Kia Picanto: Introduction / Fuel requirements. Petrol engine

Petrol engine

Unleaded

For Europe

For optimum performance, use unleaded petrol with an octane rating of RON (Research Octane Number) 95 / AKI (Anti-Knock Index) 91 or higher. This is the recommended fuel grade for the Kia Picanto petrol engine covered by these European fuel requirements.

Unleaded petrol rated RON 91–94 / AKI 87–90 may also be used, although it may cause a slight reduction in performance and engine knocking sounds. Take this possible difference into account when choosing a fuel grade. Do not use fuels blended with methanol.

Except Europe

Your Kia Picanto is designed to run on unleaded petrol with an octane rating of at least RON (Research Octane Number) 91 / AKI (Anti-Knock Index) 87. Check that the fuel meets this minimum rating before refuelling, and do not use petrol blended with methanol.

The vehicle is designed to deliver its intended performance with unleaded fuel while minimising exhaust emissions and spark plug fouling. Using fuel that meets the stated requirements supports the operation of the engine and its emission control equipment.

CAUTION

Never use leaded fuel in a vehicle specified for unleaded petrol. Leaded fuel harms the catalytic converter, damages the engine control system’s oxygen sensor and adversely affects emission control. The separate leaded-fuel provision below applies only to vehicles specifically designed for that fuel in certain markets.

Do not add fuel system cleaning agents to the tank unless they are specified for your vehicle. Before using a cleaning product, consult an authorised Kia dealer or service partner for details of the appropriate product and its use.

WARNING

• Stop refuelling when the fuel nozzle shuts off automatically. Do not continue adding fuel or attempt to “top off” the tank after this point.

• After refuelling, always check that the fuel cap is securely installed. A correctly secured cap helps prevent fuel spillage in the event of an accident.

Leaded: (if equipped)

In certain countries, some vehicles are specifically designed to operate on leaded petrol. This provision is market-dependent and does not mean that leaded fuel is suitable for every Kia Picanto.

Before using leaded petrol, consult an authorised Kia dealer or service partner to confirm whether your particular vehicle is designed to accept it. Do not assume that leaded fuel is suitable simply because it is available locally.

For vehicles approved to use leaded petrol, the applicable octane rating is the same as the rating specified for unleaded petrol. Approval to use leaded fuel does not change the vehicle’s octane requirement.

Petrol containing alcohol and methanol

Gasohol is a blend of petrol and ethanol, also known as grain alcohol. In some markets, gasohol and petrol or gasohol containing methanol, also known as wood alcohol, are sold alongside conventional leaded or unleaded petrol, or in place of it. Check the fuel’s composition as well as its octane rating when selecting petrol for your vehicle.

Do not use gasohol containing more than 10% ethanol, and never use petrol or gasohol containing any methanol. Fuels that exceed this ethanol limit, or contain methanol in any amount, may cause drivability problems and damage the fuel system, engine control system and emission control system.

If drivability problems develop while using gasohol, stop using that fuel. This instruction applies to any gasohol product that causes operating problems, even when its stated ethanol content is within the permitted limit.

Vehicle damage or drivability problems resulting from the fuels listed below may not be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Choosing a fuel with an acceptable octane rating does not remove the restrictions on its alcohol content or lead content:

1. Gasohol containing more than 10% ethanol, which exceeds the ethanol limit specified in these fuel requirements.

2. Petrol or gasohol containing methanol, regardless of the proportion of methanol in the blend.

3. Leaded petrol or leaded gasohol used in a vehicle that requires unleaded fuel.

CAUTION

Never use gasohol containing methanol. If any gasohol product adversely affects drivability, discontinue its use rather than continuing to operate the vehicle on the same fuel. Both the fuel’s composition and its effect on vehicle operation must be considered.

Other fuels

Certain fuel ingredients and additives can damage the vehicle or interfere with engine operation. The following fuel types are associated with these risks and should not be used in your Kia Picanto:

• Fuel containing silicone (Si).

• Fuel containing MMT, a manganese-based additive (Mn).

• Fuel containing ferrocene, an iron-containing additive (Fe).

• Fuel containing other metallic additives. These fuels, together with those listed above, may damage the vehicle and engine. Possible consequences include blockages, misfiring, poor acceleration, engine stalling, melting of the catalytic converter’s catalyst material, abnormal corrosion and a reduction in component service life.

  The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) may also illuminate when these fuels interfere with engine operation or the emission control system.

NOTICE

Fuel system damage or performance problems caused by the use of these fuels may not be covered by your New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The fuel restrictions described in this section therefore apply to additive content as well as to the octane rating and alcohol content specified earlier.

Use of MTBE

Kia recommends avoiding fuel containing more than 15.0% MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) by volume, corresponding to an oxygen content of 2.7% by weight. When choosing petrol for your Kia Picanto, check that its composition meets this requirement as well as the specified octane rating.

Fuel with an MTBE concentration above 15.0% by volume, or an oxygen content above the stated 2.7% by weight, may impair vehicle performance. It can also cause vapour lock or make the engine difficult to start, affecting reliable operation.

CAUTION

Your New Vehicle Limited Warranty may not cover fuel system damage or performance problems caused by petrol containing methanol or more than 15.0% MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) by volume, corresponding to an oxygen content of 2.7% by weight. These fuel composition restrictions apply alongside the other fuel requirements specified for your vehicle.

Do not use methanol

Do not use fuel containing methanol, also known as wood alcohol, in your Kia Picanto. Methanol-containing fuel can reduce engine performance and damage components within the fuel system, engine control system and emission control system. An acceptable octane rating does not make a methanol blend suitable for use.

Fuel Additives

Kia recommends unleaded petrol with an octane rating of RON (Research Octane Number) 95 / AKI (Anti-Knock Index) 91 or higher for vehicles in Europe. Outside Europe, the recommended minimum is RON 91 / AKI 87. Select petrol that meets the rating applicable to your vehicle and market.

If you do not regularly use good-quality petrol containing fuel additives and experience difficult starting or uneven engine operation, the recommended treatment is one bottle of the appropriate fuel additive added to the tank when the engine oil is replaced. Follow the product guidance supplied for your vehicle rather than choosing an additive solely on the basis of its advertised benefits.

Suitable additives and instructions for their correct use are available from a professional workshop. Kia recommends consulting an authorised Kia dealer or service partner to obtain the appropriate product and application guidance. Do not mix it with other additives.

Operation in foreign countries

Before driving your Kia Picanto in another country, check the requirements that apply to both the vehicle and your intended journey. Make the following arrangements before departure so that registration, insurance and fuel suitability are addressed in advance:

• Comply with all applicable vehicle registration and insurance regulations. Confirm that your registration documents and insurance cover meet the requirements of the countries in which you will drive.

• Establish that suitable fuel is available at your destination and along your route. The petrol you use must meet the vehicle’s fuel requirements, including the applicable octane rating and restrictions on fuel composition.