KIA Optima (2018 year). Instruction — part 22

6 97

Driving your vehicle

DRIVER'S ATTENTION

The LDWS may not warn you even if
the vehicle leaves the lane, or may
warn you even if the vehicle does not
leave the lane when recognition of
the lane marker is poor or limited:
• When lane and road condition is

poor
- It is difficult to distinguish the lane

marker from road when the lane
marker is covered with dust, sand
or other factors.

- It is difficult to distinguish the

color of the lane marker from
road.

- There is something looks like a

lane marker.

- The lane marker is indistinct or

damaged.

- The number of lanes increases/

decreases or the lane lines are
crossing (Driving through a toll
plaza/toll gate, merged/divided
lane).

- There are more than two lane

markers.

- The lane marker is very thick or

thin.

- The lane marker is not visible due

to snow, rain, stain, a puddle or
other factors.

- A shadow is on the lane marker

because of a median strip,
guardrail, noise barriers and oth-
ers.

• When the lane markers are compli-

cated or a structure substitutes for
the lines such as a construction
area.
- There are crosswalk signs or

other symbols on the road.

- The lane suddenly disappears

such as at the intersection.

- The lane marker in a tunnel is

covered with dirt or oil and etc.

• When external condition is inter-

vened
-

The brightness of outside

changes suddenly when enter-
ing/existing a tunnel or passing
under a bridge.

- The headlamps are not on at

night or in a tunnel, or light level is
low.

- There is a boundary structure in

the roadway.

- The light of street, sun, oncoming

vehicle and so on reflects from
the water on the road.

- When light shines brightly in the

reverse direction you drive.

- The distance from the vehicle

ahead is very short or the vehicle
ahead drives hiding the lane line.

- You drive on a steep grade or a

sharp curve.

- The vehicle vibrates heavily.
- The temperature near inside mir-

ror is very high due to direct sun
light and etc.

• When front visibility is poor

- The lens or windshield is covered

by strange materials.

- The sensor cannot detect the

lane because of fog, heavy rain or
snow.

-

The windshield is fogged by

humid air in the vehicle.

- Putting something on the crash

pad and etc.

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6

Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a

moderate rate. Don't make "jack-
rabbit" starts or full-throttle shifts
and maintain a steady cruising
speed. Don't race between stop-
lights. Try to adjust your speed to
the traffic so you don't have to
change speeds unnecessarily.
Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you
can avoid unnecessary braking.
This also reduces brake wear.

• Drive at a moderate speed. The

faster you drive, the more fuel your
vehicle uses. Driving at a moderate
speed, especially on the highway,
is one of the most effective ways to
reduce fuel consumption.

• Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This

can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these com-
ponents. In addition, driving with
your foot resting on the brake pedal
may cause the brakes to overheat,
which reduces their effectiveness
and may lead to more serious con-
sequences.

• Take care of your tires. Keep them

inflated to the recommended pres-
sure. Incorrect inflation, either too
much or too little, results in unnec-
essary tire wear. Check the tire
pressures at least once a month.

• Be sure that the wheels are

aligned correctly. Improper align-
ment can result from hitting curbs
or driving too fast over irregular
surfaces. Poor alignment causes
faster tire wear and may also result
in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption.

• Keep your vehicle in good condi-

tion. For better fuel economy and
reduced maintenance costs, main-
tain your vehicle in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
chapter 8. If you drive your vehicle
in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see
chapter 8 for details).

• Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi-

mum service, your vehicle should
be kept clean and free of corrosive
materials. It is especially important
that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be
allowed to accumulate on the
underside of the vehicle. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel
consumption and also contribute to
corrosion.

• Travel lightly. Don't carry unneces-

sary weight in your vehicle. Weight
reduces fuel economy.

• Don't let the engine idle longer

than necessary. If you are waiting
(and not in traffic), turn off your
engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.

ECONOMICAL OPERATION

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Driving your vehicle

• Remember, your vehicle does not

require extended warm-up. After
the engine has started, allow the
engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds
prior to placing the vehicle in gear.
In very cold weather, however, give
your engine a slightly longer warm-
up period.

• Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.

Lugging is driving too slowly in a
very high gear resulting in engine
bucking. If this happens, shift to a
lower gear. Over-revving is racing
the engine beyond its safe limit.
This can be avoided by shifting at
the recommended speed.

• Use your air conditioning sparingly.

The air conditioning system is
operated by engine power so your
fuel economy is reduced when you
use it.

• Open windows at high speeds can

reduce fuel economy.

