Srtified Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 I noticed that my Coolant reservoir is filled with a very darl coloured coolant mix. It almost looks deep purple or even black...NOT the colours I'm familiar with. Is this the normal colour? 2013 Journey R/T AWD 3.6L Pentastar engine TIA, Srtified (Paul) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtomatoman Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 I noticed that my Coolant reservoir is filled with a very darl coloured coolant mix. It almost looks deep purple or even black...NOT the colours I'm familiar with. Is this the normal colour?2013 Journey R/T AWD 3.6L Pentastar engine TIA, Srtified (Paul) NO! Make sure it is not oil. If it is, it could be the sign of a leaking head gasket or other condition where oil and coolant are mixing. I would think twice before driving it if you think it is oil. Coolant in the cylinders is no good. I have heard of a small amount oil showing into the coolant following internal engine work. Have you had your heads worked on? This is an uncommon, although not unknown, pentastar problem. Make your dealer figure it out. Good Luck. Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtomatoman Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Oh yeah. Forgot to mention that the color should be orange if you were not sure. . . Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolly Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 I've got a 2013 SXT and my coolant reservoir also has dark fluid. Check with your dealer before you panic. The 2013 Challenger has OAT purple p/n 68163848AA, so it's quite likely the 2013 Journey's have the same.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolly Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 From the Challenger forum website: Chrysler LLC has released a new engine coolant for 2013 model year vehicles and beyond. : Check out this link for an explanation: http://www.challengertalk.com/forums/f5/2013-challengers-use-new-antifreeze-oat-purple-p-n-68163848aa-88495/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolly Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 A more thorough explanation. www.sae.org/mags/aei/11284 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Srtified Posted February 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Thanks Rolly, I'm hoping that this is the case. I am going to double-check the colour however, just to make sure it's not dark brown or rust colured. Can't hurt right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webslave Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 My 2013 R/T, manufactured in November of 2012 uses the older OAT antifreeze and is pink in color (looks almost like cloudy automatic transmission fluid). The new MOPAR OAT antifreeze is dark purple in color (mine was evidently manufactured before the "switch" in colors). Don't panic if yours (in a 2013) is a dark color; it is probably just the new formulation (and color) of the antifreeze. It used to be that you could determine the type of antifreeze from the color...that doesn't hold true any longer. Depending on the manufacturer, OAT antifreeze can be orange, green, pink, red and now blue/purple. Just to keep us guessing what is actually in there... It used to be that you could just buy antifreeze (in my younger days), then you had to buy either green or orange, depending on the application. Now, you can't base anything on the color; you have to know the formulation (IAT, HOAT or OAT) and which applies to your particular vehicle. Really becomes a "pain" when I've got 2 ATVs, 2 tractors and 4 cars (1976, 1989, 2011, and 2013) and they cover all the different formulations; I have to check the owner's manual for each whenever I have to add antifreeze because I can't remember which takes what and I can't go by the color any more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolly Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) My 2013 R/T, manufactured in November of 2012 uses the older OAT antifreeze and is pink in color (looks almost like cloudy automatic transmission fluid). The new MOPAR OAT antifreeze is dark purple in color (mine was evidently manufactured before the "switch" in colors). Don't panic if yours (in a 2013) is a dark color; it is probably just the new formulation (and color) of the antifreeze. It used to be that you could determine the type of antifreeze from the color...that doesn't hold true any longer. Depending on the manufacturer, OAT antifreeze can be orange, green, pink, red and now blue/purple. Just to keep us guessing what is actually in there... It used to be that you could just buy antifreeze (in my younger days), then you had to buy either green or orange, depending on the application. Now, you can't base anything on the color; you have to know the formulation (IAT, HOAT or OAT) and which applies to your particular vehicle. Really becomes a "pain" when I've got 2 ATVs, 2 tractors and 4 cars (1976, 1989, 2011, and 2013) and they cover all the different formulations; I have to check the owner's manual for each whenever I have to add antifreeze because I can't remember which takes what and I can't go by the color any more... Wow, you must have been at the tail end just before the switch. I picked up our 2013 SXT on December 10. Talk about confusing! Edited February 10, 2013 by rolly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redtomatoman Posted February 10, 2013 Report Share Posted February 10, 2013 Well. . . Hopefully I stand corrected. I've not seen purple. Hope that's the correct color. Best of luck. Do make sure there is no oil in the coolant though. Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhartley Posted September 21, 2013 Report Share Posted September 21, 2013 I was purchased a 2011 DJ Mainstreet and was totally freaked out by the color of the anti-freeze; which is an orange color. Thought it was oil at first, especially the way it looks in the reservoir; really viscous! I still remember when you bought green antifreeze and cut it with distilled water; the ratio dependent on what the vehicle was. Ahhh the good ol' days when cars just had engines and no computers in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2014jrt Posted January 1, 2014 Report Share Posted January 1, 2014 My 2014 rt has the purple oat antifreeze . I was like " purple? Interesting " I hope it don't cost and arm and a leg though to top up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leisaysgoblue Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 Happy 4th of July, I have a question about the coolant in my 2014 Dodge journey. I am planning a road trip in 5 days and wanted to top off my coolant. It is currently at the min level in the reservoir. The color is orange should I assume this is the Mopar 5year 100,000 coolant? I purchased my journey in August of 2014 with 6 miles on it from a Dodge Chrysler dealership. Can I top it off with the Mopar 5 yr 100,000 or the prestone dex cool ? There are 65,000 miles on the engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryl Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 Check your manual some Mopar coolants CANNOT be mixed you will end up with a mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leisaysgoblue Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 My manual states the Mopar 10 year 150,000 but that is a purple antifreeze coolant not orange like the antifreeze coolant in the vehicle currently. This is what intiated my question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted July 4, 2019 Report Share Posted July 4, 2019 just turned 93 k on my 2014 i just had them change the plugs and do a coolant service on it ,cheap insurance as fluid for 5 yrs old and high miles just needs changing....have it done for your own piece of mind mechanical-idiot, jkeaton and Leisaysgoblue 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fcasontoo Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 So, I had to replace radiator on my 2017 Crossroad and the fluid looked red, so I used Valvoline Xerox Asian motors 150,000 mile antifreeze, reddish/pinkish in color. Now I have a coolant leak, I believe at the water pump. Could wrong coolant cause this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted September 5, 2020 Report Share Posted September 5, 2020 (edited) The dude should abide with OEM spec fluids (sorry cant resist...I loved that movie). I doubt it, how long was fluid in for. What does fluid look like, it should look the same as when it was poured in. Valvoline May even make the Chrysler oem stuff. My pump had a drip at 100k miles with original fluid. The new fluids are usually an OAT formulation and there is a Chrysler spec number in the owners manual. Check the Japanese spec stuff to see if the Chysler spec is listed on container like on label below. Pics is what I have been using in my 2014 with orange stuff number 11 for two years now. Edited September 5, 2020 by John/Horace OhareFred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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