Dodge Shadow manual fluids

[Ghazan Haider]

I have a dodge shadow 93 manual 2.2L 4cyl 4-door that has been running
well past 130,000. The fluid in the radiator is full but the engine
coolant is completely empty. I thought they were the same fluid. What
'type' of liquid should I buy and use as the engine coolant?

The engine doesnt really overheat even after 2 hours or more of
driving on the highway, but I'm sure it will cause problems.

Also the power steering has been losing power but hasnt completely
lost power. The dipstick shows the fluid is FULL so it could be the
pump. Just out of curiosity, what fluid should I use for power
steering in this car? Or is there a generic "Power Steering (tm)"
fluid that will work?

Can the power steering pump be serviced. ie opened up, brushed up and
cleaned, or do I have to just replace the thing?

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

I have a dodge shadow 93 manual 2.2L 4cyl 4-door that has been running
well past 130,000. The fluid in the radiator is full but the engine
coolant is completely empty. I thought they were the same fluid. What
'type' of liquid should I buy and use as the engine coolant?

They are the same fluid. You need a 50/50 mix of standard engine coolant
(Prestone or Zerex, the regular type, not any sort of extended-life
formula) and distilled water.

Also the power steering has been losing power but hasnt completely
lost power. The dipstick shows the fluid is FULL so it could be the
pump. Just out of curiosity, what fluid should I use for power
steering in this car?

Power steering fluid type approved to Chrysler specs. Automatic
Transmission FLuid of any type is NOT acceptable.

Can the power steering pump be serviced

Yes, but not on a DIY basis.

DS

 

[Bill Putney]

Power steering fluid type approved to Chrysler specs. Automatic
Transmission FLuid of any type is NOT acceptable.

My Chrysler dealer tells me they cannot get the official p.s. fluid thru
their Chrysler warehouse anymore. They claim that when they order it,
the ATF+4 gets substituted. That is at least what they claim for the
later Chrysler spec. fluid, and I think for the earlier fluid too, but I
could be wrong about the earlier fluid.

However, I think the auto parts stores carry some aftermarket Chrysler
spec. fluid. Some of them stock it, some have to order it.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

[Richard Benner Jr]

They are the same fluid. You need a 50/50 mix of standard engine coolant
(Prestone or Zerex, the regular type, not any sort of extended-life
formula) and distilled water.


Power steering fluid type approved to Chrysler specs. Automatic
Transmission FLuid of any type is NOT acceptable.


Yes, but not on a DIY basis.

DS

Do you mean that the OVERFLOW BOTTLE is full of coolant and the
radiator and engine is empty? I don't see how the radiator is full
and that you can tell that the engine is empty. If the overflow
bottle is full and radiator/engine is empty, probably a bad leaking
headgasket.
GOOD LUCK

 

[Ghazan Haider]

Do you mean that the OVERFLOW BOTTLE is full of coolant and the

radiator and engine is empty? I don't see how the radiator is full
and that you can tell that the engine is empty. If the overflow
bottle is full and radiator/engine is empty, probably a bad leaking
headgasket.
GOOD LUCK

Is that an overflow bottle? Its white plastic behind and on the left
of the radiator. Its a pretty big bottle and could take 1.5 gallons or
so, and stank of the same fish smell as the radiator. The fluid color
was also the same, but the radiator was full to the top, and while the
bottle was almost completely empty, the label on the bottles cap says
engine coolant only.

So I just wanted to check if an 'engine coolant' is any different from
what you put into a radiator, why there are two caps, and why there
are two distict containers.

 

[Daniel J. Stern]

Is that an overflow bottle?

Yes, and the guy who asked "Do you mean that the OVERFLOW BOTTLE is full
of coolant" etc., didn't read your post carefully.

Its white plastic behind and on the left
of the radiator. Its a pretty big bottle and could take 1.5 gallons or
so, and stank of the same fish smell as the radiator. The fluid color
was also the same, but the radiator was full to the top, and while the
bottle was almost completely empty, the label on the bottles cap says
engine coolant only.

Look more carefully on the overflow tank and you'll see it has "MIN" and
"MAX" or "COLD" and "HOT" marks on it. Fill it to halfway between the two
marks with a 50/50 mix of coolant and water.

So I just wanted to check if an 'engine coolant' is any different from
what you put into a radiator

Engine coolant fills the radiator and overflow tank.

why there are two caps

Fluid level is to be checked and corrected via the overflow tank. Only in
special circumstances is the radiator cap to be opened.

and why there
are two distict containers.

Because the volume of coolant is greater when hot than when cold.

DS