2012 Hyundai Sonata radiator cap

Maintenance24
7The high-pressure cooling system has a
reservoir filled with year-round antifreeze
coolant. The reservoir is filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, at the
beginning of the winter season, and
before traveling to a colder climate.
Checking the coolant level
(Continued)
 Even if the engine is not operat-
ing, do not remove the radiator
cap or the drain plug while the
engine and radiator are hot. Hot
coolant and steam may still blow
out under pressure, causing seri-
ous injury.
ENGINE COOLANT
WARNING
Removing radiator
cap
 Never attempt to remove the radi-ator cap while the engine is oper-
ating or hot. Doing so might lead
to cooling system and engine
damage and could result in seri-
ous personal injury from escap-
ing hot coolant or steam.
 Turn the engine off and wait until it cools down. Use extreme care
when removing the radiator cap.
Wrap a thick towel around it, and
turn it counterclockwise slowly to
the first stop. Step back while the
pressure is released from the cool-
ing system. When you are sure all
the pressure has been released,
press down on the cap, using a
thick towel, and continue turning
counterclockwise to remove it.
(Continued)
WARNING
The electric motor
(cooling fan) is con-
trolled by engine
coolant temperature,
refrigerant pressure
and vehicle speed. It may some-
times operate even when the
engine is not running. Use extreme
caution when working near the
blades of the cooling fan so that
you are not injured by a rotating fan
blades. As the engine coolant tem-
perature decreases, the electric
motor will automatically shut off.
This is a normal condition. If your
vehicle is equipped with GDI, the
electric motor (cooling fan) may
operate until you disconnect the
negative battery cable.

725
Maintenance
Check the condition and connections of
all cooling system hoses and heater
hoses. Replace any swollen or deterio-
rated hoses.
The coolant level should be filled
between F and L marks on the side of the
coolant reservoir when the engine is
cool.
If the coolant level is low, add enough
specified coolant to provide protection
against freezing and corrosion. Bring the
level to F, but do not overfill. If frequent
additions are required, see an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer for a cooling system
inspection.
Recommended engine coolant When adding coolant, use only deion-ized water or soft water for your vehicle
and never mix hard water in the
coolant filled at the factory. An improp-
er coolant mixture can result in serious
malfunction or engine damage.
 The engine in your vehicle has aluminum engine parts and must be protected by
an ethylene-glycol-based coolant to pre-
vent corrosion and freezing.
 DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol coolant or mix them with the specified
coolant.
 Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less than
35% antifreeze, which would reduce
the effectiveness of the solution.
For mixture percentage, refer to the fol-
lowing table.
WARNING
Radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine and radiator are
hot. Scalding hot coolant and
steam may blow out under pres-
sure causing serious injury.
5°F (-15°C) 35 65
-13°F (-25°C) 40 60
-31°F (-35°C) 50 50
-49°F (-45°C) 60 40Ambient
Temperature Mixture Percentage (volume)
Antifreeze Water
OYF079006-1
OYF079005N

Maintenance26
7
Changing the coolantHave coolant changed by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer according to the
Maintenance Schedule at the beginning
of this section.
Checking the brake/clutch fluid
level Check the fluid level in the reservoir peri-
odically. The fluid level should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap and
adding brake/clutch fluid, clean the area
around the reservoir cap thoroughly to
prevent brake/clutch fluid contamination.
If the level is low, add fluid to the MAX
level. The level will fall with accumulated
mileage. This is a normal condition asso-
ciated with the wear of the brake linings.
If the fluid level is excessively low, have
the brake system or clutch (if equipped)
checked by an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.
OYF079007N
BRAKE/CLUTCH FLUID
WARNING -
Coolant
 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.
CAUTION
Put a thick cloth or fabric aroundthe radiator cap before refilling thecoolant in order to prevent the coolant from overflowing intoengine parts such as generator.
WARNING
The cooling fan is controlled by
engine coolant temperature and
may sometimes operate even when
the engine is not running. Use
extreme caution when working near
the blades of the coolant fan so that
you are not injured by a rotating fan
blade. As the engine coolant tem-
perature decreases, the fan will
automatically shut off. This is a nor-
mal condition.

Specifications, Consumer information, Reporting safety defects48RECOMMENDED LUBRICANTS AND CAPACITIES To help achieve proper engine and powertrain performance and durability, use only lubricants of the proper quality. The correct
lubricants also help promote engine efficiency that results in improved fuel economy.These lubricants and fluids are recommended for use in your vehicle.*1Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on the next page.
*2Engine oils labeled Energy Conserving Oil are now available. Along with other additional benefits, they contribute to fuel econo my by reducing
the amount of fuel necessary to overcome engine friction. Often, these improvements are difficult to measure in everyday driving, but in a year’s
time, they can offer significant cost and energy savings.
*3If the API service SM engine oil is not available in your country, you are able to use API service SL.
Lubricant
Volume
Classification
Engine oil
*1 *2
(drain and refill)
Recommends
4.86 US qt. (4.6 l)
API Service SM*
3,
ILSAC GF-4 or above
Manual transaxle fluid
1.90 US qt. (1.8 l)
API GL-4, SAE 75W/85
Automatic transaxle fluid
7.50 US qt. (7.1 l)
MICHANG ATF SP-IV, SK ATF SP-IV
NOCA ATF SP-IV, HYUNDAI genuine ATF SP-IV or other brands meeting the above specification approved by Hyundai Motor Co.,
Coolant
6.97 US qt. (6.6 l)
Mixture of antifreeze and water (Ethylene glycol base
coolant for aluminum radiator)
Brake/clutch fluid
0.7~0.8 US qt.
(0.7~0.8 l)
FMVSS116 DOT-3 or DOT-4
Fuel
18.49 US gal. (70 l)
Unleaded gasoline