[Dale_K]

Somewhere I read the coolant is different between 2012 and 2013. I just bought an ex-Hertz Chrylser 200 convertible (nice car) and my coolant tank looks kind of muddy and the fluid color is more opaque than I'm used to. My dealer ran a service history and it shows a thermostat housing replacement was done at some point. Presumably they added some coolant during the service.

What are the consequences if 2012 and 2013 coolants were intermixed? Could the muddy look of the coolant be related to intermixing?

 

[Dale_K]

Looking around on Google, I found a Chrysler document from their parts system that mentions the coolant switch and the consequences of intermixing. It turns out to be very bad if you blend the two coolants. There is a picture showing an engine bay with a coolant line disconnected and something that looks like orange toothpaste coming out the end. Here is a link...

http://starparts.chrysler.com/newsletters/newsletter_Oct_2012.pdf

Another picture shows the colors of the new and old and it also shows a difference between the factory fill coolant and the parts department replacement coolant. Even when you have the right Mopar coolant it's going to look different than the coolant in the car before the repair.