KTM 1090 1190 1290 Adventure Bike Coolant Flush | Back in the Garage

In this episode of Back in the Garage, I drain and replace the coolant on my 2016 KTM 1290 Super Adventure.
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[@dimosk7389]

nice video as always. just some details, since i've already done this 3-4 times now (some genious mixed OAT coolant with non-OAT coolant and the radiator got completely clogged with sludge). you need to raise the front wheel 50cm off the ground to get a proper bleed from the cylinder head screws. its stated in the repair manual. otherwise, you get a hot spot on the cylinder heads until it finally manages to "burp" that air (usually during some wheelie). but until then, its a spot that gets no coolant, not the best for the engine. and when it "burps" make sure to check the breather tank and top it up

[@kamailworkshop]

dimos k , yes I confirm that according KTM manuel, you have to lift up the front wheel.

[@terryploppypants2792]

Hi, i am currently in the process of changing my radiator out on my 1290 S SA and have come across a few articles on rasing the bike upto 500mm. This may prove a challenge as i am doing this in my back yard. i would have thought the bleed valve on the radiaor and the compensation tank would deal with the trapped air in the cylinder head area? I understand raising the front wheel avoids the problem of refilling a few times, but the video shown worked ok didnt it? Another option i found talking to others was taking the back wheel off would give you 250mm, not quite enough if 500mm is important. The thought of jacking up the bike 500mm is a bit of a worry. Just a thought, people mention about this figure in the manual (would be good to have one of these) I'm wondering if KTM put this in there to put people off doing the coolant change themselves. I am not claiming to know much at all on the subject, just looking for good advice. Regards, Terry

[@protectorh9167]

How do you lift 50cm in the air, terrible bike to work on.

[@dimosk7389]

@@protectorh9167 you make a ramp. It's actually pretty easy. But yeah, it's not the simplest bike to work on. Every 15k kms you need to remove all the plastic covers and the tank just to replace the air filter. Good thing they fixed that on the 2021 model and the filter is now accessible from the top.

[@AdventureTomek]

Do you need keep the bike elevated while filling with new coolant?

[@MrRichardCass]

Haven't done this yet myself, but another vlogger didn't completely remove the cylinderhead bleed screws. The drilled holes in the side and centre of the screws allows air and water to escape if the screws are partially undone to expose the side hole. Saves the hassle of refitting the screws in such a confined space.

[@rileyratcliff3112]

I just lost the bleeder screw due to backing it all the way out. So definitely take this advice.

[@bob53820]

You are a lifesaver. I don't think there's anything I've done to the bike that you didn't have a video for.

[@RetirementVille]

Excellent, thank you very much.....I may well owe you a HUGE beer!!!.... Just prepping my 1190 Adventure for a 3000mi tour of Spain next year and decided that after 7yrs it was time to change the coolant and glad I did......dropped ONE litre out and replaced with 2.3 litres. It's never had the coolant changed from new and I can't believe that it has "lost" 1.3 litres into thin air - I'm inclined to think that it was never properly bled when built in the factory....probably a "Friday build" as the lights weren't adjusted from the factory either.

[@2WR]

Agreed. Sounds like it wasn't properly prepared upon arrival.

[@heykat18]

I recent replaced the coolant on my 17 KTM Super Duke R with engine ice (actually cooler) using the vacuum method. Worked perfect with no temperature spikes.

[@bubsiesiegel]

I am going to tackle the same thing on my '19 SDR soon. If you don't mind me asking, what did you utilize to vacuum the coolant? Did you still have to raise the front wheel?

[@heykat18]

@@bubsiesiegel coolant vacuum tool. FJC 43610

[@portlandtwowheels7607]

Again..... the best intro ever! "Back in the ga-Back-Back-Ba-Ba-Back in the-Back in the Garage Today-Ba-Ba-Back in the garage!" Love the videos, sir. Thanks to you I installed my dongle on my 1090r before you could say....well....dongle. Thanks again sir. On a different note: my 1090r did not have all the coolant level completely filled and/or properly "burped" from the dealer/factory. I only noticed this after...she....took a nap a few days after ownership and realized my coolant level was below. It wasn't before. Just an FYI for you other riders out there to burp your bike like a baby after buying it. You know, so it doesn't upchuck.

[@jamesstreicher2398]

Made it super easy to do. Even kept the mess to a minimum. Thank you very much for a well documented process.

[@2WR]

Glad it helped!

