2013 Coolant Is Orange/pink, Should Be Purple? | Page 2

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2013 coolant is orange/pink, should be purple? 1 reading Jump to Latest legitposter L Hello, My wife and I have '13 wranglers. I keep reading the coolant is OAT coolant and should be purple but neither are. They're both orangeish. Does anyone have purple coolant in their '13? 21 - 40 of 99 Posts 1 2 of 5

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Lusus_Naturae

· Registered Joined Oct 10, 2012 · 4,064 Posts Old Dogger to the rescue... I never thought antifreeze could misrepresent its color so bad. I didn't pull any, but I did a couple photos at different angles and lighting arrangements - it really changes color. These aren't the best photos, I just grabbed the camera and used the exsisting settings I had for a evening shot, and then set it to auto - but - they come out enough in terms of seeing the color change. Gives me a little peace of mind tonight at least..

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legitposter

· Registered Joined Feb 20, 2013 · 1,919 Posts Thanks for the help. Yup, mine is purple when I took some out to look at it. Sheesh, chrysler sure does like to open up chances for mistakes to be made by owners and dealer techs.

Lusus_Naturae

· Registered Joined Oct 10, 2012 · 4,064 Posts ^ That's what got me. If I didn't know any better I would have looked in there and asked for the orange stuff, especially since you aren't supposed to mix them, I may have questioned why it was orange when I thought it should be purple, but I would have also figured they put orange in at the factory so they must know what they are doing (something you should never count on with Chrysler products

ullinghair: ). You can clearly see how orange it really looks in my photo too - until you see the side shot where it's purple.... Since I had the system burped and bled out in winter I was leaning on some idiot tech topping it off or refilling it with the wrong stuff and kicking myself for not catching it earlier. The dealer I got the free oil change from was the one I bought the Jeep from, the dealer that topped it up is my normal service dealer. I should also note, when I walked in to my service dealer I just walked over to my service manager and told him I needed it topped up. He asked me what color it took, I told him purple based on what I remembered form the service manual. I was partially kicking myself for awhile thinking I told him wrong and screwed the Jeep up, I'm really glad I didn't look at the color if I could have seen it though, I would have probably told him wrong if I had. He's a great service manager though.

Reece

· Registered Joined Dec 4, 2012 · 175 Posts If you read my story linked above, you know I have both OAT and HOAT on hand. Here's a picture of the two coolants. Keep in mind; if you look into the filler hole the color may be distorted some. There may be a sheen on the surface that can fool you. Look at the side like Old Dogger showed. Even better, suck a little out for the best view. The easiest way to I.D. the OAT bottle is by the "10 YEAR / 150,000 MILE" spec. Don't trust the dealer. I think Chrysler was a little negligent at educating their dealer techs on this one. Or maybe they just slept through the training session.

grizzstang

· Registered Joined Aug 16, 2013 · 829 Posts Had a better look at mine over the weekend. It looks pink through the side of the overflow tank, it looks pink when I looked through the cap into the overflow, it looks pink when I took the rad cap off but when I sucked it into my hydrometer it was purple like it was supposed to be. Strange how it can look like two different colors.

jeepinit

· Registered Joined Jun 19, 2012 · 53 Posts Installed a supercharger on mine last weekend 2013 jkur and had to top off the coolant and mine is definitely orange. Going to change it now that I read this thread. Thanks

jeepinit

· Registered Joined Jun 19, 2012 · 53 Posts 2013 jkur mine is definitely orange. Going to change it now that I read this thread

michiganadam

· Registered Joined Jan 30, 2013 · 2,242 Posts The only reason it is purple is so they can deny you warranty claims based on "youre using the wrong antifreeze!". I would have photographic evidence that it either is orange/pink from the factory, or that a dealer put the wrong color in during warranty work... CYA... I've also never heard of a dealer having anything but mopar parts.....My dealer changed my top before putting my jeep out for sale and they even used the mopar top.....even though bestop is the same and cheaper...lol. By the way, I have seen green antifreeze that sure looked red before... D

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts

Lusus_Naturae said: Old Dogger to the rescue... I never thought antifreeze could misrepresent its color so bad. I didn't pull any, but I did a couple photos at different angles and lighting arrangements - it really changes color. These aren't the best photos, I just grabbed the camera and used the exsisting settings I had for a evening shot, and then set it to auto - but - they come out enough in terms of seeing the color change. Gives me a little peace of mind tonight at least.. Click to expand...

I can reproduce the same result, - coolant looks orange when looking from the top and purple when looking from the side with light source on top. Nevertheless, when I pulled some coolant from radiator (left) and compared to Mopar OAT (right) I have just purchased the difference is unmistakable. Don't even know if I should use the OAT to top off my coolant reservoir. My 2013 JK was built March 13, 2013.

Lusus_Naturae

· Registered Joined Oct 10, 2012 · 4,064 Posts I'd like to see if the purple dye breaks down over time. Anybody have a new one with purple in it that can keep track? D

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts

Lusus_Naturae said: I'd like to see if the purple dye breaks down over time. Anybody have a new one with purple in it that can keep track? Click to expand...

