2012 KIA Optima Hybrid checking oil

4107
Features of your vehicle
✽
✽NOTICE
• Replace the filter according to the
Maintenance Schedule.
If the vehicle is being driven in severe
conditions such as dusty, rough roads,
more frequent climate control air fil-
ter inspections and changes are
required.
• When the air flow rate suddenly decreases, the system should be
checked at an authorized Kia dealer.
Checking the amount of air con-
ditioner refrigerant and compres-
sor lubricant
When the amount of refrigerant is low,
the performance of the air conditioning is
reduced. Overfilling also has a negative
influence on the air conditioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
It is important that the correct type and
amount of oil and refrigerant is used.
Otherwise, damage to the compressor
and abnormal system operation may
occur.
WARNING
The air conditioning system for the
Hybrid vehicle should be serviced
by an authorized Kia dealer. The
Hybrid air conditioning system is
connected to the high voltage sys-
tem and requires special fluids,
tools and service procedures.
Improperly servicing the Hybrid air
conditioning system could result in
electrical shock, serious injury, or
even death.

75
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized Kia dealer at
the frequencies indicated to help ensure
safe, dependable operation of your vehi-
cle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your dealer as
soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks are
generally not covered by warranties and
you may be charged for labor, parts and
lubricants used.Owner maintenance schedule
When you stop for fuel:
Check the engine oil level.
Check the coolant level in coolantreservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires.
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound of the exhaust or any smell of exhaust fumes
in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steering
effort or looseness in the steering
wheel, or change in its straight-ahead
position.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side when trav-
eling on smooth, level road.
When stopping, listen and check for unusual sounds, pulling to one side,
increased brake pedal travel or “hard-
to-push” brake pedal.
If any slipping or changes in the oper- ation of your transaxle occurs, check
the transaxle fluid level.
Check the automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check the parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-
mal).
Check inverter coolant.
WARNING - Hot coolant
Be careful when checking your
engine or inverter coolant level
when the engine is hot. Scalding
hot coolant and steam may blow
out under pressure.

Maintenance
22
7
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to reach
normal operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for a few minutes (about 5 minutes) for the oil to
return to the oil pan.
4. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully. 5. Pull the dipstick out again and check
the level. The level should be between
F and L.
If it is near or at L, add enough oil to bring
the level to F.Do not overfill.
Use a funnel to help prevent oil from
being spilled on engine components.
Use only the specified engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended lubricants and capaci- ties” in section 8.)
WARNING - Radiator hose
Be very careful not to touch the
radiator hose when checking or
adding the engine oil as it may be
hot enough to burn you.
CAUTION - Replace engine
oil
Do not overfill with engine oil.Engine damage may result.
OYFH071003N
CAUTION
Do not spill engine oil, when addingor changing engine oil. If you drop the engine oil on the engine room,wipe it off immediately.
OYFH071004N

Maintenance
28
7
BRAKE FLUID
Checking the brake 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 fluid, clean the area around
the reservoir cap thoroughly to prevent
brake 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
and/or clutch disc (if equipped). If the
fluid level is excessively low, have the
brake system checked by an authorized
Kia dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid. (Refer
to “Recommended lubricants and capac-ities” in section 8.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
In the event the brake system requires
frequent additions of fluid, the vehicle
should be inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer. When changing and adding brake fluid,
handle it carefully. Do not let it come in
contact with your eyes. If brake fluid
should come in contact with your eyes,
immediately flush them with a large
quantity of fresh tap water. Have your
eyes examined by a doctor as soon as
possible.
Brake fluid, which has been exposed to
open air for an extended time should
never be used as its quality cannot be
guaranteed. It should be disposed of
properly.
CAUTION - Brake fluid
Do not allow brake fluid to contact
the vehicle's body paint, as paintdamage will result.
CAUTION - Proper fluid
Only use brake fluid in brake sys- tem. Small amounts of improper flu-ids (such as engine oil) can causedamage to the brake system.
OTF070008

737
Maintenance
Battery recharging
Your vehicle has a maintenance-free,
calcium-based battery.
If the battery becomes discharged in ashort time (because, for example, the
headlights or interior lights were left on
while the vehicle was not in use),
recharge it by slow charging (trickle)
for 10 hours.
If the battery gradually discharges because of high electric load while the
vehicle is being used, recharge it at 20-
30A for two hours. When recharging the battery, observe
the following precautions:
The battery must be removed from the
vehicle and placed in an area with
good ventilation.
Watch the battery during charging, and stop or reduce the charging rate if the
battery cells begin gassing (boiling)
violently or if the temperature of the
electrolyte of any cell exceeds 49°C
(120°F).
Wear eye protection when checking the battery during charging.
Disconnect the battery charger in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp from the negative battery terminal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp from the positive battery terminal.
Before performing maintenance or recharging the battery, turn off all
accessories and stop the engine.
The negative battery cable must be removed first and installed last when
the battery is disconnected.
Reset items
Items should be reset after the battery
has been discharged or the battery has
been disconnected.
Auto down window (See section 4)
Sunroof (See section 4)
Trip computer (See section 4)
Climate control system (See section 4)
Clock (See section 4)
Audio (See section 4)

Specifications, Consumer information, Reporting safety defects
68
Recommended SAE viscosity
number Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has an
effect on fuel economy and cold weather
operating (engine start and engine oil
flowability). Lower viscosity engine oils
can provide better fuel economy and cold
weather performance, however, higher
viscosity engine oils are required for sat-
isfactory lubrication in hot weather. Using
oils of any viscosity other than those rec-
ommended could result in engine dam-
age.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.
CAUTION
Always be sure to clean the area
around any filler plug, drain plug, ordipstick before checking or drain-ing any lubricant. This is especiallyimportant in dusty or sandy areasand when the vehicle is used on unpaved roads. Cleaning the plugand dipstick areas will prevent dirtand grit from entering the engineand other mechanisms that couldbe damaged.
Temperature Range for SAE Viscosity Numbers
Temperature
Engine Oil *
1
°C
(°F)-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 -10 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1. For better fuel economy, it is recommended to use theengine oil of a viscosity grade SAE 5W-20 (API Service SM
/ ILSAC GF-4). However, if the engine oil is not available,
select the proper engine oil using the engine oil viscosity
chart.
10W-30
5W-20, 5W-30