2013 KIA Optima Hybrid Owner's Manual

Maintenance
20
7
Air cleaner filter
A Genuine Kia air cleaner filter is recom-
mended when the filter is replaced.
Spark plugs
Make sure to install new spark plugs of
the correct heat range.
Valve clearance
Inspect excessive valve noise and/or
engine vibration and adjust if necessary.
An authorized Kia dealer should perform
the operation.
Cooling system
Check cooling system components, such
as radiator, coolant reservoir, hoses and
connections for leakage and damage.
Replace any damaged parts.
Coolant
The engine and inverter coolant should
be changed at the intervals specified in
the maintenance schedule.
Automatic transaxle fluid
Automatic transaxle fluid should not be
checked under normal usage conditions.
But in severe conditions, the fluid should
be changed at an authorized Kia dealer
in accordance to the scheduled mainte-
nance at the beginning of this chapter.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
Automatic transaxle fluid color is basi-
cally red.
As the vehicle is driven, the automatic
transaxle fluid will begin to look darker.
This is a normal condition and you
should not judge the need to replace the
fluid based upon the changed color.
Brake hoses and lines
Visually check for proper installation,
chafing, cracks, deterioration and any
leakage. Replace any deteriorated or
damaged parts immediately.
Brake fluid
Check brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir. The level should be between
“MIN” and “MAX” marks on the side of
the reservoir. Use only hydraulic brake
fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4
specification.
Parking brake
Inspect the parking brake system includ-
ing the parking brake pedal and cables.

721
Maintenance
Brake discs, pads, calipers and
rotors
Check the pads for excessive wear, discs
for run out and wear, and calipers for fluid
leakage.
Exhaust pipe and muffler
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes, muf-
fler and hangers for cracks, deterioration,
or damage. Start the engine and listen
carefully for any exhaust gas leakage.
Tighten connections or replace parts as
necessary.
Suspension mounting bolts
Check the suspension connections for
looseness or damage. Retighten to the
specified torque.
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint
With the vehicle stopped and engine off,
check for excessive free-play in the
steering wheel.
Check the linkage for bends or damage.
Check the dust boots and ball joints for
deterioration, cracks, or damage.
Replace any damaged parts.
Drive shafts and boots
Check the drive shafts, boots and clamps
for cracks, deterioration, or damage.
Replace any damaged parts and, if nec-
essary, repack the grease.
Air conditioning refrigerant
Check the air conditioning lines and con-
nections for leakage and damage.

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

723
Maintenance
Changing the engine oil and filter
Have engine oil and filter changed by an
authorized Kia dealer according to the
Maintenance Schedule at the beginning
of this section.

Maintenance
24
7
COOLANT
Inverter coolant
The high-pressure cooling system has a
reservoir filled with year-round antifreeze
coolant. The reservoir is filled at the fac-
tory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level everyday.
If it is near or at MIN, add enough coolant
between MIN and MAX and check the
cooling system for air bleed at an author-
ized Kia dealer.
Engine coolant
The high-pressure cooling system has a
reservoir filled with year-round antifreeze
coolant. The reservoir is filled at the fac-
tory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level per every day, at the begin-
ning of the winter season, and before
traveling to a colder climate.
Checking the coolant level
OYFH071070N-1
CAUTION
When adding coolant, be careful
not to overfill.
WARNING
Removing radiator
cap and inverter
coolant cap
Never attempt to remove the radi- ator cap and/or inverter coolant
cap while the engine is operating
or hot. Doing so might lead to
cooling system and engine dam-
age and could result in serious
personal injury from escaping
hot coolant or steam.
(Continued)
CAUTION
Do not confuse the cap of enginecoolant and inverter coolant. If not,the coolant circulation problem ofengine or Hybrid system may occur because the cap pressure is differ-ent.

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
distilled (deionized) water to provide pro-
tection against freezing and corrosion.
Bring the level to F, but do not overfill. If
frequent additions are required, see an
authorized Kia dealer for a cooling sys-
tem inspection.
(Continued)
The engine coolant level is influ-enced by hybrid system tempera-
ture. Before filling the engine
coolant and/or inverter coolant,
turn the hybrid vehicle off, fill the
engine coolant and/or inverter
coolant carefully.
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
cooling 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.
Even if the engine is not operat- ing, do not remove the radiator
cap and/or inverter or the drain
plug while the engine and radia-
tor are hot. Hot coolant and
steam may still blow out under
pressure, causing serious injury.
OYFH071005N
WARNING
The electronic motor
(cooling fan) is con-
trolled by engine
coolant temperature,
refrigerant pressure and
vehicle speed. It may sometimes
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 the rotating fan blades.
As the engine coolant temperature
decreases, the electric motor will
automatically shut off. This is a nor-
mal condition.

Maintenance
26
7
Recommended engine and inverter
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 alu- minum engine parts and must be pro-
tected by an ethylene-glycol-based
coolant to prevent corrosion and freez-
ing.
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.
-15°C (5°F) 35
65
-25°C (-13°F) 40 60
-35°C (-31°F) 50 50
-45°C (-49°F) 60 40
Ambient
Temperature Mixture Percentage (volume)
Antifreeze Water
OYFH071006N-1/OYFH071070N-1
Radiator cap
Inverter coolant cap

727
Maintenance
Changing the coolant
Have engine and inverter coolant
changed by an authorized Kia dealer
according to the Maintenance Schedule
at the beginning of this section.
WARNING - Coolant
Do not use radiator coolant orantifreeze 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 and/or invertercoolant cap before refilling thecoolant in order to prevent thecoolant from overflowing intoengine parts such as the generator.
WARNING
Radiator cap &
Inverter coolant cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
and/or inverter coolant cap when
the engine and radiator are hot.
Scalding hot coolant and steam
may blow out under pressure caus-
ing serious injury.