OIL KIA Optima 2008 2.G Owner's Guide

Maintenance14 7BRAKE FLUID Checking brake fluid level Check the fluid level in the reservoir peri-
odically. The fluid level should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap and
adding brake fluid, clean the area around
the reservoir cap thoroughly to prevent
brake fluid contamination.
If your vehicle is equipped with a manual
transaxle, brake fluid is used as clutch
fluid.If the level is low, add fluid to the MAX
level. The level will fall with accumulated
mileage. This is a normal condition asso-
ciated with the wear of the 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 Lubricants” later in
this section.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not allow brake fluid to contact the
vehicle's body paint, as paint damage
will result. Brake fluid, which has been
exposed to open air for an extended time
should never be used as its quality can-
not be guaranteed. It should be thrown
out. Don't put in the wrong kind of fluid.
A few drops of mineral-based oil, such
as engine oil, in your brake/clutch sys-
tem can damage brake/clutch system
parts.
WARNING -
Brake fluid
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.
WARNING -
Loss of brake
fluid
In the event the brake system
requires frequent additions of fluid,
the vehicle should be inspected by
an authorized Kia dealer.
OMG075007

717
Maintenance
New automatic transaxle fluid should
be red. The red dye is added so the
assembly plant can identify it as auto-
matic transaxle fluid and distinguish it
from engine oil or antifreeze. The red
dye, which is not an indicator of fluid
quality, is not permanent. As the vehi-
cle is driven, the automatic transaxle
fluid will begin to look darker. The
color may eventually appear light
brown.✽ ✽
NOTICEHave an Authorized Kia dealer inspect
or change the automatic transaxle fluid
according to the Scheduled
Maintenance at the beginning of this
section.Changing automatic transaxle
fluidHave automatic transaxle fluid changed
by an authorized Kia dealer according to
the Maintenance Schedule at the begin-
ning of this section.
Use only the specified automatic
transaxle fluid. (Refer to "Recommended
Lubricants" later in this section.)
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 necessary. Plain
water may be used if washer fluid is not
available. However, use washer solvent
with antifreeze characteristics in cold cli-
mates to prevent freezing.
Body lubrication All moving points of the body, such as
door hinges, hood hinges, and locks,
should be lubricated each time the
engine oil is changed. Use a non-freez-
ing lubricant on locks during cold weath-
er.
Make sure the engine hood secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.
LUBRICANTS AND FLUIDS
WARNING
- Coolant
Do not use radiator coolant or
antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
(Continued)
(Continued)
Radiator coolant can severely
obscure visibility when sprayed
on the windshield and may cause
loss of vehicle control or damage
to paint and body trim.
Windshield washer fluid agents
contain some amounts of alcohol
and can be flammable under cer-
tain circumstances. Do not allow
sparks or flame to contact the
washer fluid or the washer fluid
reservoir. Damage to the vehicle
or it's occupants could occur.
Windshield washer fluid is poi-
sonous to humans and animals.
Do not drink and avoid contacting
windshield washer fluid. Serious
injury or death could occur.
OMG075011

723
Maintenance
✽ ✽
NOTICE• Before performing maintenance or
recharging the battery, turn off all
accessories and stop the engine.
• The negative battery cable must be
removed first and installed last when
the battery is disconnected.
WARNING
- Recharging
battery
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 charg-
ing, and stop or reduce the charg-
ing rate if the battery cells begin
gassing (boiling) violently or if
the temperature of the electrolyte
of any cell exceeds 49°C (120°F).
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.

733
Maintenance
Cold Tire Pressure: The amount of
air pressure in a tire, measured in
kilopascals (kPa) or pounds per
square inch (psi) before a tire has
built up heat from driving.
Curb Weight: This means the weight
of a motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil and
coolant, but without passengers and
cargo.
DOT Markings: The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric des-
ignator which can also identify the
tire manufacturer, production plant,
brand and date of production.
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GAWR FRT: Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front Axle.
GAWR RR: Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle.Intended Outboard Sidewall: The
side of an asymmetrical tire, that
must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa): The metric unit for
air pressure.
Load Index: An assigned number
ranging from 1 to 279 that corre-
sponds to the load carrying capacity
of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure: The
maximum air pressure to which a
cold tire may be inflated. The maxi-
mum air pressure is molded onto the
sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating: The load
rating for a tire at the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure for that
tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight:
The sum of curb weight; accessory
weight; vehicle capacity weight; and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight:The
number of occupants a vehicle is
designed to seat multiplied by 68 kg
(150 pounds).Occupant Distribution: Designated
seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall:The side
of a asymmetrical tire that has a par-
ticular side that faces outward when
mounted on a vehicle. The outward
facing sidewall bears white lettering
or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same moldings on
the inner facing sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: A tire
used on passenger cars and some
light duty trucks and multipurpose
vehicles.
Recommended Inflation Pressure:
Vehicle manufacturer's recommend-
ed tire inflation pressure and shown
on the tire placard.
Radial Ply tire: A pneumatic tire in
which the ply cords that extend to the
beads are laid at 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.
Rim: A metal support for a tire and
upon which the tire beads are seat-
ed.
Sidewall: The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.

