Kia Optima: Changing Coolant

Change coolant according to the Scheduled Maintenance.

• Use only soft (de-mineralized) water in the coolant mixture.
• The engine in your vehicle has aluminum engine parts and must be protected by an ethylene-glycol-based coolant to prevent corrosion and freezing.
• DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol antifreeze or mix them with the specified coolant.
• Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less than 35% antifreeze, which would reduce the effectiveness of the solution.

For mixture percentage, refer to the following table.

CAUTION

To prevent burning yourself, do not remove the radiator cap or loosen the drain plug while the engine is hot.

Procedure for changing coolant:

1. Turn the radiator cap counterclockwise to remove it.
2. Loosen the radiator drain plug and drain the coolant into a suitable container.
3. With the plug loose, flush the system with running water.
4. Drain the system completely and retighten the drain plug. Add the necessary amount of ethylene-glycol-based coolant and water to provide the required protection against freezing and corrosion. In extremely cold climates, add ethylene-glycol based coolant in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer.
5. Run the engine at idle with the radiator cap off. Slowly add additional coolant as necessary.
6. At this point, wait until the engine reaches normal operating temperature. Depress the accelerator two or three times; then add coolant as required. Be careful not to burn yourself.
7. Replace the radiator cap. Inspect all connections for leaks and recheck the coolant level in the reservoir. Recheck again after a few days and add coolant as necessary.