Page 491 of 607
Maintenance
18
8
Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions - Non Turbo Models
The following items must be serviced more frequently on cars normally used under severe driving conditions. Refer
to the chart below for the appropriate maintenance intervals.
R : Replace      I : Inspect and, after inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if neces\
sary
MAINTENANCE ITEMMAINTENANCE
OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVALSDRIVING 
CONDITION
Engine oil and engine oil filterTheta II 2.4L GDIREvery 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 6 monthsA, B, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, J, K
Air cleaner filterRMore frequentlyC, E
Spark plugs RMore frequentlyA, B, F, G, H, I, K
Automatic transmission fluidREvery 60,000 miles (96,000 km)A, C, D, E,
F, G, H, I, J
Brake discs and pads, calipers and rotorsIMore frequentlyC, D, E, G, H
Parking brake (Foot Type)IMore frequentlyC, D, G, H
Steering gear rack, linkage and bootsIMore frequentlyC, D, E, F, G
Suspension ball jointsIMore frequentlyC, D, E, F, G 
     
        
        Page 492 of 607

819
Maintenance
Severe driving conditions
A - Repeatedly driving short distance of less than 5 miles (8 km)in normal temperature or less than 10 miles (16 km) in freez-
ing temperature
B - Extensive engine idling or low speed driving for long dis- tances
C - Driving on rough, dusty, muddy, unpaved, graveled or salt- spread roads
D - Driving in areas using salt or other corrosive materials or in very cold weather E - Driving in heavy dust condition
F - Driving in heavy traffic area
G- Driving on uphill, downhill, or mountain road repeatedly
H - Towing a Trailer, or using a camper, or roof rack
I - Driving as a patrol car, taxi, other commercial use or vehicle
towing
J - Driving over 106 mph (170 km/h)
K - Frequently driving in stop-and-go conditions
MAINTENANCE ITEMMAINTENANCE OPERATIONMAINTENANCE INTERVALSDRIVING 
CONDITION
Drive shafts and bootsIMore frequentlyC, D, E, F, G, H, I, J
Rear differential oil (AWD)REvery 80,000 miles (120,000 km)C, D, E, F, G,  H, I, J, K
Transfer case oil (AWD)REvery 80,000 miles (120,000 km)C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K
Climate control air filterRMore frequentlyC, E, G
Propeller shaftIMore frequentlyC, D, E, F,G, H, I, J 
     
        
        Page 493 of 607

Maintenance
20
8
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Engine oil and filter
The engine oil and filter should be
changed at the intervals specified in
the maintenance schedule. If the
vehicle is being driven in severe con-
ditions, more frequent oil and filter
changes are required.
Drive belts
Inspect all drive belts for evidence of
cuts, cracks, excessive wear or oil
saturation and replace if necessary.
Drive belts should be checked peri-
odically for proper tension and
adjusted as necessary.
Fuel filter (for gasoline)
Kia gasoline vehicle is equipped a
lifetime fuel filter that integrated with
the fuel tank. Regular maintenance
or replacement is not needed but
depends on fuel quality. If there are
some important safety matters like
fuel flow restriction, surging, loss of
power, hard starting problem etc, fuel
filter inspection or replace is needed.
The fuel filter should be inspected or
replaced by an authorized Kia dealer.
Fuel lines, fuel hoses and con-
nections
Check the fuel lines, fuel hoses and
connections for leakage and dam-
age. Have an authorized Kia dealer
replace any damaged or leaking
parts immediately.
Vapor hose and fuel filler cap
The vapor hose and fuel filler cap
should be inspected at those inter-
vals specified in the maintenance
schedule. Make sure that a new
vapor hose or fuel filler cap is cor-
rectly replaced. 
     
        
        Page 497 of 607
Maintenance
24
8
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. 
     
        
        Page 498 of 607

825
Maintenance
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on levelground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to reach normal operating tempera-
ture. 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 com-
ponents.
Use only the specified engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended lubricantsand capacities” in chapter 9.)
OQLE075099
OQLA075110
■THETA 2.4L - GDI
■THETA 2.0L T-GDI
CAUTION - Replacing
engine oil
Do not overfill the engine oil. Itmay damage the engine.
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.
OQLE075103
OQLA075111
■THETA 2.4L - GDI
■THETA 2.0L T-GDI 
     
        
        Page 499 of 607
Maintenance
26
8
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 chapter.
WARNING
Used engine oil may cause irrita-
tion or cancer of the skin if left in
contact with the skin for pro-
longed periods of time. Always
protect your skin by washing
your hands thoroughly with
soap and warm water as soon as
possible after handling used oil. 
     
        
        Page 504 of 607

831
Maintenance
BRAKE FLUID 
Checking the brake fluid level  
Check the fluid level in the reservoir
periodically. The fluid level should be
between MAX (Maximum) and MIN
(Minimum) marks on the side of the
reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap
and adding brake fluid, clean the
area around the reservoir cap thor-
oughly to prevent brake fluid contam-
ination.If the level is low, add fluid to the
MAX (Maximum) level. The level will
fall with accumulated mileage. This is
a normal condition associated with
the wear of brake linings. If the fluid
level is excessively low, have the
brake system checked by an author-
ized Kia dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid.
(Refer to “Recommended lubricantsand capacities” in chapter 9.)
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.
OQL075009CAUTION - Brake fluid
Do not allow brake fluid to con-tact the vehicle's body paint, aspaint damage will result.
CAUTION - Proper fluid
Only use brake fluid in the brakesystem. Small amounts ofimproper fluids (such as engineoil) can cause damage to thebrake system. 
     
        
        Page 515 of 607

Maintenance
42
8
✽ ✽
NOTICE
If you connect unauthorized elec-
tronic devices to the battery, the bat-
tery may be discharged. Never use
unauthorized devices.
Recharging the battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance-free,
calcium-based battery.
 If the battery becomes discharged
in a short time (because, for exam-
ple, the headlamps or interior
lamps were left on while the vehi-
cle 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.
 Do not allow cigarettes, sparks, or flame near the battery.
 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 120°F (49°C).
 Wear eye protection when check- ing 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.WARNING- Risk of elec-
trocution
Never touch the electrical igni-
tion system while the vehicle is
running. This system works
with high voltage which can
shock you.
WARNING- Recharging Battery
Never attempt to recharge the
battery when the battery cables
are connected.