735
Maintenance
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONSRecommended lubricants To help achieve proper engine and powertrain performance and
durability, use only lubricants of the proper quality. The correct
lubricants also help promote engine efficiency that results in
improved fuel economy.
Engine oils labeled Energy Conserving Oil are now available.
Along with other additional benefits, they contribute to fuel
economy by reducing the amount of fuel necessary to over-
come engine friction. Often, these improvements are difficult to
measure in everyday driving, but in a year’s time, they can offer
significant cost and energy savings.
Recommended SAE viscosity number ✽ ✽
NOTICEAlways be sure to clean the area around any filler plug, drain
plug, or dipstick before checking or draining any lubricant.
This is especially 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. Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has an effect on fuel economy
and cold weather operating (starting and oil flow). Lower vis-
cosity engine oils can provide better fuel economy and cold
weather performance, however, higher viscosity engine oils are
required for satisfactory lubrication in hot weather. Using oils of
any viscosity other than those recommended could result in
engine damage.
When choosing an oil, consider the range of temperature your
vehicle will be operated in before the next oil change. Proceed
to select the recommended oil viscosity from the chart.
*¹ Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers.These lubricants and fluids are recommended for use in your
vehicle.
Lubricant Classification
API Service SJ, SL or above,
ILSAC GF-3 or above
Manual transaxle fluidAPI Service GL-4
(SAE 75W-85, fill-for-life)
DIAMOND ATF SP-III, SK ATF SP-III
Power steering fluid PSF-IV
Brake/Clutch fluid FMVSS116 DOT-3 or DOT-4
Engine oil
*¹
Automatic transaxle fluid
Temperature Range for SAE Viscosity Numbers
Temperature
Engine Oil *
1°C
(°F)
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
-10 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1. For better fuel economy, it is recommended to use the engine oil of a viscosity
grade SAE 5W-20, 5W-30 (API SJ, SL / ILSAC GF-3).
20W-5015W-4010W-30
5W-20, 5W-30

737
Maintenance
WaxingWax the vehicle when water will no
longer bead on the paint.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before
waxing. Use a good quality liquid or
paste wax, and follow the manufacturer’s
instructions. Wax all metal trim to protect
it and to maintain its luster.
Removing oil, tar, and similar materials
with a spot remover will usually strip the
wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax
these areas even if the rest of the vehicle
does not yet need waxing.✽ ✽
NOTICE• Wiping dust or dirt off the body with
a dry cloth will scratch the finish.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive clean-
ers, or strong detergents containing
highly alkaline or caustic agents on
chrome-plated or anodized aluminum
parts. This may result in damage to
the protective coating and cause dis-
coloration or paint deterioration.
Finish damage repair Deep scratches or stone chips in the
painted surface must be repaired
promptly. Exposed metal will quickly rust
and may develop into a major repair
expense.✽ ✽
NOTICEIf your vehicle is damaged and requires
any metal repair or replacement, be sure
the body shop applies anti-corrosion
materials to the parts repaired or
replaced. Bright-metal maintenance To remove road tar and insects, use a
tar remover, not a scraper or other
sharp object.
To protect the surfaces of bright-metal
parts from corrosion, apply a coating of
wax or chrome preservative and rub to
a high luster.
During winter weather or in coastal
areas, cover the bright metal parts with
a heavier coating of wax or preserva-
tive. If necessary, coat the parts with
non-corrosive petroleum jelly or other
protective compound.
Underbody maintenanceCorrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may col-
lect on the underbody. If these materials
are not removed, accelerated rusting can
occur on underbody parts such as the
fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust
system, even though they have been
treated with rust protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody
and wheel openings with lukewarm or
cold water once a month, after off-road
driving and at the end of each winter. Pay
special attention to these areas because
it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet down
the road grime without removing it. The
lower edges of doors, rocker panels, and
frame members have drain holes that
should not be allowed to clog with dirt;
trapped water in these areas can cause
rusting.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired,
dry the brakes by applying them
lightly while maintaining a slow for-
ward speed.