[@BurhanKumsar]

​@@2WR selam üstadım 1190 adventure cool 3.0 yerine 5.0 soğutma sıvısı koyarsak sorun olur mu olursa ne gibi sorun olur teşekkürler

[@BurhanKumsar]

2016 model 5.0 koydum herşey yolunda gibi biraz motor ısısı fazla gibi geliyor ortam hava sıcaklıkları 36 40 derecelerde bacaklara fena ısı geliyor teşekkürler

[@henryvaneyk3769]

I strongly suggest to also replace the water pump shaft seal when doing this. My KTM 1290 SAR 2019 model just popped the seal and all the coolant ended up inside the engine. The bike had done 33k km. Unfortunately this happened quite a way from home, so I had to get KTM to come pick the bike up.

[@ikmalanisse]

Hello i have a ktm 1090 adventure and i have noticed that on my cooler tank oil got mixed with the cooler.what is the problem on this case?

[@nhutkase]

Not sure of your name, but you have been a huge help for me. I have the exact same bike (2016 SA), and your videos are awesome! I did the cyclops headlight install and followed you directions to a tee - worked perfectly! I'm getting ready to do a coolant system flush and I'm confident that I can do it right with the help of your vid....thank you very much! Great work - and the tunes are cool too! On a related note, have you ever seen the "preload error" where it won't change from one setting to another (load icon just keeps blinking). I read the manual, a few blog posts, and spoke to a reputable dealership today, but wanted to run it by you as well. -Nick

[@2WR]

Happy to hear the videos have helped! Unfortunately haven't seen the preload error

[@brusselsprouts6847]

Love your vids bud from Australia 🇦🇺 👍👍🦘

[@jccana7754]

Thank you from the south of Spain

[@2WR]

You're welcome

[@ruanjacobs525]

Super helpful! Thanks brother🤙

[@dandersonjr]

Proof that everyone should own a motorcycle so when you get forced downtime you have something to keep you busy. That being said I just dropped mine off at the dealership hoping KTM will warranty my leaking fuel tank.

[@2WR]

Keep me posted. Hope they honor the warranty.

[@johnlewis371]

2014 Superduke 1290R. OK so I to replace my radiator due to the the typical top mount radiator separation issue. Went pretty well but I did it without consulting the manual. My bad. Basically figured the coolant was emptied through the right side hose which I bent down to drain everything. Reasembled and filled the tank and was topped off at 1.7 liters. Expecting it to be the 3.2 liters and it wasn't, so I went to the manual only to find plenty of details I missed. So with the radiator sitting at full I raised the front end, opened the cylinder head screws both of which had air. The left side flowed a bit before replacing. The right side burped and flowed. Also opened up the radiator release bolt and the cap. Bottom line is I think I have done everything but not in the order called for in the manual. Problem is that with spilage I've added maybe 2.3 Liters and it won't take any more. Ran it a bit, tempature was good, and let it cool hoping for more capacity. Still not taking anything more. Am I going to have to go though this again following the manual step by step? Do you think I might have had old fluid left in the motor and I'm simply adding new fluid that is comingling with the reminent fluid?

[@keithschmidt2961]

I only got slighty over 2 liters from mine. Same bike as yours. I raised the front end 19" expecting no issues but that didn't happen. I then ran it up to temperature to burp it. That allowed me to add another 3/4 liter. I'll road test and check once cooled.

[@razvandumitru2252]

I don't think you should let it run without the radiator cap. I did that and when I turned it off, it spat about a liter of coolant out which I had to buy again. I think you should put the cap back before you stop the engine or there must be a better way, so that you don't loose coolant.

[@2WR]

It spit it out because you had a big air bubble in it.

[@razvandumitru2252]

@@2WRnot necessarily. The system is pressurized. It will come out no matter what, if it's hot.

[@ChrisShaferKTM]

put the bike at a steep angle with the front wheel high and it'll burp the bubble between the cylinders

[@christolouw7336]

Thanks ... some say the bike have to be lifted 50cm at front wheel to bleed properly? ... great video and it helps allot ... greetingd from South Africa

[@2WR]

Book calls for it but I didn't like the bike being that unstable. I've had zero issues with the cooling system in 10s of thousands of miles since changing mine.

[@BudzzableRides]

Good info on a well made video!

[@renebossard3740]

Awesome info as usual 👍🇦🇺

[@hailboognish3858]

I’m doing this on my new to me 07 SD 990. Are all the steps the same and do you have front wheel of the bike you’re working on lifted in the air? I’m having trouble trying to figure out how I’m going to do that. I don’t own a come along, straps and don’t know that I want to suspend the bike off my landlords tresses in his overhang garage. My luck everything would come crashing down.

