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Uniform tire quality grading The following information relates to
the tire grading system developed by
the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (CMVSS) for grading tires
by tread wear, traction and tempera-
ture performance.Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one-and-a-
half times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use. However, performance
may differ from the norm because of
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
These grades are molded on the
side-walls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on Kia vehicles
may vary with respect to grade.Traction - A, B & C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are A, B and C. The grades
represent the tires ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Temperature -A, B & C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C. The grades repre-
sent the tire’s resistance to the gener-
ation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor labo-
ratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tires to
degenerate and reduce tires life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tires failure. Grades A and B
represent higher levels of perform-
ance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by the
law.
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Checking a tire life
Tire strength and performance
decline with age. Any tires that are
over 6 year old, including the spare
(determined by the tire manufacture
date), should be replaced regardless
of mileage. You can find the tire man-
ufacture date on the tire sidewall
(either on the inside or outside of the
wheel). The date is a Department Of
Transportation (DOT) number con-
sisting of letters and numbers. You
can determine the tire manufacture
date by the last four numbers of the
DOT code. DOT : XXXX XXXX OOOO
The first letters/numbers of the DOT
indicate the manufacturing plant, tire
size and tread pattern, last four num-
bers indicate week and year manu-
factured.
For example:
DOT XXXX XXXX 0803 represents
that the tire was produced in the 8th
week of 2003.
WARNING
A tire more than 6 years old may
cause separation of the cord
layers inside the tire leading to
loss of vehicle or a serious
injury. Therefore, make sure to
check the manufacturing date
and replace the old tire in 6
years after the tire manufactur-
ing date.
WARNING
- Tire
temperature
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible sudden
tires failure. This can cause loss
of vehicle control and serious
injury or death.
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LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONS Recommended lubricants To help achieve proper engine and
powertrain performance and durabil-
ity, use only lubricants of the proper
quality. The correct lubricants also
help promote engine efficiency that
results in improved fuel economy.Engine oils labeled Energy
Conserving Oil are now available.
Along with other additional benefits,
they contribute to fuel economy by
reducing the amount of fuel neces-
sary to overcome engine friction.
Often, these improvements are diffi-
cult to measure in everyday driving,
but in a year’s time, they can offer
significant cost and energy savings.
Recommended SAE viscosity
number ✽ ✽
NOTICEAlways be sure to clean the area
around any filler plug, drain plug,
or dipstick before checking or
draining any lubricant. This is espe-
cially important in dusty or sandy
areas and when the vehicle is used
on unpaved roads. Cleaning the plug
and dipstick areas will prevent dirt
and grit from entering the engine
and other mechanisms that could be
damaged. 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,
higher viscosity engine oils are
required for satisfactory lubrication in
hot weather. Using oils of any viscos-
ity other than those recommended
could result in engine damage.
*¹ Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on the next page.These lubricants and fluids are recommended for use in your vehicle.
Lubricant Classification
Engine oil *¹
API Service SJ, SL or above, ILSAC GF-3 or above
Manual transaxle fluid API Service GL-4 (SAE 75W-85, fill-for-life)
Automatic transaxle fluid DIAMOND ATF SP-III or SK ATF SP-III
Power steering fluid PSF-III
Brake fluid FMVSS116 DOT-3 or DOT-4
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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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EXTERIOR CARE Exterior general caution It is very important to follow the label
directions when using any chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warning
and caution statements that appear
on the label.Finish maintenanceWashing
To help protect your vehicle’s finish
from rust and deterioration, wash it
thoroughly and frequently at least
once a month with lukewarm or cold
water.
If you use your vehicle for off-road
driving, you should wash it after each
off-road trip. Pay special attention to
the removal of any accumulation of
salt, dirt, mud, and other foreign
materials. Make sure the drain holes
in the lower edges of the doors and
rocker panels are kept clear and
clean.Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial pollution and similar
deposits can damage your vehicle’s
finish if not removed immediately.
Even prompt washing with plain
water may not completely remove all
these deposits. A mild soap, safe for
use on painted surfaces, may be
used.
After washing, rinse the vehicle thor-
oughly with lukewarm or cold water.
Do not allow soap to dry on the fin-
ish.
✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not use strong soap, chemical
detergents or hot water, and do not
wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or
when the body of the vehicle is
warm.
CAUTION
Water washing in the engine
compartment may cause the
failure of electrical circuits
located in the engine compart-
ment.
Pay extreme attention to wash the engine compartment by
using water.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test
the brakes while driving slowly
to see if they have been affected
by water. If braking performance
is impaired, dry the brakes by
applying them lightly while
maintaining a slow forward
speed.
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Waxing
Wax the vehicle when water will no
longer bead on the paint.
Always wash and dry the vehicle
before waxing. Use a good quality
liquid or paste wax, and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions. Wax all
metal trim to protect it and to main-
tain its luster.
Removing oil, tar, and similar materi-
als with a spot remover will usually
strip the wax from the finish. Be sure
to re-wax these areas even if the rest
of the vehicle does not yet need wax-
ing.
✽ ✽
NOTICE Wiping dust or dirt off the body
with a dry cloth will scratch the
finish.
Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong detergents con-
taining highly alkaline or caustic
agents on chrome-plated or
anodized aluminum parts. This
may result in damage to the pro-
tective coating and cause discol-
oration or paint deterioration.
Finish damage repair Deep scratches or stone chips in the
painted surface must be repaired
promptly. Exposed metal will quickly
rust and may develop into a major
repair expense.✽ ✽ NOTICEIf your vehicle is damaged and
requires any metal repair or
replacement, be sure the body shop
applies anti-corrosion materials to
the parts repaired or replaced.
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Bright-metal maintenance To remove road tar and insects,use a tar remover, not a scraper or
other sharp object.
To protect the surfaces of bright- metal parts from corrosion, apply a
coating of wax or chrome preser-
vative and rub to a high luster.
During winter weather or in coastal areas, cover the bright metal parts
with a heavier coating of wax or
preservative. If necessary, coat the
parts with non-corrosive petroleum
jelly or other protective compound.
Underbody maintenanceCorrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may
collect on the underbody. If these
materials are not removed, acceler-
ated rusting can occur on underbody
parts such as the fuel lines, frame,
floor pan and exhaust system, even
though they have been treated with
rust protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle under-
body and wheel openings with luke-
warm or cold water once a month,
after off-road driving and at the end
of each winter. Pay special attention
to these areas because it is difficult
to see all the mud and dirt. It will do
more harm than good to wet down
the road grime without removing it.
The lower edges of doors, rocker
panels, and frame members have
drain holes that should not be
allowed to clog with dirt; trapped
water in these areas can cause rust-
ing.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test
the brakes while driving slowly
to see if they have been affected
by water. If braking performance
is impaired, dry the brakes by
applying them lightly while
maintaining a slow forward
speed.
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Aluminum wheel maintenance The aluminum wheels are coated
with a clear protective finish.
Do not use any abrasive cleaner,
polishing compound, solvent, or
wire brushes on aluminum wheels.
They may scratch or damage the
finish.
Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent, and rinse thoroughly
with water. Also, be sure to clean
the wheels after driving on salted
roads. This helps prevent corro-
sion.
Avoid washing the wheels with high-speed car wash brushes.
Do not use any acid detergent. It may damage and corrode the alu-
minum wheels coated with a clear
protective finish.
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