• Fuel economy is less in crosswinds

and headwinds. To help offset
some of this loss, slow down when
driving in these conditions.

Keeping a vehicle in good operating
condition is important both for econ-
omy and safety. Therefore, have an
authorized Kia dealer perform
scheduled inspections and mainte-
nance.

WARNING

- Engine off

during motion

Never turn the engine off to
coast down hills or anytime the
vehicle is in motion. The power
steering and power brakes will
not function properly without
the engine running. In addition,
turning off the ignition while
driving could engage the steer-
ing wheel lock resulting in loss
of vehicle steering. Keep the
engine on and downshift to an
appropriate gear for an engine
braking effect.

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6

Hazardous driving conditions

When hazardous driving conditions
are encountered such as water,
snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar haz-
ards, follow these suggestions:
• Drive cautiously and allow extra

distance for braking.

• Avoid sudden braking or steering.
• When braking with non-ABS

brakes pump the brake pedal with
a light up-and-down motion until
the vehicle is stopped.

Do not pump the brake pedal on a
vehicle equipped with ABS.

• If stalled in snow, mud, or sand,

use the second gear. Accelerate
slowly to avoid spinning the drive
wheels.

• Use sand, rock salt, or other non-

slip material under the drive
wheels to provide traction when
stalled in ice, snow, or mud.

Rocking the vehicle

If it is necessary to rock the vehicle
to free it from snow, sand, or mud,
first turn the steering wheel right and
left to clear the area around your
front wheels. Then, shift back and
forth between R (Reverse) and any
forward gear in vehicles equipped
with an Automatic Transaxle / Dual
clutch transmission. Do not race the
engine, and spin the wheels as little
as possible. If you are still stuck after
a few tries, have the vehicle pulled
out by a tow vehicle to avoid engine
overheating and possible damage to
the transaxle.

SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

WARNING

- Downshifting

Do not downshift with an auto-
matic transaxle while driving on
slippery surfaces. The sudden
change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid and
result in an accident.

WARNING

- Sudden

Vehicle Movement

Do not attempt to rock the vehi-
cle if people or objects are near-
by. The vehicle may suddenly
move forward or backwards as it
becomes unstuck.

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Driving your vehicle

The ESC system should be turned
OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.

Smooth cornering

Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are
wet. Ideally, corners should always
be taken under gentle acceleration. If
you follow these suggestions, tire
wear will be held to a minimum.

Driving at night

Because night driving presents more
hazards than driving in the daylight,
here are some important tips to
remember:
• Slow down and keep more dis-

tance between you and other vehi-
cles, as it may be more difficult to
see at night, especially in areas
where there may not be any street
lights.

CAUTION

- Vehicle rocking

Prolonged rocking may cause
engine overheating, transaxle
damage or failure, and tire dam-
age.

CAUTION

- Spinning tires

Do not spin the wheels, espe-
cially at speeds more than 35
mph (56 km/h). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the
vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat which
could result in tire damage that
may injure bystanders.

OJF055062L

OJF055063L

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6

• Adjust your mirrors to reduce the

glare from other driver's head-
lights.

• Keep your headlights clean and

properly aimed. (On vehicles not
equipped with the automatic head-
light aiming feature.) Dirty or
improperly aimed headlights will
make it much more difficult to see
at night.

• Avoid staring directly at the head-

lights of oncoming vehicles. You
could be temporarily blinded, and it
will take several seconds for your
eyes to readjust to the darkness.

Driving in the rain

Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not
prepared for the slick pavement.
Here are a few things to consider
when driving in the rain:

• A heavy rainfall will make it harder

to see and will increase the dis-
tance needed to stop your vehicle,
so slow down.

• Keep your windshield wiping

equipment in good shape. Replace
your windshield wiper blades when
they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield.

• If your tires are not in good condi-

tion, making a quick stop on wet
pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. Be
sure your tires are in good shape.

• Turn on your headlights to make it

easier for others to see you.

• Driving too fast through large pud-

dles can affect your brakes. If you
must go through puddles, try to
drive through them slowly.

• If you believe you may have gotten

your brakes wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking
operation returns.

OJFA055064

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Driving your vehicle

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
affected.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them sev-
eral times while the vehicle is moving
slowly.

Driving off-road

Drive carefully off-road because your
vehicle may be damaged by rocks or
roots of trees. Become familiar with
the off-road conditions where you
are going to drive before you begin
driving.

Highway driving

Tires

Adjust the tire inflation pressures to
specification. Low tire inflation pres-
sures will result in overheating and
possible failure of the tires.
Avoid using worn or damaged tires
which may result in reduced traction
or tire failure.
Never exceed the maximum tire
inflation pressure shown on the tires.

Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil

High speed travel consumes more
fuel than urban motoring. Do not for-
get to check both the engine coolant
and engine oil.

Drive belt

A loose or damaged drive belt may
result in overheating of the engine.

WARNING

- Under/over

inflated tires

Always check the tires for proper
inflation before driving.
Underinflated or overinflated
tires can cause poor handling,
loss of vehicle control, and sud-
den tire failure leading to acci-
dents, injuries, and even death.
For proper tire pressures, refer to
“Tires and wheels” in chapter 9.

WARNING

- Tire tread

Always check the tire tread
before driving your vehicle.
Worn-out tires can result in loss
of vehicle control. Worn-out tires
should be replaced as soon as
possible. For further information
and tread limits, refer to "Tires
and wheels" in chapter 8.

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6

Severe weather conditions in the
winter result in greater wear and
other problems. To minimize the
problems of winter driving, you
should follow these suggestions:

Snowy or icy conditions

To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires
or to install tire chains on your tires.
If snow tires are needed, it is neces-
sary to select tires equivalent in size
and type of the original equipment
tires. Failure to do so may adversely
affect the safety and handling of your
vehicle.

Furthermore, speeding,

rapid acceleration, sudden brake
applications, and sharp turns are
potentially very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine
braking to the fullest extent. Sudden
brake applications on snowy or icy
roads may cause skids to occur. You
need to keep sufficient distance
between the vehicle in operation in
front of your vehicle. Also, apply the
brake gently. It should be noted that
installing tire chains on the tire will
provide a greater driving force, but
will not prevent side skids.
Tire chains are not legal in all states.
Check state laws before fitting tire
chains.

Snow tires

If you mount snow tires on your vehi-
cle, make sure they are radial tires of
the same size and load range as the
original tires. Mount snow tires on all
four wheels to balance your vehicle’s
handling in all weather conditions.
Keep in mind that the traction provid-
ed by snow tires on dry roads may
not be as high as your vehicle's orig-
inal equipment tires. You should drive
cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and munic-
ipal regulations for possible restric-
tions against their use.

WINTER DRIVING

WARNING

- Snow tire size

Snow tires should be equivalent
in size and type to the vehicle's
standard tires. Otherwise, the
safety and handling of your vehi-
cle may be adversely affected.

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Driving your vehicle

Tire chains

Since the sidewalls of radial tires are
thinner, they can be damaged by
mounting some types of snow chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snow
tires is recommended instead of
snow chains. Do not mount tire
chains on vehicles equipped with
aluminum wheels; snow chains may
cause damage to the wheels. If snow
chains must be used, use wire-type
chains with a thickness of less than
0.47 in (12 mm). Damage to your
vehicle caused by improper snow
chain use is not covered by your
vehicle manufacturers warranty.

When using tire chains, attach them
to the drive wheels as follows.
FWD : Front wheels

The snow chain connecting hooks
may be damaged from contacting
vehicle components causing the
snow chains to come loose from the
tire. Make sure the snow chains are
SAE class “S” certified.
Always check chain installation for
proper mounting after driving
approximately 0.3 to 0.6 miles (0.5 to
1 km) to ensure safe mounting.
Retighten or remount the chains if
they are loose.

Chain installation

When installing chains, follow the
manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly 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 it stops. Remove the
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 flashers 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.

CAUTION

- Snow chains

Make sure the snow chains are
the correct size and type for
your tires.

Incorrect snow

chains can cause damage to the
vehicle body and suspension
and may not be covered by your
vehicle manufacturer warranty.

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6

• The use of chains may adversely

affect vehicle handling.

• Do not exceed 20 mph (30 km/h)

or the chain manufacturer’s recom-
mended 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.

Use high quality ethylene gly-
col 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 cool-
ing 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.

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 Kia dealer or a service
station.

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 9 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, consult an authorized
Kia dealer.

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.

CAUTION

- Snow chains

• Chains that are the wrong size

or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle's brake
lines, suspension, body and
wheels.

• Stop driving and retighten the

chains any time you hear them
hitting the vehicle.

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Driving your vehicle

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 heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.

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 instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint fin-
ish.

Don’t 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 shift lever in P
(Park, Automatic Transaxle / Dual
clutch transmission) and block the
rear wheels so the vehicle cannot
roll. Then release the parking brake.

Don't let ice and snow accu-
mulate 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
vehicle to be sure the movement of
the front wheels and the steering
components are not obstructed.

