The cooling system in your vehicle is filled with DEX-COOL® engine coolant. This coolant is designed to remain in your vehicle for five years or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs first, if you add only DEX-COOL® extended life coolant.

The following explains your cooling system and how to add coolant when it is low. If you have a problem with engine overheating, see Engine Overheating.

A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant will:

Notice: Using coolant other than DEX-COOL® can cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may require changing sooner, at the first maintenance service after each 30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months, whichever occurs first. Any repairs would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Always use DEX-COOL® (silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.

Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water and one-half DEX-COOL® coolant which will not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant mixture, you do not need to add anything else.

Caution: Adding only plain water to the cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could get too hot but would not get the overheat warning. The engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant.

Notice: If an improper coolant mixture is used, the engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and other parts.

If you have to add coolant more than four times a year, have your dealer/retailer check your cooling system.

Notice: If you use extra inhibitors and/or additives in your vehicle's cooling system, you could damage your vehicle. Use only the proper mixture of the engine coolant listed in this manual for the cooling system. See Recommended Fluids and Lubricants for more information.

The coolant reservoir and dipstick is located in the engine compartment on the passenger side of the vehicle. See Engine Compartment Overview for more information on location.

1. Turn off the ignition.



2. Turn the coolant dipstick cap one-eighth of a turn counterclockwise and slowly pull the dipstick straight up.
3. When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at or above the Min mark on the dipstick.

After the vehicle has been driven and the engine is at normal operating temperature, the level should be somewhere between half full and the Max mark.

4. If the coolant level is correct, replace the dipstick and turn the cap one-eighth of a turn clockwise.

Adding Coolant

If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture at the coolant reservoir, but only when the engine is cool. If the coolant reservoir is empty, a special fill procedure is necessary. See Engine Overheating for instructions on "How to Add Coolant to the Cooling System."

Caution: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol, and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.

When replacing the coolant reservoir cap, make sure it is hand-tight and fully seated.