onecrazyfoo4u Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 So I hit 103k miles the other day. I already changed my transmission fluid and spark plugs recently. The next big maintenance item looks like a coolant flush at 104k miles. It's still on the original coolant on my 2012 3.6l. Are there any gotchas to the coolant change for this vehicle? Or is it just a simple normal change: 1. Open the radiator drain and the coolant reservoir bottle. Let it drain completely 2. Refill with distilled water. Run vehicle for awhile till thermostat opens and circulates the fluid 3. Then drain the fluid again. This is to get rid of the hidden remaining fluid after running the engine for awhile. 4. Then refill with the proper 50/50 mix of Chrysler MS-6395 compliant red HOAT coolant. 5. Then bleed the system. Do you just run the vehicle with the coolant reservoir cap left off? Run it long enough until the thermostat opens and fluid level drops a bit? How much fluid should I expect to use? The 3 zone climate control says 14.5 quarts. But I highly doubt you can get it all out of the system. Unless there's some special way to drain everything from the system? How much do you actually drain from the radiator? Side topic, I haven't replaced the PCV valve yet. Where is that located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecrazyfoo4u Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Alright, I guess no one on here has done it yet. Anybody know how much fluid to use for the change? It isn't cheap from the dealer...don't want to waste it. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Fluid capacities should be listed in the owners manual. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecrazyfoo4u Posted April 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Yeah, it's 14.5 quarts, but there's no way I'll actually get that much in the system since probably half of it is in the lines and rear hvac unit. Just wondering if anyone has actually changed it and seen the quantity required. dhh3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhh3 Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Is there a way to drain the rear? If you have a good relationship with your Dealer, they may give you some advice. 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted April 18, 2016 Report Share Posted April 18, 2016 Yeah, it's 14.5 quarts, but there's no way I'll actually get that much in the system since probably half of it is in the lines and rear hvac unit. Just wondering if anyone has actually changed it and seen the quantity required. Like when I do a transmission fluid/filter change, measure what comes out and put back in the same amount. dhh3 and 2late4u 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecrazyfoo4u Posted June 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 Finally got around to doing this. I was only able to get about 6 quarts of fluid in after the change. That's just the capacity of the radiator, reservoir bottle, and hoses it seemed like. So over half the fluid you can't get it since it's stuck in the HVAC system. I drained it, then refilled with water. Let it warm up and circulate fluid, then drained again and refilled with fluid. When I refilled, I open the bleeder screw on the hose by the thermostat mount. I'm not too concerned with only changing out half the fluid. Fluid looked perfect coming out, at 105k miles of hot desert usage. BTW, the radiator drain petcock is the worst ever. You loosen it completely, and it only pisses out a tiny stream, would take an hour to drain. So you have to loosen all the way and pull the whole valve out, making a huge mess all over yourself. But whatever, it's done now. The hardest part of the job was taking out the dozen bottom air dam panel fasteners without trying to break them! Journey_SeXT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 at what mileage did you do your transmission fluid and filter change i was asking my dealer and they want you to change it at about 50-60k and i asked him wasn't that for cars that were in heavy duty use or heavy towing and that the book says about 100k and he kind of hem hawed a bit and said well ya but we recommend it sooner than later...dealer wants about $150 to do the service.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey_SeXT Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 (edited) at what mileage did you do your transmission fluid and filter change i was asking my dealer and they want you to change it at about 50-60k and i asked him wasn't that for cars that were in heavy duty use or heavy towing and that the book says about 100k and he kind of hem hawed a bit and said well ya but we recommend it sooner than later...dealer wants about $150 to do the service.. I will be changing both my coolant and transmission fluid soon and I am just passed 100,000 km / 60,000 miles. I just checked my Transmission fluid the other day and it is still in good shape with good color and no burnt smell. I would suggest that you check your fluid too so you aren't changing it out when it is dark and not recommended to switch it out. EDIT: I just noticed you have a 2014 2late4U so I think you are still awhile away from a tranny fluid change but still doesn't hurt to check it. Edited June 7, 2016 by Journey_SeXT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted June 7, 2016 Report Share Posted June 7, 2016 I will be changing both my coolant and transmission fluid soon and I am just passed 100,000 km / 60,000 miles. I just checked my Transmission fluid the other day and it is still in good shape with good color and no burnt smell. I would suggest that you check your fluid too so you aren't changing it out when it is dark and not recommended to switch it out. EDIT: I just noticed you have a 2014 2late4U so I think you are still awhile away from a tranny fluid change but still doesn't hurt to check it. well just passed the 41 k mark... lol burning the roads up...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I'll get rid of mine before any fluids, plugs and even brake pads at this point. I'm at 46,000 miles. Pads still look new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I'll get rid of mine before any fluids, plugs and even brake pads at this point. I'm at 46,000 miles. Pads still look new. well i was thinking of pulling my front wheels to check the pads but at only 41 k i am feeling a little lazy and will wait till about 60k to check them i guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted June 8, 2016 Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 You can look at the without pulling the wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onecrazyfoo4u Posted June 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2016 I changed transmission fluid at almost 100k miles. I just changed the plugs at 104k miles. And now the coolant at 105k miles. First time for each of those three. Basically just following the manual for each of those. The only one I might have done sooner would be plugs. I noticed a drastic mpg increase when I changed them (about 2-3 mpg). Those should have been changed out at about 75k miles or so. Journey_SeXT and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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