Carry emergency equipment

Depending on the severity of the
weather, you should carry appropri-
ate emergency equipment. Some of
the items you may want to carry
include tow straps or chains, flash-
light, emergency flares, sand, shov-
el, jumper cables, window scraper,
gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, blan-
ket, etc.

TRAILER TOWING

We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing.

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6

VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT

OJFA055268/OJFA055271/OJFA055269/OJFA055272/OJFA055270/OJFA055273

Tire and loading information label

The label located on the driver's door sill gives the original tire size, cold tire pressures recom-
mended for your vehicle, the number of people that can be in your vehicle and vehicle capacity
weight.

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Vehicle capacity weight:

904 lbs. (410 kg)

Vehicle capacity weight is the maxi-
mum combined weight of occupants
and cargo. If your vehicle is equipped
with a trailer, the combined weight
includes the tongue load.

Seating capacity:

Total : 5 persons

(Front seat : 2 persons,

Rear seat : 3 persons)

Seating capacity is the maximum
number of occupants including a
driver, your vehicle may carry.
However, the seating capacity may
be reduced based upon the weight of
all of the occupants, and the weight
of the cargo being carried or towed.
Do not overload the vehicle as there
is a limit to the total weight, or load
limit including occupants and cargo,
the vehicle can carry.

Towing capacity:

We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing.

Cargo capacity:

The cargo capacity of your vehicle
will increase or decrease depending
on the weight and the number of
occupants.

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6

Steps For Determining Correct
Load Limit -

1. Locate the statement "The com-

bined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.'' on your vehicle's
placard.

2. Determine the combined weight of

the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.

3. Subtract the combined weight of

the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.

4. The resulting figure equals the

available amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example, if
the "XXX" amount equals 1400
lbs. and there will be five 150 lbs.
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity is 650 lbs.

(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)

5. Determine the combined weight of

luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.

6. If your vehicle will be towing a trail-

er, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.

WARNING

- Loose cargo

Do not travel with unsecured
blunt objects in the passenger
compartment of your vehicle
(e.g. suit cases or unsecured
child seats). These items may
strike occupant during a sud-
den stop or crash.

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Driving your vehicle

C190F03JM

Item

Description

Total

A

Vehicle Capacity

849 lbs

Weight

(385 kg)

Subtract Occupant

B

Weight

805 lbs

161 lbs (73 kg) × 5

(365 kg)

C

Available Cargo and

44 lbs

Luggage weight

(20 kg)

A

B

C

Example 3

C190F02JM

Item

Description

Total

A

Vehicle Capacity

849 lbs

Weight

(385 kg)

Subtract Occupant

B

Weight

750 lbs

150 lbs (68 kg) × 5

(340 kg)

C

Available Cargo and

99 lbs

Luggage weight

(45 kg)

A

B

C

Example 2

C190F01JM

Item

Description

Total

A

Vehicle Capacity

849 lbs

Weight

(385 kg)

Subtract Occupant

B

Weight

300 lbs

150 lbs (68 kg) × 2

(136 kg)

C

Available Cargo and

549 lbs

Luggage weight

(249 kg)

Example 1

A

B

C

Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label for specific information about your vehicle's capacity weight
and seating positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers and cargo should never exceed your vehicle's
capacity weight.

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6

Certification label

The certification label is located on
the driver's door sill at the center pillar.
This label shows the maximum allow-
able weight of the fully loaded vehi-
cle. This is called the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR
includes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel and cargo.
This label also tells you the maxi-
mum weight that can be supported
by the front and rear axles, called
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).

To find out the actual loads on your
front and rear axles, you need to go to
a weigh station and weigh your vehi-
cle. Your dealer can help you with this.
Be sure to spread out your load equal-
ly on both sides of the centerline.

The label will help you decide how
much cargo and installed equipment
your vehicle can carry.

If you carry items inside your vehicle
- like suitcases, tools, packages, or
anything else - they are moving as
fast as the vehicle. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a crash,
the items will keep going and can
cause an injury if they strike the driv-
er or a passenger.

✽

✽

NOTICE

Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty. Do not over-
load your vehicle.

OJFA055280

WARNING -

Over loading

Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, the GAWR for
either the front or rear axle and
vehicle capacity weight.
Exceeding these ratings can
affect your vehicle’s handling
and braking ability.

WARNING

- Over loading

Do not overload your vehicle.
Overloading your vehicle can
cause heat buildup in your vehi-
cle's tires and possible tire fail-
ure, increased stopping dis-
tances and poor vehicle han-
dling--all of which may result in
a crash.