Coolant Change

Tip: If you change your own coolant, it is important to avoid causing an air pocket. overheating. To prevent this, there's an Allen screw next to the thermostat housing. This must be removed when filling the coolant system. When the coolant starts to come out of where you removed the screw reinstall the Allen screw. This assures that the system is bled (i.e., burped) and there is no air in it. Then, continue filling to the line on the reservoir tank.

If you skip this step, air can get trapped the coolant tubes (goes to/from heater core) and the upper part of the water pump, and the pump won't circulate the coolant. The result is engine overheating.

For more information about cooling systems, read the following article:

https://www.challengerforum.com/articles/automotive-cooling-systems.85/

 

You have the wrong coolant in your 6.1. Your 2010 takes HOAT. Green colored coolant is IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology). It is used in older vehicles and has more silicates than HOAT. Also, it has to be changed every two years.

HOAT antifreeze (orange or yellow) should not be mixed with green antifreeze because they are not compatible. If mixed together, these two types of antifreeze form a cloudy substance and precipitation that can decrease the coolant's useful life properties.

Although both the green and orange antifreeze are ethylene glycol-based, the difference between them is that they contain different corrosion inhibitor ingredients or additives. While orange antifreeze contains organic acids, green antifreeze has additives, such as silicates, borates and phosphates. The interaction of these different antifreeze types causes the formation of silicate precipitation, which has an impact on corrosion protection.

Another difference between these two antifreeze types is that orange antifreeze has a longer useful life that the green type. Orange antifreeze has a useful life of 5 years, whereas green antifreeze is good for 2 years. Orange antifreeze is referred to as an extended-life antifreeze.

All Chrysler vehicles, from 2002-2012, used HOAT (Hybrid OAT). It has less silicates than IAT and is less likely to plug up the heater core and lines during non-use of the heater in the summer months. Challengers have continuous circulation through the heater lines and heaters, with no in-line control valves to prevent circulation when in the closed position.

From 2013 to the present, OAT is used.

 

Although it will work, I assume that it has to be changed every 2-3 years?

I did a little research and found that Prestone replaced silicates with phosphates, so it should be save to use with all engines. However, I still prefer the Mopar HOAT coolant that was specifically formulated for my engine, instead of an "all purpose" one.

 

There are six types of coolants (antifreeze):

IAT (Inorganic Additive Technology)
Application- Older Vehicles
Composition- Silicates
Color- Green

OAT (Organic Acid Technology)- GM Dexcool, 10 yrs. or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, or 15 years and 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Application- Chrysler (2013-2019), GM, Saab and VW
Composition- No silicates, nitrates or phosphates
Color- Purple/Orange

HOAT (Hybrid OAT)- 5 years or 102,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Application- Chrysler (2002-2012), Ford and European
Composition- Silicates and organic acids
Color- Yellow or Orange

Hybrid HOAT (Phosphate free)
Application- BMW, Volvo, Tesla, Mini and others.
Composition- NAP free
Color- Pink/Blue

P-HOAT (Phosphated HOAT)
Application- Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, and other Asian vehicles
Composition- Phosphates and organic acids
Color- Purple

Si-OAT (Silicated HOAT)
Application- Mercedes, Audi, VW and Porsche)
Composition- Silicates and organic acids
Color- Purple