Gauges
Speedometer

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

The tachometer shows the approximate engine speed in revolutions per minute (rpm).
Use the tachometer to select the correct shift points and to prevent wheel spin and/or over-revving the engine.
WARNING! Red zone
Do not operate the engine in the RED ZONE of the tachometer. Doing so may cause serious engine damage.
Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor

This gauge shows the engine coolant temperature when the ignition switch or engine start/stop button is in the ON position.
If the gauge pointer moves beyond the normal range toward the "H" position, it indicates overheating, which may damage the engine.
Do not continue driving with an overheated engine. If your vehicle overheats, refer to "If Your 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 may cause serious burns. Wait until the engine cools before adding coolant to the reservoir.
Fuel Gauge

This gauge shows the approximate amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
✽ NOTICE
- Refer to chapter 8 for the fuel tank capacity.
- The fuel gauge is supplemented by a distance-to-empty display and/or a low fuel warning light, which illuminates when the fuel tank is almost empty.
- On inclines or curves, the fuel gauge needle may fluctuate, or the low fuel warning light may illuminate earlier than usual due to fuel movement in the tank.
✽ WARNING - Fuel gauge
Running out of fuel may expose vehicle occupants to danger. You should refuel as soon as possible after the warning light illuminates or when the gauge needle approaches the "E (Empty)" mark.
CAUTION - Low fuel
Avoid driving with very low fuel. Running out of fuel may cause engine misfires, damaging the catalytic converter.
✽ NOTICE
The fuel level indication may be inaccurate if the vehicle is parked on a slope.
Odometer

The odometer shows the total distance the vehicle has traveled and should be used to determine when periodic maintenance is due.
- Odometer range: 0 ~ 1599999 km or 0 ~ 999999 miles.
Outside Air Temperature Sensor

This sensor displays the current outside air temperature with an accuracy of 1 °C.
- Temperature range: -40°C ~ 85 °C
The outside temperature display may not change immediately, unlike a conventional thermometer, so the driver is not distracted.
The temperature unit can be changed from °C to °F or from °F to °C using the User Settings Mode button on the LCD.
❈ For more details, refer to "LCD Display" in this section.
Test yourself
A quick Kia Optima DL3 quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.