Actually, I've been checking fluid levels periodically since day one. It has always been orange-red and has not really changed color over almost a year since I go the jk brand new. Except maybe becoming little more cloudy. It never even crossed my mind that my fluid may be purple, all this time observing it. Sent e-mail to Chrysler giving them vin, asking to confirm OAT was filled at factory. And if it's an OAT why is it Orange not Purple. Will update as soon as I'll get any info from them, if the do reply. D

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts So, here is the reply from Chrysler which appears to confirm OAT was installed at the factory, even though they didn't explain why is it Orange-Red instead of Purple. Posting the entire reply below. My original question to them is at the very bottom. I think it settles it for me. Nevertheless, I am planning on flushing the system when weather gets warmer and installing 68163848AA coolant diluted with distilled water in 60/40 ratio respectively. Dear David: Thank you for contacting the Jeep Customer Assistance Center. According to our records, your vehicle was built with an improved engine coolant (OAT coolant conforming to MS-12106) that allows extended maintenance intervals. This engine coolant (antifreeze) can be used up to ten years or 150,000 miles (240,000 km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this extended maintenance period, it is important that you use the same engine coolant (OAT coolant conforming to MS-12106) throughout the life of your vehicle. OAT coolant is purple in color. Please review these recommendations for using Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze) that meets the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-12106. When adding engine coolant (antifreeze): ? We recommend using MOPAR�Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT (Organic Additive Technology) that meets the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-12106. ? Mix a minimum solution of 50% OAT engine coolant that meets the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-12106 and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to exceed 70%) if temperatures below ?34�F (?37�C) are anticipated. ? Use only high purity water such as distilled or deionized water when mixing the water/engine coolant (antifreeze) solution. The use of lower quality water will reduce the amount of corrosion protection in the engine cooling system. Please note that it is the owner?s responsibility to maintain the proper level of protection against freezing according to the temperatures occurring in the area where the vehicle is operated. The engine cooling system in air-conditioned vehicles must be protected with a high-quality antifreeze coolant to provide proper corrosion protection and to protect against engine overheating. A solution of 50% OAT (Organic Additive Technology) coolant that meets the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-12106 and 50% water is recommended. Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than specified Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine damage and may decrease corrosion protection. Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant is different and should not be mixed with Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) engine coolant (antifreeze) or any ?globally compatible? coolant (antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling system in an emergency, it should be flushed with OAT coolant and replaced with the specified OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) as soon as possible. MOPAR�Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/150,000 Mile Formula OAT (Organic Additive Technology) meeting the requirements of Chrysler Material Standard MS-12106: 1 Gallon = 68163848AA (concentrate) 1 Gallon = 68163849AA (50/50) Thanks again for your email. Sincerely, Tony Customer Service Representative Jeep Customer Assistance Center For any future communications related to this email, please refer to the following information: REFERENCE NUMBER: 25404655 EMAIL CASE NUMBER: 2952424 Original Message Follows: ------------------------ US Customer Service - Jeep Brand Site Brief Description: Factory Filled Coolant Comments: Can you confirm a Mopar OAT coolant was filled at factory. The coolant in radiator is Orange (possibly HOAT). The coolant per manual is Purple MS-12106 spec (OAT). Have a side by side photo I can send. Need to add a little to coolant reservoir. Very concerned to use OAT if HOAT was filled at factory. If OAT was filled at factory why is it Orange, and not Purple? D

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts To add to the above it is very possible Fiat's OAT (which is Orangeish in color) batch was used. As many of you have probably read Fiat has used its own OAT which is Orange in color for years. When they purchased Chrysler perhaps Chrysler could leverage some of Fiat's fluids in production. After all, what many of us have in our radiators isn't Purple, nor Orange like Chrysler's HOAT, but Orange-Red. B

blankster

· Registered Joined May 14, 2013 · 448 Posts Here is the TSB from Chrysler: http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_0700412a.pdf D

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts I wonder what is the possibility that some Jeeps are low on coolant from the factory and dealerships are topping them off during a new vehicle prep? Now, what if some have been using HOAT to do that instead of OAT? Has anyone heard anything about this? I don't like the look of my coolant at all. It's kind of dirty looking on the JK with 10K miles, and I do see some residue on the internal surfaces of the cooling system. My wife's g37 has same mileage and the coolant is green and transparent, no residue, no nothing.

Mcrock

· Registered Joined Mar 1, 2009 · 544 Posts Try this test for OAT if you are in doubt: From your reservoir, Draw off a small amount of the "orange" coolant with a turkey baster Put it in a clear glass container Hold it under differing light conditions You will see that the orange is actually a shade of purple under the right light

Ivoryring

· Registered Joined Jun 10, 2012 · 637 Posts Same light, same glass - one is drawn from my 2013 radiator, one from a jug of 50/50 10yr/150k coolant from the dealer. Want to guess which is which?

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts The one on the bottom (purple) matches what I have in the Mopar 50/50 OAT jog bought from dealer much closer. Don't tell me it's the other way around.

Ivoryring

· Registered Joined Jun 10, 2012 · 637 Posts The bottom one is from the jug. The question is - does what you have (and if I'm reading correctly you have had the same color from day 1) in your radiator match the top? D

davison0976

· Registered Joined Apr 27, 2013 · 179 Posts

Ivoryring said: The bottom one is from the jug. The question is - does what you have (and if I'm reading correctly you have had the same color from day 1) in your radiator match the top? Click to expand...

Sorry, I've just had a chance to run the experiment this evening. Yes, what I have in the radiator does match your top image. Left is from radiator, right is from 50/50 OAT jug. Thank you for taking time to make and post the pictures.

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