Couple Questions

Checked coolant level today and it was a bit low in the overflow...pulled the radiator cap and here's what I found:




I cleaned off what looked like some kind of (hardened and flaking) silicon sealant and just left the black rubber washer in place. Wondering if that is a requirement...the sealant? Also, the radiator is full but the overflow is bout 1/2 inch below MIN line....not sure what that's all about.

Second, I found this in a baggie that was in the KTM manual pouch...hadn't really noticed it before. It was in the little baggie where a couple of reflector brackets and reflectors were...it is some sort of plunger switch? Anyone have any idea what it is??

The white stuf is just cack, scrape it off if you can. Once the rad cap gets like that the seal goes a bit and you'll get coolant blowing out of the overflow pipe, that's why the resevoir is looking low.

Dunno what the other thing is

All i can tell you is mine doesnt have that goop on it...the overflow tank will periodically fill and empty depending on conditions so you need to monitor it over time/different temps to see how it changes. There should be a little fluid in there but when it gets really hot it draws more from the overflow tank. (I think)


Are yous sure its silicon? I hope its not *gulp* oil.

T Man, I will say.... beware of this, your WP seals may be crap, this is not silicone and you should not use silicone to reinstall the rad cap.

the switch is an off-on accessory switch, if I were you I would call and alert the dealer of this and say it is not a normal engine cooling system substance.

9nine0 is one of the best source's we have in here for technical advise and he may say something different but rest assured joe will be checking his

tomorrow morning and every week from here on. (moto, that is quite the memory you have been blessed with, almost spooky).

I remembered reading about the water pump seals and thought that at first...but this was too consistent and, sorta formed. It's about time for a service anyway, and I don't do the full on (brakes, rad etc) due to space/tool limitations (and I'm sorta illiterate when it comes to mechanics)....oil change is good enuff for me.

I didn't think there should be anything on the rad cap Joe, so didn't put anything back on when I screwed it back on. You mentioned the switch was an accessory off-on? For what??

Shade - thanks for the input...book sez check coolant cold and I figured it wasn't a big deal. Moto is right...05 here lol. I cleaned off the 'cack'. Though I'm curious how encompassing the definition for 'cack' is