Page 216 of 312

Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, sand, snow,
or ice, your wheels won’t get good
traction. You can’t accelerate as
quickly, turning is more difficult, and
you’ll need longer braking distances.
It’s best to use a low gear when
you’re in mud, the deeper the mud,
the lower the gear. In extremely deep
mud, the idea is to keep your vehicle
moving so you don’t get stuck.
When you drive on sand, you’ll sense
a change in wheel traction. But it will
depend upon how loosely packed the
sand is. On loosely packed sand (as
on beaches or sand dunes) your tires
will tend to sink into the sand.This has an effect on steering, accel-
erating, and braking. You may want to
reduce the air pressure in your tires
slightly when driving on sand. This
will improve traction. Remember to
re-inflate them the first chance that
you have after you leave the loosely
packed sand.Hard-packed snow and ice offer the
worst tire traction. On these surfaces,
it’s very easy to lose control. On wet
ice, for example, the traction is so
poor that you will even have difficulty
accelerating. And if you do get mov-
ing, poor steering and difficult braking
can easily cause you to slide out of
control.
DRIVING TIPS
5-29
✽ ✽
NOTICE In case of loss of traction in mud,
loose soil, or sand, turn the steer-
ing wheel rapidly from side-to-
side. This can help generate addi-
tional traction.
Do not gun the engine. This will
cause the tires to spin and dig
down, not forward, and could
bury the vehicle to the frame.
Smooth, easy power is better than
too much power.
WARNING- Frozen Surfaces
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds
or rivers can be dangerous.
Underwater springs, currents
under the ice, or sudden thaws
can weaken the ice. Your vehicle
could fall through the ice and
you and your passengers could
drown. Drive your vehicle on
safe surfaces only.
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Page 263 of 312
MAINTENANCE7-6Chart Symbols:
I- Inspect these items and their related parts. If necessary, correct, clean, refill, adjust of replace.
R- Replace or change
L- Lubricate.
(1) Refer to the lubricant and coolant specifications in the Owner’s Manual
(2) More frequent maintenance is required if driving under dusty conditions.
(3) More frequent maintenance is required if the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions:
a. Short-distance driving
b. Driving on dusty roads.
c. Extensive idling or slow-speed driving in stop-and-go traffic.
(4) If necessary, rotate and balance the wheels.
* Note: Check the engine oil and coolant levels every week.
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Page 266 of 312

ENGINE OIL AND OIL
FILTERChecking the Engine Oil Level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on level
ground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to
reach normal operating tempera-
ture.
3. Turn the engine off and wait a few
minutes for the oil to return to the
oil pan.
4. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean,
and re-insert it fully.
5. Pull the dipstick out again and
check the level. The level should be
between F and L.
If the level is near or at L, add enough
oil to bring the level to F.Do not over-
fill.Use only the specified engine oil.
(Refer to “Recommended Lubricants’’
later in this section.)Changing the Engine Oil and
Filter
Change engine oil and filter accord-
ing to the Scheduled Maintenance at
the beginning of this section.
MAINTENANCE
7-9
OK
FL
S2BLC705A
WARNING
- Engine Oil
Continuous contact with USED
engine oil has caused skin can-
cer in laboratory mice. Protect
your skin by washing with soap
and water. Keep all engine oil
out of reach of children.
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Page 267 of 312
Oil capacity
Without filter change : 4.0 liters
With filter change : 4.3 liters
Use only the specified Service Grade
engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended
Lubricants” later in this section.) MAINTENANCE7-10
✽ ✽
NOTICEAlthough oil filters may have the
same external appearance, their
internal designs differ significantly.
These filters are not interchange-
able. To avoid potential engine
damage, use only the specified filter.
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Page 275 of 312

1. Park the vehicle on level ground
and firmly set the parking brake.
2. Allow the engine to idle for about 2
minutes.
3. Depress the brake pedal and move
the shift lever slowly through all
ranges then set it in P (Park).
4. With the engine still idling, pull out
the dipstick, wipe it clean and rein-
sert it fully.
5. Pull out the dipstick again and
check the fluid level.5. Pull out the dipstick again and
check the fluid level.
If the fluid has been warmed to nor-
mal operating temperature of approx-
imately 167°F (75°C), the fluid level
should be between the 2 notches
marked 75°C.MAINTENANCE7-18
25 C
75 C
S2BLA712A
LowOk
Ok
Full
Low
Cold fluid scaleHot fluid scale
Full
✽ ✽
NOTICEThe notch on the 25°C scale is for
reference only and should NOT be
used to determine transmission
fluid level.✽ ✽
NOTICENew automatic transaxle fluid
should be red. The red dye is added
so the assembly plant can identify it
as automatic transaxle fluid and
distinguishes it from engine oil or
antifreeze. The red dye, which is not
an indicator of fluid quality, is not
permanent. As the vehicle is driven,
the automatic transaxle fluid will
begin to look darker. The color may
eventually appear light brown.
Therefore, have an Authorized Kia
dealer change the automatic
transaxle fluid according to the
Scheduled Maintenance at the
beginning of this section.
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Page 276 of 312

LUBRICANTS AND FLUIDSChecking the Washer Fluid Level
The reservoir is translucent so that
you can check the level with a quick
visual inspection.
Check the fluid level in the washer
fluid reservoir and add fluid if neces-
sary. Plain water may be used if
washer fluid is not available. In cold
climates, use washer solvent with
antifreeze to prevent freezing.Body Lubrication
All moving points of the body, such as
door hinges, hood hinges, and locks,
should be lubricated each time the
engine oil is changed. Use a non-
freezing lubricant on locks during
cold weather.
Make sure the engine hood second-
ary latch keeps the hood from open-
ing when the primary latch is
released.
MAINTENANCE
7-19
HIGHLOW
S2BLC703
Washer fluid
WARNING
Do not use radiator coolant or
antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
Radiator coolant can severely
obscure visibility when
sprayed on the windshield
and may cause loss of vehicle
control or damage to paint
and body trim.
Windshield washer fluid
agents contain some amounts
of alcohol and can be flamma-
ble under certain circum-
stances. Do not allow sparks
or flame to contact the washer
fluid or the washer fluid reser-
voir. Damage to the vehicle or
it's occupants could occur.
Windshield washer fluid is
poisonous to humans and
animals. Do not drink and
avoid contacting windshield
washer fluid. Serious injury or
death could occur.
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Page 299 of 312

Recommended SAE Viscosity
Number
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has
an effect on fuel economy and cold
weather operating (starting and oil
flow). Lower viscosity engine oils can
provide better fuel economy and cold
weather performance, however, high-
er viscosity engine oils are required
for satisfactory lubrication in hot
weather. Using oils of any viscosity
other than those recommended could
result in engine damage.MAINTENANCE7-42✽ ✽
NOTICEAlways be sure to clean the area
around any filler plug, drain plug,
or dipstick before checking or
draining any lubricant. This is
especially important in dusty or
sandy areas and when the vehicle is
used on unpaved roads. Cleaning
the plug and dipstick areas will pre-
vent dirt and grit from entering the
engine and other mechanisms that
could be damaged.
When choosing an oil, consider the range of temperature your vehicle will be
operated in before the next oil change. Proceed to select the recommended
oil viscosity from the chart.
Temperature Range for SAE Viscosity Numbers
Temperature
Gasoline
Engine Oil °C
(°F)
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
-10 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
10W-30
5W-20, 5W-30
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