Kia Optima: Instrument cluster / Gauges

Speedometer

The speedometer indicates the speed of the vehicle and is calibrated in kilometers per hour (km/h) and/or miles per hour (mph).

Tachometer

The tachometer indicates the approximate number of engine revolutions per minute (rpm).

Use the tachometer to select the correct shift points and to prevent lugging and/or over-revving the engine.

CAUTION - Red zone

Do not operate the engine within the tachometer's RED ZONE. This may cause severe engine damage.

Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge

This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant when the ignition switch or Engine Start/Stop button is ON.

If the gauge pointer moves beyond the normal range area toward the “H” position, it indicates overheating that may damage the engine.

Do not continue driving with an overheated engine. If your vehicle overheats, refer to “If the Engine Overheats” in chapter 6.

WARNING - Hot radiator

Never remove the radiator cap when the engine is hot. The engine coolant is under pressure and could cause severe burns. Wait until the engine is cool before adding coolant to the reservoir.

Fuel Gauge

This gauge indicates the approximate amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.

✽ NOTICE

• The fuel tank capacity is given in chapter 8.
• The fuel gauge is supplemented by a distance to empty mileage, and/or a low fuel warning light which will illuminate when the fuel tank is nearly empty.
• On inclines or curves, the fuel gauge pointer may fluctuate or the low fuel warning light may come on earlier than usual due to the movement of fuel in the tank.

✽ NOTICE - Fuel gauge

Running out of fuel can expose vehicle occupants to danger. You must obtain additional fuel as soon as possible after the warning light comes on or when the gauge indicator comes close to the “E (Empty)” level.

CAUTION - Low fuel

Avoid driving with an extremely low fuel level. Running out of fuel could cause the engine to misfire damaging the catalytic converter.

✽ NOTICE

The fuel display may not be accurate if the vehicle is on an incline.

Odometer

The odometer Indicates the total distance that the vehicle has been driven and should be used to determine when periodic maintenance should be performed.

- Odometer range : 0 ~ 1599999 km or 0 ~ 999999 miles.

Outside Temperature Gauge

This gauge indicates the current outside air temperatures by 1°C (1°F).

- Temperature range : -40°C ~ 85°C (-40°F ~ 211°F)

The outside temperature on the display may not change immediately like a general thermometer to prevent the driver from being distracted.

The temperature unit can be changed from °C to °F or from °F to °C by using the “User Settings” mode of the LCD display.

❈ For more details, refer to “LCD Display” in this chapter.