Maintenance38 7Aluminum wheel maintenance The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
Do not use any abrasive cleaner, pol-
ishing compound, solvent, or wire
brushes on aluminum wheels. They
may scratch or damage the finish.
Use only a mild soap or neutral deter-
gent, and rinse thoroughly with water.
Also, be sure to clean the wheels after
driving on salted roads. This helps pre-
vent corrosion.
Avoid washing the wheels with high-
speed car wash brushes.
Do not use any acid detergent. It may
damage and corrode the aluminum
wheels coated with a clear protective
finish.
INTERIOR CARE Interior general precautions Prevent caustic solutions such as per-
fume and cosmetic oil from contacting
the dashboard because they may cause
damage or discoloration. If they do con-
tact the dashboard, wipe them off imme-
diately. See the instructions that follow for
the proper way to clean vinyl.✽ ✽
NOTICENever allow water or other liquids to
come in contact with electrical/electron-
ic components inside the vehicle as this
may damage them.
Cleaning the upholstery and inte-
rior trim Vinyl Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl surfaces with a vinyl cleaner.Fabric Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean with a mild soap solution recom-
mended for upholstery or carpets.
Remove fresh spots immediately with a
fabric spot cleaner. If fresh spots do not
receive immediate attention, the fabric
can be stained and its color can be
affected. Also, its fire-resistant properties
can be reduced if the material is not
properly maintained.✽ ✽
NOTICEUsing anything but recommended
cleaners and procedures may affect the
fabric’s appearance and fire-resistant
properties.

739
Maintenance
Cleaning the lap/shoulder belt
webbing Clean the belt webbing with any mild
soap solution recommended for cleaning
upholstery or carpet. Follow the instruc-
tions provided with the soap. Do not
bleach or re-dye the webbing because
this may weaken it.Cleaning the interior window
glass If the interior glass surfaces of the vehi-
cle become fogged (that is, covered with
an oily, greasy or waxy film), they should
be cleaned with glass cleaner. Follow the
directions on the glass cleaner container.✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not scrape or scratch the inside of
the rear window. This may result in
damage to the rear window defroster
grid.

Specifications4 8*1Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers in chapter 7.Lubricant Volume Classification
Engine oil
*1
4.3 l(4.5 US qt.) API Service SJ, SL or above,
(with filter change) 4.5 l(4.7 US qt.) ILSAC GF-3 or above
Manual transaxle fluid 1.9 l(2.0 US qt.) API Service GL-4 (SAE 75W-85, fill for-life)
Automatic transaxle fluid 9.5 l(10.0 US qt.) DIAMOND ATF SP-III, SK ATF SP-III
Power steering 0.8 l( 0.8 US qt.) PSF-IV
Coolant 6.4~6.9 l(6.8~7.3 US qt.)
Ethylene glycol base for aluminum radiator
8.2~8.3 l(8.7~8.8 US qt.)
Brake/Clutch fluid 0.7~0.8 l(0.7~0.8 US qt.) FMVSS116 DOT-3 or DOT-4
Fuel 62 l(16.4 US gal) Unleaded gasoline with AKI 87 or higher
2.4L Engine
2.7L Engine2.4L Engine
2.7L Engine
Capacities

Index2 9Air bags-supplemental restraint system ····················3-48
Air cleaner ····································································7-18
Antenna ·········································································3-93
Audio remote control···················································3-94
Audio system ································································3-95
Automatic climate control···········································4-55
Automatic transaxle ·············································4-6, 7-16
Battery···········································································7-21
Before driving·································································5-4
Brake fluid ····································································7-14
Brake system ································································4-10
Climate control air filter ·············································7-19
Compass - Z-Nav™ compass ······································4-36
Cruise control system ··················································4-18
Defroster ·······································································4-46
Door locks ·····································································3-10
Drive belts ·····································································7-15Electrical circuit protection ··········································6-6
Electronic stability control ··········································4-21
Emergency starting························································6-3
Emission control system ················································5-2
Engine compartment ··············································2-4, 7-9
Engine cooling system ·················································7-12
Engine oil ······································································7-11
Exterior care·································································7-36
Fuel filler lid ·································································3-72
Fuel requirements ··························································5-2
Gauges ···········································································4-25
Hazard warning flasher ··············································4-47
Homelink® wireless control system ···························3-79
Hood ··············································································3-71
How to use this manual ·················································1-2ABC
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