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Dodge Shadow manual fluids

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?

Reply to
Ghazan Haider
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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

Reply to
Daniel J. Stern

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")

Reply to
Bill Putney

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

Reply to
Richard Benner Jr

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.

Reply to
Ghazan Haider

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

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.

Engine coolant fills the radiator and overflow tank.

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

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

DS

Reply to
Daniel J. Stern

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