2004 Dodge Viper Owner's Manual - Page 166

166 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE Cooling System WARNING! You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear steam coming from under the hood, don't open the hood until the radiator has had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure cap when the radiator is hot. Inspection Coolant protection checks should be made every 12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh coolant. Check the front of the radiator for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. Check the coolant bottle tubing for condition and tightness of connection at reserve tank and radiator. Inspect the entire system for leaks. NOTE: Check the front of the radiator for debris (leaves, paper, etc.) regularly. A build up of such material could lead to engine overheating. Do not remove the cooling system pressure cap when the cooling system is hot. Cooling System - Drain, Flush and Refill The cooling system should be drained, flushed and refilled at the intervals shown on the Maintenance Schedules. If the solution is dirty and contains a considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a reliable cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Discard old antifreeze solution according to recommended procedure.