2020 Hyundai Sonata coolant level

06
6-135
Driving in Flooded Areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no
higher than the bottom of the wheel hub.
Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be reduced.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
Highway Driving
Tires
Adjust the tire inflation, as specified.
Under-inflation may overheat or damage
the tires.
Do not install worn-out or damaged tires,
which may reduce traction or adversely
affect vehicle handling. This could lead
to sudden tire failure that may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
Information
Never over-inflate your tires above the
maximum inflation pressure, as specified
on your tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil
Driving at higher speeds on the highway
consumes more fuel and is less efficient
than driving at a slower, more moderate
speed. Maintain a moderate speed in
order to conserve fuel when driving on
the highway.
Be sure to check both the engine coolant
level and the engine oil before driving.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may
overheat the engine.

06
6-137
WARNING
The use of tire chains may adversely
affect vehicle handling:
• Drive less than 20 mph (30 km/h)
or the chain manufacturer's
recommended speed limit,
whichever is lower.
• Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, sharp turns, and other road
hazards, which may cause the
vehicle to bounce.
• Avoid sharp turns or locked wheel
braking.
Information
• Install tire chains on both left and right
front tires. It should be noted that
installing tire chains on the tires will
provide a greater driving force, but will
not prevent side skids.
• Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions
against their use.
Chain installation
When installing tire chains, follow the
manuf
acturer’s instructions and mount
them as tightly possible. Drive slowly
(less than 20 mph (30 km/h)) with
chains installed. If you hear the chains
contacting the body or chassis, stop and
tighten them. If they still make contact,
slow down until the noise stops. Remove
the tire chains as soon as you begin
driving on cleared roads.
When mounting snow chains, park the
vehicle on level ground away from traffic.
Turn on the vehicle Hazard Warning
Flasher and place a triangular emergency
warning device behind the vehicle (if
available). Always place the vehicle in P
(Park), apply the parking brake and turn
off the engine before installing snow
chains.
NOTICE
When using tire chains:
• Wrong size chains or improperly
installed chains can damage your
vehicle's brake lines, suspension,
body and wheels.
• Use SAE "S" class or wire chains.
• If you hear noise caused by chains
contacting the body, retighten the
chain to prevent contact with the
vehicle body.
• To prevent body damage, retighten
the chains after driving 0.3~0.6 miles
(0.5~1.0 km).
• Do not use tire chains on vehicles
equipped with aluminum wheels. If
unavoidable, use a wire type chain.
• Use wire chains less than 0.59 inch
(15mm) wide to prevent damage to
the chain’s connection.
Winter Precautions
Use high quality ethylene glycol
coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high
quality ethylene glycol coolant in the
cooling system. It is the only type of
coolant that should be used because it
helps prevent corrosion in the cooling
system, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or
replenish your coolant in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
chapter 8. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing
point is sufficient for the temperatures
anticipated during the winter.

While Driving6-138
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 chapter 8
for recommendations. If you aren't sure
what weight oil you should use, consult
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the
battery and cables as described in
chapter 8. The level of charge in your
battery can be checked by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer or a service station.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as described in
chapter 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.
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 instructions on the
container. Window washer anti-freeze is
available from an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer and most auto parts outlets. Do
not use engine coolant or other types
of antifreeze as these may damage the
paint finish.
Do not let your parking brake freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged position.
This is most likely to happen when
there is an accumulation of snow or
ice around or near the rear brakes or
if the brakes are wet. If there is a risk
the parking brake may freeze, apply
it only temporarily while you put the
gear selector lever in P and block the
rear wheels so the car cannot roll. Then
release the parking brake.
Do not let ice and snow accumulate
underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice
can build up under the fenders and
interfere with the steering. When driving
in severe winter conditions where this
may happen, you should periodically
check underneath the car to be sure the
movement of the front wheels and the
steering components is not obstructed.
Don't place foreign objects
or materials in the engine
compartment
Placement of foreign object or materials
which prevent cooling of the engine, in
the engine compartment, may cause a
failure or combustion. The manufacturer
is not responsible for the damage caused
by such placement.
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 heated key with care to avoid injury.

Emergency Situations7-6
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience a loss of
power, or hear loud pinging or knocking,
the engine may be overheating. If this
happens, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
2. Place the shift button in P (Park) and set the parking brake. If the air
conditioning is ON, turn it OFF.
3. If engine coolant is running out under the vehicle or steam is coming out
from 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 cooling fan is
operating. If the fan is not running,
turn the engine off.
WARNING
While the engine is running,
keep hands, clothing and tools
away from the moving parts
such as the cooling fan and
drive belt to prevent serious
injury.
4. Check for coolant leaking from the radiator, hoses or under the vehicle. (If
the air conditioning had been in use, it
is normal for cold water to be draining
from it when you stop.)
5. If engine coolant is leaking out, stop the engine immediately and call the
nearest authorized HYUNDAI dealer
for assistance.
WARNING
Your vehicle is equipped
with a pressurized coolant
reserve tank. NEVER remove
the engine coolant reservoir
tank/radiator cap or the drain
plug while the engine and
radiator are HOT. Hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure, causing serious
injury.
Turn the engine off and wait until the
engine cools down. Use extreme care
when removing the engine coolant
reservoir tank/radiator cap. Wrap
a towel or thick rag around it, and
turn it counterclockwise slowly to
release some of the pressure from the
system. Step back while the pressure is
released.
When you are sure all the pressure has
been released, continue turning the cap
counterclockwise to remove it.
6. If you cannot find the cause of the overheating, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to normal.
Then, if coolant has been lost,
carefully add coolant to the reservoir
to bring the fluid level in the reservoir
up to the halfway mark.
7. Proceed with caution, keeping alert for further signs of overheating. If
overheating happens again, call
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for
assistance.
CAUTION
Serious loss of coolant indicates a
leak in the cooling system and should
be checked as soon as possible by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS

Engine Compartment ........................................................................\
............ 8-3
Maintenance Services ........................................................................\
...........8-4
Owner’s Responsibility ........................................................................\
.................... 8-4
Owner Maintenance Precautions ........................................................................\
.... 8-4
Owner Maintenance ........................................................................\
.............. 8-5Owner Maintenance Schedule ........................................................................\
........ 8-5
Scheduled Maintenance Services ................................................................ 8-7Normal Maintenance Schedule (Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi) ...................................8-8
Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions (Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi) ......... 8-11
Severe Driving Conditions ........................................................................\
.............. 8-11
Normal Maintenance Schedule (Smartstream G2.5 GDi) ..................................... 8-12
Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions (Smartstream G2.5 GDi) ................8-15
Severe Driving Conditions ........................................................................\
..............8-15
Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Items .......................................... 8-16
Engine Oil ........................................................................\
............................. 8-19
Checking the Engine Oil Level ........................................................................\
........8-19
Checking the Engine Oil and Filter ....................................................................... 8-20
Engine Coolant ........................................................................\
......................8-21Checking the Engine Coolant Level ....................................................................... 8-21
Engine Coolant ........................................................................\
................................ 8-21
Changing Engine Coolant ........................................................................\
.............. 8-23
Brake fluid ........................................................................\
............................ 8-24Checking the Brake Fluid Level ........................................................................\
..... 8-24
Washer Fluid ........................................................................\
......................... 8-25Checking the Washer Fluid Level ........................................................................\
.. 8-25
Air Cleaner ........................................................................\
............................ 8-26Filter Replacement ........................................................................\
......................... 8-26
Climate Control Air Filter ........................................................................\
..... 8-28
Filter Inspection........................................................................\
.............................. 8-28
Filter Replacement ........................................................................\
......................... 8-28
Wiper Blades ........................................................................\
........................ 8-29Blade Inspection ........................................................................\
............................ 8-29
Blade Replacement ........................................................................\
........................ 8-29
Battery ....................................................................\
.......................................8-31For Best Battery Service ........................................................................\
................ 8-32
Battery Recharging ........................................................................\
........................ 8-32
Reset Features ........................................................................\
................................ 8-33
8. Maintenance
8

08
8-5
WARNING
Performing maintenance work on a
vehicle can be dangerous. If you lack
sufficient knowledge and experience or
the proper tools and equipment to do
the work, have it done by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer.
ALWAYS follow these precautions for
performing maintenance work:
• Park your vehicle on level ground,
move the shift button into the P
(Park) position, place the ignition
switch in the LOCK/OFF position.
• Block the tires (front and back) to
prevent the vehicle from moving.
Remove loose clothing or jewelry
that can become entangled in
moving parts.
• If you must run the engine during
maintenance, do so out doors or in
an area with plenty of ventilation.
• Keep flames, sparks, or smoking
materials away from the battery and
fuel-related parts. The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed
by the owner or an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer at the frequencies indicated to
help ensure safe, dependable operation
of your vehicle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your dealer as
soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance vehicle
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 the engine
coolant reservoir.
• Check the windshield washer fluid level.
• Check the for low or under-inflated tires.
WARNING
Be careful when checking your engine
coolant level when the engine is hot.
This may result in coolant being blown
out of the opening and cause serious
burns and other injuries.
OWNER MAINTENANCE

Maintenance8-6
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 if there is 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
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 transmission occurs,
check the transmission fluid level.
• Check the automatic transmission 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).
At least monthly:
• Check coolant level in the engine coolant reservoir.
• Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the brake lights, turn
signals and hazard warning flashers.
• Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare for tires that
are worn, show uneven wear, or are
damaged.
• Check for loose wheel lug nuts.
At least twice a year:
(i.e., every Spring and Autumn)
• Check radiator, heater and air conditioning hoses for leaks or
damage.
• Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper blades
with a clean cloth dampened with
washer a fluid.
• Check headlamp alignment.
• Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
• Check the seat belts for wear and function.
At least once a year:
• Clean body and door drain holes.
• Lubricate door hinges and hood hinges.
• Lubricate door and hood locks and latches.
• Lubricate door rubber weather strips.
• Lubricate door checker.
• Check the air conditioning system.
• Inspect and lubricate automatic transmission linkage and controls.
• Clean the battery and terminals.
• Check the brake fluid level.

08
8-17
Engine Coolant
The coolant should be changed at the
intervals specified in the maintenance
schedule.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Automatic transmission fluid should
not be checked under normal usage
conditions. But in severe conditions, the
fluid should be changed at an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer in accordance to the
scheduled maintenance at the beginning
of this chapter.
Information
Automatic transmission fluid color is red
when new.
As the vehicle is driven, the automatic
transmission 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.
NOTICE
The use of a non-specified fluid could
result in transmission malfunction
and failure. Use only the specified
automatic transmission fluid (refer
to “Recommended Lubricants and
Capacities” in chapter 2).
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 the brake fluid level in the brake
fluid reservoir. The level should be
between the MIN and the MAX marks
on the side of the reservoir. Use only
hydraulic brake fluid conforming to DOT
4 specification.
Parking Brake
Inspect the parking brake system
including the parking brake pedal and
cables.
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,
muffler 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.