2018 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi Coolant Exchange

[@ken2tou]

What about draining the engine? You only replaced half the coolant. You have to pull the lower hose and let it drain into a pail. After you close the petcock, refill the radiator. You’ll have to run the truck until it gets hot, then add coolant as the thermostat opens and takes in the new coolant. If you don’t do this step, you won’t have enough coolant in it. Once it quits losing volume in the radiator, you’ll know it’s full. I usually check coolant one more time after a day or two, just to be sure.

[@toddsavage8866]

Yes, it’s purple when new, turns a reddish orange as it ages. 2013 and newer takes the purple OAT 10 year 150k stuff. I’ve read a few articles that it’s basically the same formula as Dex cool just dyed purple, but who knows. Dexcool is also an OAT coolant. 🤷‍♂️. I got a little over 5 quarts out of my 2015.

[@m8x425]

Back in 2019 I changed the fluid on my 2014 RAM 1500 5.7L, at 85k miles. The older containers list 150k/10 year, but the newer containers only list the 10 year part. The old fluid came out pink but the new fluid looks mostly purple. I mixed the concentrate into a clean bucket with distilled water. A large volume of this fluid almost looks maroon with hint of purple where the light is penetrating. People way to pull the lower hose, but there are also three drain valves on the engine, with one of them being nearly impossible to get to.

[@ml-ed4sc]

the petcock you were turning does come out. it has an o-ring on it and as the car gets older, the o-ring starts to fail and you'll get a leak right at the drain plug. so to replace, you do what you did and when all the coolant is out, then just pull out the petcock and put the new one in.

[@joe7528]

My understanding is that the manufacturer's use the purple, and it will turn red over time meaning that the coolant is breaking down

[@ScoutCrafter]

One thing I learned from the get go... Don't go on forums unless you have a problem.. They are packed with safety Sallys who change synthetic oil every 3K and tranny fluid once a year and diff fluid every two years... Waste of time and money... I think these guys spend more money on maintenance than they did on the car! I had a friend who had a show car that he would put only 100 miles a year on! Yet he change the oil every 6 months because he listened to the nut jobs who told him the oil needed to be changed even if you never drove with it... Insanity...

[@alecxleon7253]

Really helpful! Thanks for sharing.

[@ezellm21]

What about the reservoir, What was the level once you re-filled? I’m not trying to flush the entire thing I just want to add for now.

[@hectorhernandez6469]

I'm replacing the antifreeze on a 2017 same vehicle because the housing to the thermostat has a leak now it has no radiator fluid in it actually it didn't thanks to the wife so basically I'm going to replace the whole thermostat housing where the hoses connect when replacing the housing before I put the antifreeze in it should I do it while it's off or on and should I do from the reservoir or straight through the radiator

[@stuntcardriver]

If you can pour directly into the engine from the t-stat housing I would start there and then fill the radiator.

[@Rangerdude67]

OAT...Organic Acid Technology....if you buy the already blended, it's orange in color just like the original used in the 2015 Ram 1500.

[@danielscrapper8207]

Can i use the green or yellow coolant in my 2015 hemi? I live in North Dakota and it gets COLD!! -38 with wind chill today

[@stuntcardriver]

I'm not sure. You would have to check specs. I would go to the antifreeze manufacturers website and see if they have a recommendation.

[@eduardoavila3665]

Mines it’s a 2014 ram 5.7 and I’m going to replace radiator and I need to know how many gallons of coolant it’s gonna take it? If anyone can respond this thanks a lot

[@gonzotopia1]

You’ll probably need at least 2 gallons. I would get a third to be safe

[@eduardoavila3665]

Thanks a lot man! I’m gonna get 3 gallons just in case !

[@amazinggadgetsandtech111]

U prolly already found out but it’s 2 gallons

[@zachvapes6968]

I’ve been searching everywhere looking for Information on the coolant for my ram 1500, so just like you the coolant in my truck is pink/red and the coolant I brought was OEM pre mixed and it was purple, have you had any problems I’ve been worried about mixing the two coolants

[@stuntcardriver]

No issues, as long as the coolant type is the same the color doesn't matter.

[@ritojr1795]

Where is the drain located? I couldnt find mine. Same vehicle

[@stuntcardriver]

driver side

[@jwaldo9556]

@@stuntcardriver Thank you... ive been under the truck for 15min looking on the passenger side.. lol

[@yo_ez1590]

So you didn’t mix anything correct? You just opened up the new coolant and poured it into the radiator? Did you add some into the the little tank with the coolant dipstick?

[@stuntcardriver]

I had to mix it because the dealer didn't have pre-mix. I did pour some in the overflow tank.

[@domenicpaolella6782]

You need to mix it with distilled water 50/50

[@stuntcardriver]

That's what I did.

[@santimartinez8821]

How many gallons of coolant is necessary.

[@michaelsnively3621]

2 gallons of 50/50, with cover a Radiator drain and refill if you are changing out thermostat. Whole system holds three gallons, if you are flushing and refilling whole thing.

[@DarvinStjohn]

Hey shouldn’t it just be as the 3.6 penstar. So basically it will show low when the car is cold it’s in the radiator. Now when hot the radiator is cooling condensing which causes the resivour to become full to the max level so you might have over filler your system buddy