2018 KIA SOUL coolant level

Driving your vehicle
46
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outsidemirror(s), and outside lights are
clean.
Check the condition of the tires.
Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, at the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in chapter 8,
“Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all con-trols are easily reached.
Buckle your seat belt.
Adjust the inside and outside rearview mirrors.
Be sure that all lights work.
Check all gauges.
Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
Release the parking brake and make sure the brake warning light
goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING
Driving while distracted can
result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol, that may lead to an acci-
dent, severe personal injury,
and death. The driver’s primary
responsibility is in the safe and
legal operation of a vehicle, and
use of any handheld devices,
other equipment, or vehicle sys-
tems which take the driver’s
eyes, attention and focus away
from the safe operation of a
vehicle or which are not permis-
sible by law should never be
used during operation of the
vehicle.

Driving your vehicle
112
6
Use high quality ethylene gly-
col coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high qual-
ity ethylene glycol coolant in the cool-
ing system. It is the only type of coolant
that should be used because it helps
prevent corrosion in the cooling sys-
tem, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Be sure to replace
or replenish your coolant in accor-
dance with the maintenance schedule
in section 8. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freez-
ing point is sufficient for the tempera-
tures anticipated during the winter.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the
battery and cables as described in
section 8. The level of charge in your
battery can be checked by an author-
ized Kia dealer or a service station.
Change to "winter weight" oil
if necessary
In some climates it is recommended
that a lower viscosity "winter weight"
oil be used during cold weather. See
section 9 for recommendations. If you
aren't sure what weight oil you should
use, consult an authorized Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in section 8 and replace
them if necessary. Also check all
ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or
damaged in any way.
To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing,
squirt an approved de-icer fluid or
glycerine into the key opening. If a
lock is covered with ice, squirt it with
an approved de-icing fluid to remove
the ice. If the lock is frozen internally,
you may be able to thaw it out by
using a heated key. Handle the heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window
washer system from freezing, add an
approved window washer anti-freeze
solution in accordance with instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint finish.
CAUTION- Snow chains
Chains that are the wrong size
or improperly installed candamage your vehicle's brakelines, suspension, body andwheels.
Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear themhitting the vehicle.

What to do in an emergency
87
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience a loss
of power, or hear loud pinging or
knocking, the engine will probably be
too hot. If this happens, you should:
1.Pull off the road and stop as soonas it is safe to do so.
2.Place the shift lever in P (Park, automatic transaxle) or Neutral
(manual transaxle) and set the
parking brake. If the air condition-
ing is on, turn it off.
3.If engine coolant is running out under the vehicle or steam is com-
ing out from underneath the hood,
stop the engine. Do not open the
hood until the coolant has stopped
running or the steaming has
stopped. If there is no visible loss
of engine coolant and no steam,
leave the engine running and
check to be sure the engine cool-
ing fan is operating. If the fan is not
running, turn the engine off. 4.Check to see if the water pump
drive belt is missing. If it is not
missing, check to see that it is
tight. If the drive belt seems to be
satisfactory, check for coolant leak-
ing from the radiator, hoses or
under the vehicle. (If the air condi-
tioning had been in use, it is nor-
mal for cold water to be draining
from it when you stop).
5.If the water pump drive belt is bro- ken or engine coolant is leaking
out, stop the engine immediately
and call the nearest authorized Kia
dealer for assistance. 6.If you cannot find the cause of the
overheating, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to nor-
mal. Then, if coolant has been lost,
carefully add coolant to the reser-
voir to bring the fluid level in the
reservoir up to the halfway mark.
7.Proceed with caution, keeping alert for further signs of overheat-
ing. If overheating happens again,
call an authorized Kia dealer for
assistance.
Serious loss of coolant indicates
there is a leak in the cooling system
and this should be checked as soon
as possible by an authorized Kia
dealer.
WARNING - Under the hood
While the engine is running, keep hair,
hands and clothing
away from moving
parts such as the fan
and drive belts to pre-
vent injury.
WARNING - Radiator cap
Do not remove the
radiator cap when the
engine is hot. This
may result in coolant
being blown out of
the opening and
cause serious burns.

Maintenance
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8

Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 8-34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34\
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
fuel hoses and connections . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. 8-35
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
pads, calipers and rotors. . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-38 linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-38

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-38
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-39
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-40
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-40
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-41
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-42
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-44
Brake/clutch fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-45
. . . . . . . . . . . 8-45
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-47
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-47
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-48

Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-48
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-48
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-\
56
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-56
8

Maintenance
88
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an author-
ized 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 deal-
er as soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks
are generally not covered by war-
ranties 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 thecoolant reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires. Check if the front of the radiator
and condenser are clean and not
blocked with leaves, dirt or insects
etc. If any of the above parts are
extremely dirty or you are not sure
of their condition, take your vehicle
to an authorized Kia dealer.
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound ofthe exhaust or any smell of
exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-
ahead position.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling 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 operation 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
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
WARNING- Hot coolant
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot
coolant and steam may blow out
under pressure.

89
Maintenance
At least monthly:
Check the coolant level in theengine coolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
At least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall):
Check the radiator, heater and air conditioning hoses for leaks or
damage.
Check the windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean
the wiper blades with clean cloth
dampened with washer fluid.
Check the headlight alignment.
Check the muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
At least once a year:
Clean the body and door drainholes.
Lubricate the door hinges and checks, and hood hinges.
Lubricate the door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate the door rubber weather- strips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Inspect and lubricate the automat- ic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake fluid level.

839
Maintenance
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS
When checking engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid,
always be sure to clean the area
around any filler plug, drain plug, or
dipstick before checking or draining
any lubricant or fluid. 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.

Maintenance
42
8
ENGINE COOLANT
The 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 cli-
mate.Checking the coolant level
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 con-
tinue turning counterclockwise to
remove it.
CAUTION- Radiator Cap
Never attempt to remove the
radiator cap while the engine isoperating or hot. Doing somight lead to cooling systemand engine damage.
WARNING- Cooling fan
Use caution when
working near the
blade of the cooling
fan. The electric
motor (cooling fan) is
controlled by engine coolant
temperature, refrigerant pres-
sure and vehicle speed. it may
sometimes operate even when
the engine is not running.