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JerryM
Dodge Dakota
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6/03/2007
18:40:10
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 Subject: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Hello,
Have never changed my coolant in my 2000 Dakota, probably now is a good time to do so. I will do it myself, but will drain and fill but not flush.
My question is should I drain just the radiator, or also drain the engine block thru the drain plug. Also not sure what to do with the plastic coolant reservoir, or if it even can be drained?
Any ideas?
Thanks!
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modain
GenIII
 
6/04/2007
03:27:13
|  RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Since it has the original fill I'd say get rid of every bit of the stuff you can get out. You should flush it because there's probably a lot of crud built up inside.
Drain the radiator and the block. You should empty everything you can, fill with water and some flush chemical. Follow the directions. Drain the radiator and block again. Run clear water through, drain radiator and block. Refill with antifreeze and distilled water.
If the truck came with the red HOAT coolant you can use the Zerex G-05 stuff (I just did on my D and QC). It's the same chemistry as the Mopar stuff, just a lot cheaper (and made by Valvoline). If it was filled with green coolant use anything green you feel comfortable using. My $.02: don't use Prestone Extended Life Coolant - I have not been pleased with its results.
The resevoir hose connects to the bottom of the tank. Disconnect the overflow hose from the cap and drain it from there. Rinse/scrub as necessary, reconnect.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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6/04/2007
05:48:30
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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don't forget, now is a good time to change both upper and lower hoses.
- Dan M
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modain
GenIII
6/04/2007
12:20:19
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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New radiator cap too (if it hasn't been replaced recently).
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JerryM
Dodge Dakota
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6/04/2007
16:20:59
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Guy's,
Thanks for the advice. Just got the job completed, but only a drain and fill. A little limited on resources to flush the system.
Basically drained the radiator, coolant reservoir, and pulled the lower radiator hose to drain some from the block. The coolant did look dirty. Refilled with a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and Prestone antifreeze.
modain, you said you were not to pleased with Prestone extended life. That is what I had on hand so had to use. Just wondering what you experienced with this brand?
Thanks.
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modain
GenIII
6/04/2007
21:27:55
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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The Prestone Extended Life is an OAT formulation very similar to the Dex-Cool stuff (also OAT). The OAT formulation has stuff in it that the Chrysler spec'ed HOAT formulation doesn't have in it - specifically the type of corrosion inhibiters. These inhibiters are incompatible with the requirements of the Chrysler setup.
I had done a drain and fill on my 2002 QC when I changed out the radiator using the Prestone Extended Life. When I just did a flush and fill the combination of the leftover Mopar/HOAT stuff with the Prestone stuff I had used looked *really* murky and contaminated. It didn't look or feel like the coolant should; it seemed real *sticky*. Not good.
I forgot what the dealer price for the HOAT coolant was, but it was way more than a gallon of A/F sould cost. When I found and researched the Valvoline/Zerex G-05 coolant I found it was the same formulation as the Mopar stuff and indicated it was *approved* by Chrysler, M-Benz, and Ford (who cares) for use in their HOAT required vehicles. All this for $12 a gallon. Much better than the Mopar price. The price is right, and I figure why not use the right stuff for the system...
Keep an eye on the coolant, and if it starts looking *wrong* flush it and put in the correct stuff.
I think 2001 MY was the change-over to the HOAT coolant. The 2000 MY could probably still use the regular 'ol green stuff. Check your owner's manual for the specific coolant requirement.
[size=9]What's your left foot doing?=========================================[color=Red]2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, R/T rear swaybar, no chrome, loads o'fun...[/color][color=Blue]2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)[/color][color=Green]1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open[/color][/size]
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Shoe
GenIII
6/04/2007
22:08:36
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Message:
Modain, what happened to your sig?
'97 RC V6, 5spd, soon to be V8, 5spd!
Maybe not a 5-speed, but an automatic will work.
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modain
GenIII
6/04/2007
23:01:39
|  RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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I updated my profile, the sig got "lost", I tried to re-add it... Oops, wrong tags! Let's try this one out...
What's your left foot doing?
=========================================
2002 Graphite QC SLT Plus, 4.7L, NV3500, Superchips 3715, 3.92 LSD, R/T rear swaybar, no chrome, loads o'fun...
2001 Patriot Blue Durango SLT, 4.7L, 45RFE, Superchips 3715, 3.55 Open (for now)
1999 Forest Green Dakota RC Sport, 2.5L, NV1500, 3.55 Open
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PETE
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/19/2007
20:48:43
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Jerry M be sure to put back what came out and I would change out everything including all your hoses and heater hoses and thermostat,pressure cap.I would before you flush out and change everything I would pressure check to be sure you don't have any leaks or a waterpump or heater core leaking or a radiator be wasting your money.And your hoses are older than 5 years get rid of them they rot from inside out reardless how they appear from the outside
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PETE
Dodge Dakota
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6/19/2007
20:54:22
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Jerry also to drain your overflow tank out buy a cheap pump that will suck out the old coolant they sell them at most autoparts just ask if you don't see them you don't need a electric if they try to sell you one NICE to have but $$$ ..
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JerryM
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/19/2007
21:23:02
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Pete,
thanks for the advice!
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Brucebbass
Dodge Dakota
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3/31/2011
07:57:51
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Never use distilled water in a cars cooling system.
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JerryM
Dodge Dakota
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4/01/2011
01:12:35
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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Bruce, why should you not use distilled water in your cooling system. I thought due to the impurities in regular water scale would build up quicker?
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Jean
Dodge Dakota
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7/22/2011
00:41:50
| wYuEscLKVj
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This does look promising. I'll keep cmnoig back for more.
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bob dodge
Dodge Dakota
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7/25/2015
21:03:41
| RE: 2000 4.7 liter coolant change
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I need to know if the drain plug on the block is
only partially tightened down for a reason. If i
thread it all the way will it cause a problem?
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