Using Coolant

cjc, it is common for the dealer to "not" to loft the front wheel to refill the engine cooling system, (as ktm recommends).

2 dealers did it to me 2 separate times. Over time and heat cycles they will manage to burp out a bubble at a time, then they will take a small gulp of coolant,

this makes the bike appear to be using it when in reality the air had not been properly bleed from the cooling system.

A-ha! My last major service was not so long ago. I bet that is when it started using more coolant. I'll ask them about it and ask if they raised the front. Thanks Joe.

excellent point joe ,,,,,on mine there were tiny stains were coolant had dried looked like water marks ,never would have noticed mine if wasnt in a non ventilated shop could smell antifreeze ,had to look it over with little flash light ,moved clamp with finger and it dripped down right hand side bottom off shroud area ,mine used 1/2 out of over flow can before I found it as i mentioned I could smell it after parking in shop after a hard run , at first I thought it was just some spilled on bike at service still gonna change clamps next service to gear type

I think Joe has hit the nail on the head. My SD drinks coolant like a kid drinks coolaid, no leaks either, I'm not concerned.

05-06 models are prone to a worn water pump shaft. The Viton rubber seal would rub a groove in the shaft and when you notice the coolant bottle empty from the max to min marks within 1 tank of juice it's time to get it fixed. (Not to be confused with thermal expansion)

It's not an easy job, but at least the parts aren't very expensive. The 07 bikes use a teflon seal - which isn't prone to the same problem - so like the clutch slave cylinder, anyone with a problematic 05-06 model can fit the new parts and worry no longer....