[@chriscram1559]

Is there an issue with filling the coolant, then opening and closing each of the bleeder valves until each flows w/o bubbles? Bubbles: are we talking froth, big, small, micro? Or are we talking small burps of air coming out the bolt hole? Thanks...

[@2WR]

So....if you follow the manual you should raise the front end 20" (50cm) and that thought get out all air (in theory). Personally, I found it difficult to put the front wheel in the air that high (without dumping the bike) so did it on the center stand. Once it starts flowing out the bleed screw you're fine. Start it up with the radiator cap off (there will be an air bubble) and the water pump will take over from there. Let it run a few min, top off the radiator and you're good to go.

[@MotoramaFullService]

Very Nice advise.

[@rodrigofabregas7756]

Thanks Mario for your very useful video!, I'm at about 2 years for this service but yesterday I noticed that my aux. coolant reservoir is a little below MIN., I don't have with me the MOTOREX coolant M3.0, do you think it's OK to add some PRESTONE 50/50 dex-cool ? (phosphate and silicates free).

[@lynchlynch8435]

Which of the three bolts on the left side of the engine need to be removed?

[@BeastOnStreet]

I guess same goes for sdr's ?

[@geraldscott2044]

While removing the radiator drain plug I noticed metal thread material coming out with drain plug bolt. Would not torque to 10nm. Probably stripped when assembled at ktm. 2016 ktm 1190 Adventure R. 1st coolant service! BEWARE!

[@2WR]

Likely. Use a thread sert or heli coil

[@geraldscott2044]

@@2WR used a 7mm-1.0 after 5/16" drill size. New 7mm-1.0 × 1/2 drain plug bolt with copper seal washer.

[@TYRONICAL23]

I have a smt990 which has very lil coolant left in the rad, nothing in the reservoir and the cap was grungy as, I’d like to flush it out some how before I replace the coolant any advice guys?

[@miguelarias2260]

Great video Mario. Hey, have u ever make one about changing the brake fluid or I missed it? Thanks!!

[@2WR]

I haven't but I can.

[@arnaudlepluart2663]

Hello, just a question, when do you drain the coolant which is in the overflow reservoir ? Haven't seen it in your video or in the service manual, but i feel like it would need to be changed as well ?

[@2WR]

When it drain the system it all gets drained.

[@mohammedfaridbellamine4055]

In adventure bike you hzve to pull up 50cm front wheel from ground

[@2WR]

It’s recommended but you don’t have to

[@Pmason718]

I want to change the coolant on my RC8R vs going to the dealership just to learn how to do it but when I read the service manual I feel like something is missing. The manual doesn’t mention anything about removing that screw you removed at the 2:00 mark please help.

[@2WR]

Could be a different procedure on your bike

[@MotoramaFullService]

Great !

[@Francis-mr7jx]

Thanks for a very well made video! The coolant reservoir on my sas 2019 is down, a bit below half.. I can't find any leaks. Do you think it is normal to " evaporate" some coolant? Maintenance is done i a belgian ktm garage. ( now 50.000km) Thanks!

[@2WR]

Yea. Just top it off

[@Francis-mr7jx]

@@2WR thanks, will do!

[@csiautodetail]

A lot of the screws that hold the plastics cover tank are messed up, do you know where I can buy the screw kit for that? Thanks in advanced for the reply

[@2WR]

I've had to replace a few. I've ordered them from RockyMountain ATV/MC under the OEM parts off of the micro fiche. I've seen body work screw/bolt kits for the older 950/990 models on eBay but haven't come across any for the newer gen ADV bikes.

[@csiautodetail]

@@2WR I looked on their web site but didn't know the exact kit for that, I called them and customer service didn't know how to answer the question if you have the time please send me a link with the one you bought I will really appreciate 🙏🙏

[@chucho574]

hi bro, one question do you know where the air pressure sensor is located, I have a 1190 2014

[@2WR]

Are you talking about the tire air pressure sensor?

[@chucho574]

@@2WR no, it is pressure sensor with part number 61041085100, it has already been checked with a scanner and it shows a connection failure, that sensor is giving me a general error on the dashboard, I already disassembled the motorcycle but I can't find where that sensor is located

[@rocket2811]

Hey Chris, what interval for changing the coolant!

[@2WR]

4 years

[@TheBoyers]

I hear you're supposed to get the bike nice and hot like an oil change before removing that radiator cap.

[@2WR]

Do not take mechanical advice from Boyer

[@TheBoyers]

@@2WR 😂