2008 KIA Sorento maintenance

513
Driving tips
Off-road driving with your four-
wheel drive vehicle
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it
has definite hazards. The greatest of
these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the paved
road system behind. Traffic lanes are not
marked. Curves are not banked.
There are no carefully engineered road
signs to warn you of dangerous condi-
tions or to advise you of a safe speed.
You have to assess the environment
yourself. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill or downhill.
Off-road driving involves learning new
skills. That’s why it’s important that you
read and understand this section. You’ll
find useful driving information and sug-
gestions. These will help make your off-
road driving safer and more enjoyable.
Before you go off-roading
There are some things to do before you
leave the paved roads. Be sure to have
all necessary maintenance and service
work done beforehand. Be sure to read
all the information about your four-wheel
drive vehicle in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflat-
ed? Are the fluid levels at the proper lev-
els? What are the local laws that apply to
off-roading where you’ll be driving? If you
don’t know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you
be on someone’s private land? If so, be
sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading your vehicle for off-road
driving
There are some important items to
remember about how to properly load
your vehicle.
• The heaviest things should be in the
cargo area and forward of your rear
axle. Place heavier items as far forward
as you can.
• Be sure the load is properly secured,
so driving over off-road terrain doesn’t
shift your load or throw items toward
the driver or passengers.

Driving tips
38 5
Maintenance when trailer towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you regularly pull a trailer.
Important items to pay particular atten-
tion to include engine oil, automatic
transmission fluid, axle lubricant and
cooling system fluid. Brake condition is
another important item to frequently
check. Each item is covered in this man-
ual, and the Index will help you find them
quickly. If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea
to review these sections before you start
your trip.
Don’t forget to also maintain your trailer
and hitch. Follow the maintenance
schedule that accompanied your trailer
and check it periodically. Preferably, con-
duct the check at the start of each day’s
driving. Most importantly, all hitch nuts
and bolts should be tight.CAUTION
• Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur
in hot days or during uphill driv-
ing. If the coolant gauge indicates
over-heating, switch off the A/C
and stop the vehicle in a safe area
to cool down the engine.
• When towing check transmission
fluid more frequently.
• If your vehicle is not equipped
with the air conditioner, you
should install a condenser fan to
improve engine performance
when towing a trailer.

7
Maintenance services / 7-2
Maintenance schedule / 7-3
Owner maintenance / 7-7
Engine compartment / 7-10
Engine oil / 7-11
Engine cooling system / 7-12
Brake fluid / 7-14
Power steering / 7-15
Automatic transmission / 7-16
Lubricants and fluids / 7-18
Air cleaner / 7-19
Climate control air filter / 7-20
Wiper blades / 7-20
Battery / 7-22
Tires and wheels / 7-25
Lubricant specifications / 7-37
Exterior care / 7-39
Interior care / 7-42
Maintenance

Maintenance
2 7
MAINTENANCE SERVICES
You should exercise the utmost care to
prevent damage to your vehicle and
injury to yourself whenever performing
any maintenance or inspection proce-
dures.
Should you have any doubts concerning
the inspection or servicing of your vehi-
cle, we strongly recommend that you
have an Authorized Kia Dealer perform
this work.
An Authorized Kia Dealer has factory-
trained technicians and genuine Kia
parts to service your vehicle properly. For
expert advice and quality service, see an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
Inadequate, incomplete or insufficient
servicing may result in operational prob-
lems with your vehicle that could lead to
vehicle damage, an accident, or person-
al injury.Owner’s responsibility
Maintenance Service and Record
Retention are the owner's responsibil-
ity.
You must retain documents that show
proper maintenance has been performed
on your vehicle in accordance with the
scheduled maintenance service charts
shown on the following pages. You need
this information to establish your compli-
ance with the servicing and maintenance
requirements of your Kia warranties.
Detailed warranty information is provided
in your Warranty & Consumer Information
manual.Repairs and adjustments required as a
result of improper maintenance or a lack
of required maintenance are not covered.
We strongly recommend that all vehicle
maintenance be performed by an author-
ized Kia dealer using genuine Kia parts.

73
Maintenance
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
Engine control system
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
Replace every 160,000 km
Kilometers or time in months, whichever comes first
× 1,000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128
# Months4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
Engine oil & engine oil filter (1) R R R R R RRRRRRRR RRR
Drive belts (tension) I I I I
Cooling system hoses & connections I I I I I
Engine coolant (1) I I I I I RIIIIIRI III
Fuel filter R R
Fuel tank cap, lines, EVAP canister and hoses I I
Fuel tank air filter I R I R I
Air cleaner element (2) I I I I I RIIIIIRI III
Ignition wires I I
Spark plugs
PCV valve (if equipped) I I I I
Idle speed I I I I I
Valve clearance (1)I

Maintenance
4 7
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (CONTINUED)
Chassis and body
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEMKilometers or time in months, whichever comes first
× 1,000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128
# Months4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
Air conditioner compressor operation &
IIIII
refrigerant amount (if equipped)
Exhaust pipes, heat shield & mountings I IIIIIII
Transfer case oil (if equipped) I I I R I I I R I I I R I I I R
Front differential fluid (if equipped) I I I R I I I R I I I R I I I R
Rear differential fluid (if equipped) I I I R I I I R I I I R I I I R
Front suspension ball joints I I I I
Brakes/clutch fluid (1) I I I I I I I RIIIII IIR
Front brake pads & discs (3) I I I I I IIIIIIII III
Rear brake pads & discs (3) I I I I I IIIIIIII III
Parking brake I I IIIIII
Brake lines & connections
IIIII
(including booster)
Manual transaxle oil (1) I I I R I I I R I I I R I I I R
Clutch & brake pedal free play I I I I I IIIIIIII III

75
Maintenance
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (CONTINUED)
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
Inspect when abnormal condition noted
Rotate the tires every 12,000 km
Chassis and body (Continued)
Kilometers or time in months, whichever comes first
× 1,000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128
# Months4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
Automatic transaxle fluid (1) I I I R I I I R I I I R I I I R
Chassis & underbody bolts & nuts I I I I I IIIIIIII III
Tire condition & inflation pressure I I I I I IIIIIIII III
Wheel alignment (4)
Tire rotation
Steering operation & linkage I I I I I IIIIIIII III
Power steering fluid & lines I I IIIIII
Driveshaft u-joints (SUV) L L L L L LLLLLLLL LLL
Driveshaft dust boots I I I I I
Seat belts, buckles & anchors I I I I I IIIIIIII III
Lock, hinges & hood latch L L L L L LLLLLLLL LLL

Maintenance
6 7
Chart 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.