste of money. Later he called and said there was no reason to
change it. They are changing the brake fluid though.

 

Use only type G-05, which is the Chrysler coolant. Only brands of it
that I am aware of are the Zerex or Havoline G-05 type.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Thanks, Bill, I didn't know DC had the sense to use G-O5.

 

It's been discussed here before - I'm surprised you missed that.

BTW - *STILL* haven't had a chance to get my HIR bulbs installed.
Between comuters crashing and remnants of hurricanes rolling thru, am
behind on a lot of things.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Well, I've got my newsreader's filters locked down TIGHT-TIGHT-TIGHT. I
probably see about 1/20th of the total posts, because I've got certain
subject and alltext words blacklisted as well as certain posters.

Can't remember whirrbouts you are, relative to the hurricanes.

 

Virginia - lots of rain/flooding/scattered tornados from Gastone & Ivan.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

it's a 5 year or 100k service item and it past time

 

Question... my dealer has one price for a fluid change and another higher
price for a flush with change. I always thought you should do a flush when
changing the coolant. Any reason not to?

 

Art - If it's a reverse pressure flush, that would be the best - tends
to help remove buildups in areas that trap stuff from flow in one
direction (i.e., the end of a tube that sticks out of a header). I've
seen credible arguments against pressure flushes in automatic
transmissions, but I don't see any downside or credible risk in a
pressure flush in the cooling system. Just my opinion. I can't say
whether the additional charge would just be piece of mind that you did
the best technique and not really buy you anything tangible or not. If
you have some start of residue buildup, then there's probably some value
in it. If no buildup, then, not knowing that for sure, it's just the
extra cost of piece of mind. If it's a chemical flush, then you gotta
think it's not something that will remove some protective anti-corrosive
layer on the aluminum parts.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

well in this i would do a flush if the system can be reversed flushed
there is a problem rearing it's ugly head and it involves machining shaving's
left in the block after it was done in the factory
the shavings are starting to block off the little holes in the head gaskets and
resricting coolant flow. people are starting to see a car that slowly
overheats with no apparent cause

 

Chrysler calls it 100k or 5 year fluid. Zerex also makes the same stuff (G-05)
as the Mopar ext. life fluid, although Zerex is yellow instead of red/orange. I
had mine replacd by the dealer last year (at 4.5 yrs) because they had a good
price. I wouldn't let it go any longer though. The service writer story is
interesting since the factory does list an interval for the coolant but I'm not
aware of any for the brake fluid. Not a bad idea to change it though if it's
been a while.

 

Bill, is the Havoline version new? I didn't notice it on their website. I
believe Zerex is the OEM for the Mopar fluid; the Zerex branded G-05 is yellow.

Peak's Chrysler/Ford extended life fluid may be the right stuff too; Ford also
uses G-05 on some newer models. http://www.peakantifreeze.com/peak_cfexl.html

 

Maybe they were out of coolant but had lots of brake fluid in stock. Just
kidding. It is a pretty decent shop overall in my experience. Funny thing
is that few people buy cars there because the sales dept sucks. But lots of
people bring their cars purchased at other dealers to this shop for warranty
service.

 

Oops - I was working from memory, Greg, which is always a dangerous
thing to do. Havoline makes DexCool™/Prestone Extended Life, which
must've been what I was thinking of, and of course is not the same thing
as G-05.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
adddress with the letter 'x')

 

Is this machine shaving problem showing up in the second generation 3.5
(1998 and later)?

 

yep sure is and it seems to be about 40 k when it does
but a reverse flush do seem to cure it