ARIEL ATOM 2 2006 Service Manual

35

FLUID LEVELS & TYPES FOR ATOMS WITH GM ENGINES
Fluid levels (GM engines)

Engine oil capacity: 6 quarts (5.20 L)
Transmission oil capacity: 67 ounces / 2.1 quarts (189 grams/1.99 L)
Brake fluid reservoir capacity: Fill to the indicated capacity line on the reservoir
Fuel tank capacity: 9.7 gallons (36.7 L)
Cooling system capacity: 2.75 gallons (10.395 L)
Supercharger after cooler coolant: 2 in. (apx.) below the filler cap when hot
Front lower A-arm ball joint grease: As needed

Fluid types (GM engines)
Engine oil: Mobil 1™ Synthetic 5-30
Transmission oil: Saturn Manual Transmission Lubricant
(The use of standard GL-4 lubricant is not recommended. )
Brake fluid: Dot 4
Clutch fluid: Dot 4
Fuel: Premium Unleaded
Cooling system: Dexcool (Dilute with water 50:50 if not pre-dilute d)
Supercharger after cooler coolant: Dexcool
Front lower A-arm ball joint grease: High quality bearing/suspension grease

36

FLUID LEVELS & TYPES FOR ATOMS WITH HONDA ENGINES

Fluid levels (Honda engines)

Engine oil capacity: 5.5 quarts (5.20 L)
Transmission oil capacity: 64 oz/2.1 quarts (189 grams/1.99 L)
Brake fluid reservoir capacity : Fill to the indicated capacity line on the reservoir
Fuel tank capacity: 9.7 gallons (36.7 L)
Cooling system capacity: 2.75 gallons (10.395 L)
Front lower A-arm ball joint grease: As needed

Fluid types (Honda engines)
Engine oil: 5-30 Conventional oil
Transmission oil: Honda/Acura Manual Transmission Fluid
Brake fluid: Dot 4
Clutch fluid: Dot 4
Fuel: Premium Unleaded
Cooling system: Acura/Honda Anti Freeze Coolant Type 2 (only avai lable premixed)
Front lower A-arm ball joint grease: High quality bearing/suspension grease

37

GM ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK/FILL LOCATIONS

For Atoms with GM engines, the dipstick is located ju st forward of the right rear wheel.

38

HONDA ENGINE OIL FILL LOCATIONS
For Atoms with Honda engines, it may be necessary to unbolt the coolant reservoir to access the oil filler.

39

DIP STICK INDICATOR FOR HONDA ENGINES
Due to the Honda engine’s tilted positioning, the dip stick for the oil tank was modified. There are custom ized
holes drilled in the dip stick at 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) and at 1 in. (25.4 mm) for your point of reference.

40

ADDING & CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT


The engine coolant tank is located above the engine in the center of the engine compartment, under the air
intake cover.
WARNING: the system is pressurized at up to 15 PSI, and can cause severe burns! Only open the cap
when the engine is at ambient temperature and there is no pressure in the cooling hoses.


At the factory we use a vacuum device to pull the coolan t through the system, then a coolant pressurizing
system to apply 15 PSI to it. By the time this is done , there are virtually no air bubbles left in the system. You
will have to bleed the system very carefully using the following procedures:

1. Refer to the Fluid Levels & Types section on pages 35 & 36 for your engine’s specifications. Dilute coolant
50:50 coolant to water if the product comes un-diluted.
2. Carefully remove the 1/8 in. bronze pipe plug locate d at the top of the radiator. NOTE: if coolant rushes
out of this fitting, the engine may not need bleedin g.
3. Fill the coolant exchange tank over the engine unti l it will not hold any more coolant.
4. Start the engine and let it idle until the tempe rature at the thermostat housing reaches about 150 deg rees.
5. Check the radiator by touch to ensure it is warm. If it is not warm, turn engine off and let set. Restart.
6. Shut down the engine.
NOTE: The coolant temperature indicator on the SPA dash is no t reliable until the system is completely bled,
so do not depend on it for accurate readings yet.

41

ADDING & CHANGING ENGINE COOLANT CONTINUED
7. Once the engine has been shut down, squeeze the coolant hose above the transaxle repeatedly for a while
and watch for air bubbles to enter the coolant exchange tank.
8. Add more coolant as you are able to coax air bubbl es out of the coolant hose.
9. Repeat this startup / shutdown procedure as many ti mes as necessary until the bubbles cease, and the
upper hose is hot to the touch.

At some point in this process, the engine will “burp”, a nd the coolant gauge will begin to read properly. When
you are certain that this has occurred:
10. Release the pressure
VERY SLOWLY
at the tank.
11. Fill the tank again to the center seam level.
12. Check the copper air bleed fitting at the radiator to be sure the radiator is full.
13. Tighten everything up.
14. Run the engine until the fan turns on, off, then on again.
15. Switch off engine and allow it to cool completely.
16. Fill the tank to its proper level for the last ti me.

For vehicles with GM engines, the aftercooler fill locat ion is accessed by moving the seats to their forward mos t
position. In the center of the engine bulkhead is a tr iangular cover secured by Philips head screws. Removing
these screws reveals a semi-transparent port with a thre aded cap.


NOTE: Honda engines do not require an aftercooler coolant .

42

43

TRANSMISSION OIL
GM Engines
The transaxle fill/level indicator plug for the GM engine is on the left side of the car, just behind the axle. Due to
the angle of the engine/transaxle assembly, the proper fluid level of the transaxle is about 1 in. (25.4 mm)
below the level indicator plug. The drain fitting i s identical to the fill plug and is located below the l eft axle. Both
plugs require the use of an 8mm hex wrench to remove o r install.

Honda Engines
The transaxle fill/level indicator plug for the Honda engine is on the left side of the car, just behind the axle.
Due to the angle of the engine/transaxle assembly, the proper fluid level of the transaxle is approximately
1 in. (25.4 mm) below the level indicator plug
. The drain plug is located below the left axle. Use a 17mm
wrench to remove the fill plug, and use a 3/8 in. sq uare drive to remove the drain plug.

44

BODY PANEL REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

The rear wing, snorkel cover, and bonnet are all ret ained with quick-release fasteners. The fasteners are the
same size and grip length, and there may or may not b e rubber washers under them. Use of washers is
dependent on best fit, so be sure that the same fastener s and washers are reinstalled in the same location. To
release the fasteners, pull the handle out and rotate the fastener one quarter turn counter-clockwise, then p ull
out gently. Some of the washers come with a retainer a nd some do not. For washers that are not retained, be
sure to collect the washers as they are released from the fasteners. To reinstall fasteners that are not retained,
insert the fastener into the hole, and then turn clock wise until it engages. At this point, turn the fastener an
additional one quarter turn to seat it and fold the handle down flush with the body. The bonnet is retain ed by
three fasteners, one of which is hidden on the lower surface at the front of the vehicle.