KIA FORTE 2020 Owners Manual

Maintenance
24
7
Brake fluid
Check the brake fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. The level should
be between the “MIN” and “MAX”
marks on the side of the reservoir.
Use only hydraulic brake fluid con-
forming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 specifi-
cation.
Parking brake
Inspect the parking brake system
including the parking brake lever and
cables.
Brake discs, pads, calipers
and rotors
Check the pads and discs for exces-
sive wear and calipers for fluid leak-
age.
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.

725
Maintenance
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS
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 damage.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
26
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 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.
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 the engine oil as it may
be hot enough to burn you.
OBD078103L
■Nu 2.0L MPI Engine (Gasoline)
OBD078124L
■Gamma 1.6L T-GDI Engine (Gasoline)
OBD078105L
■Nu 2.0L MPI Engine (Gasoline)
OBD078125L
■Gamma 1.6L T-GDI Engine (Gasoline)

727
Maintenance
Use a funnel to help prevent oil
from being spilled on engine com-
ponents.
Use only the specified engine oil.(Refer to the “Recommended lubri-cants and capacities” section inChapter 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
Used engine oil may cause irri-
tation or cancer of the skin if
left in contact with the skin for
prolonged 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.

Maintenance
28
7
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 cool-
ing 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 operating, do not remove the radiator cap or
the drain plug while the engine and
radiator are hot. Hot coolant and
steam may still blow out under
pressure, causing serious injury.
WARNING
Removing radiator
cap
Never attempt to remove the
radiator cap while the engine is
operating or hot. Doing so
might lead to cooling system
and engine damage and could
result in serious personal injury
from escaping hot coolant or
steam.

729
Maintenance
Check the condition and connections
of all cooling system hoses and
heater hoses. Replace any swollen
or deteriorated 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
specified coolant to provide protec-
tion against freezing and corrosion.
Bring the level to F, but do not over-
fill. If frequent additions are required,
see an authorized Kia dealer for a
cooling system inspection.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
Make sure the coolant cap is proper-
ly closed after refilling the coolant.
Otherwise the engine could be over-
heated while driving.
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.
OBD078005
■Nu 2.0L MPI Engine (Gasoline)
OCD078009
■Gamma 1.6L TGDI Engine (Gasoline)

Maintenance
30
7
1. Make sure that the tiny protru-
sions inside the coolant cap are
securely interlocked.
Recommended engine coolant
When adding coolant, use only
deionized water or soft water for
your vehicle and never mix hard
water in the coolant filled at the fac-
tory. An improper coolant mixture
can result in serious malfunction or
engine damage.
The engine in your vehicle has alu- minum engine parts and must be
protected by an ethylene-glycol
with phosphate based coolant to
prevent corrosion and freezing.
DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol coolant or mix them with the spec-
ified coolant.
Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less
than 35% antifreeze. This would
reduce the effectiveness of the
solution.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
Make sure that the coolant cap is
properly closed after refilling the
coolant. Otherwise the engine could
overheat while driving.
For mixture percentage, refer to the
following table.
OCD078010
■ Engine room rear view
- Gamma 1.6L TGDI Engine (Gasoline)
Ambient
Temperature Mixture Percentage
(volume)
Antifreeze Water
-15°C (5°F)35 65
-25°C (-13°F)4060
-35°C (-31°F)5050
-45°C (-49°F)6040

731
Maintenance
Changing the coolant
Have the coolant changed by an
authorized Kia dealer according to
the Maintenance Schedule at the
beginning of this chapter.WARNING
Radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine and radiator
are hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure which may result in
serious injury.
CAUTION
Put a thick cloth or fabric around the radiator cap beforerefilling the coolant in order toprevent the coolant from over-flowing into engine parts suchas the alternator.
OBD078006
■Nu 2.0L MPI Engine (Gasoline)
OCD078078
■Gamma 1.6L TGDI Engine (Gasoline)

Maintenance
32
7
BRAKE/CLUTCH FLUID (IF EQUIPPED)
Checking the brake/clutch
fluid level
Check the fluid level in the reservoir
periodically. The fluid level should be
between the MAX (Maximum) and
MIN (Minimum) marks on the side of
the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap
and adding brake/clutch fluid, clean
the area around the reservoir cap
thoroughly to prevent brake/clutch
fluid contamination. If the level is low, add fluid until you
reach the MAX (Maximum) level.
The level will fall with accumulated
mileage. This is a normal condition
associated with the wear of brake lin-
ings. If the fluid level is excessively
low, have the brake system checked
by an authorized Kia dealer.
Use only the specified brake/clutch
fluid. (Refer to the "Recommendedlubricants and capacities" section inChapter 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/clutch fluid, handle it carefully.
Do not let it come in contact with
your eyes. If brake/clutch 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/clutch 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.
OBD078007CAUTION - Brake/clutch fluid
Do not allow brake/clutch fluid tocontact the vehicle's body paint,as paint damage will result.
CAUTION - Proper fluid
Only use brake/clutch fluid inbrake system. Small amounts ofimproper fluids (such as engineoil) can cause damage to thebrake system.

733
Maintenance
WASHER FLUID
Checking the washer fluid
level
The reservoir is translucent so that
you can check the level with a quick
visual inspection.
Check the fluid level in the washer
fluid reservoir and add fluid if neces-
sary. In warm climates, plain water
may be used if washer fluid is not
available; however, in cold climates,
washer fluid with anti-freezing char-
acteristics is required to prevent
freezing.
WARNING- Flammablefluid
Do not allow the washer fluid to
come in contact with open
flames or sparks. The windshield
washer fluid reservoir is flamma-
ble under certain circumstances.
This can result in a fire.WARNING- Windshield fluid
Do not drink the windshield
washer fluid. The windshield
washer fluid is poisonous to
humans and animals.
WARNING- Coolant
Do not use radiator coolant or antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
Radiator coolant can severely obscure visibility when sprayed
on the windshield and may
cause loss of vehicle control.
OBD078008