2021 KIA NIRO HYBRID EV checking oil

4159
Features of your vehicle
Checking the amount of air
conditioner refrigerant and
compressor lubricant
When the amount of refrigerant is
low, the performance of the air condi-
tioning is reduced. Overfilling also
has a negative impact on the air con-
ditioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by
an authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING - Vehicles
equipped with R-1234yf
Since the refrigerant
is mildly flammable
and operated at high
pressure, the air con-
ditioning system
should only be serv-
iced by trained and
certified technicians.
(Refer to the SAE
J2845)
It is important that the correct
type and amount of oil and
refrigerant are used.
All refrigerants should be
reclaimed with proper equip-
ment.
Venting refrigerants directly to
the atmosphere is harmful to
individuals and environment.
Failure to heed these warnings
can lead to serious injuries.

Maintenance
7
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
• Owner maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 7-15
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
• Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
• Inverter coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
• Recommended coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
• Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Engine clutch actuator fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
• Checking the engine clutch actuator fluid level . . . . 7-28
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
• Checking the parking brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Battery (Plug-in Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
• Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 7-42
• Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47

77
Maintenance
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 coolant
reservoir.
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 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 transmission
occurs, check the transmission
fluid level.
Check the dual clutch 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).
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.
WARNING
When you open the engine
hood, turn the Hybrid system
off. If not, it may result in death
or serious injury because of the
high voltage flow.

Maintenance
18 7
Exhaust pipe and muffler
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes,
muffler and hangers for cracks, dete-
rioration, or damage. Start the
engine and listen carefully for any
exhaust gas leakage. Tighten con-
nections or replace parts as neces-
sary.
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 dam-
age. 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 necessary, repack the
grease.
Air conditioning refrigerant
Check the air conditioning lines and
connections for leakage and dam-
age.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.
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS

719
Maintenance
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 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 lubricants
and capacities” in chapter 8.)
CAUTION - Replacing
engine oil
Do not overfill the engine oil. It
may damage the engine.
WARNING- Radiator hose
Be very careful not to touch the
radiator hose when checking or
adding engine oil as it may be
hot enough to burn you.
ODE076002
■Gasoline Engine (Kappa 1.6L GDI)
ODE076003
■Gasoline Engine (Kappa 1.6L GDI)

Maintenance
26
7
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. Periodically check that the fluid level
in the brake fluid reservoir is
between MIN and MAX. 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 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.CAUTION - Proper fluid
Only use brake fluid in brakesystem. Small amounts ofimproper fluids (such as engineoil) can cause damage to thebrake system.
ODEP079008

Maintenance
28 7
ENGINE CLUTCH ACTUATOR FLUID
Checking the engine clutch
actuator fluid level
In normal driving conditions, the
actuator fluid level does not go down
rapidly. However, oil consumption
rate may rise as vehicle mileage
increases, and leakage in actuator
related parts may result in increased
consumption of the engine clutch
actuator oil. Regularly check and
make sure the engine clutch actuator
oil fluid level is between [MIN] and
[MAX] marks.
If the oil level is below [MIN] mark,
we recommend that your vehicle be
checked by an authorized Kia dealer.If the fluid level is excessively low, we
recommend that the system be
checked by an authorized Kia dealer.
Use only the specified engine clutch
actuator fluid.
(Refer to “Recommended lubricants
or capacities” in chapter 8.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
✽ ✽
NOTICE - Loss of engine
clutch actuator fluid
In the event the engine clutch actua-
tor requires frequent additions of
fluid, we recommend that the system
be inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer.
WARNING- Engine clutch
actuator fluid
When changing and adding
engine clutch actuator fluid,
handle it carefully. Do not let it
come in contact with your eyes.
If engine clutch actuator fluid
should come in contact with
your eyes, immediately flush
them with a large quantity of
fresh water, and seek medical
attention as soon as possible.
ODE076057

Index
4I
Method to disconnect the (-) cable for regular
maintenance (For Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Push-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-114
Crankcase emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-114
Evaporative emission control (including ORVR:
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery) system. . . . 7-114
Exhaust emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-115
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Engine clutch actuator fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
Checking the engine clutch actuator fluid level. . . . 7-28
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6, 7-4
Engine number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
ENGINE START/STOP button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
ENGINE START/STOP button position . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Illuminated ENGINE START/STOP button . . . . . . 5-11
Starting the hybrid system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . . . . . 7-15
Exterior features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-180
Roof rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-180
Exterior overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2Folding key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Battery replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-7
Immobilizer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Key operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Limp home (override) procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10
Record your key number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Transmitter precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)
(sensor fusion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53
Brake operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-58
Detecting sensors (front view camera/front radar) . 5-58
FCA warning message and system control . . . . . . . 5-56
Limitation of the system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-62
System malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-60
System setting and activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53
Forward/Reverse Parking Distance Warning (PDW) . 4-124
Non-operational conditions of Forward/
Reverse Parking Distance Warning system . . . . . 4-127
Operation of Parking Distance Warning system . . 4-125
Self-diagnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-128
Fuel filler door (Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Closing the fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Opening the fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Fuel filler door (Plug-in hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38
Closing the fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
Opening the fuel filler door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-38F