KTM 690 SM oil consumption-low oil level + high revs on idle

dodoKTM · Nov 14, 2009

Hi Guys,
Please help if you have a clue what is going on.

I am happy owner of 690 sm with 6000 miles on the clock ... well ... for a week now but I just found that I have not enough oil (hot engine after 10 min) when I look trough the glass. I have to lean bike about 30 degrees to spot something.

1. Where the oil dissapeared (bike is due to service, I just can not believe that the oil consumption is so high) ?

2. Could it harm the engine? Everything looks and sounds ok, so I am just thinking about some microscopical signs of wear somewhere in the engine which could cause engine damage later on. There is no warning light on the dashboard saying low oil at all

.

3. The Bike after starting somethimes is idling between 3000 - 4000 and revs are not going down, After restarting engine several times it goes then to normal idling at low rews. Happend to me twice. Any idea?

Thank you for any answers

restitution · Nov 14, 2009

dodoKTM said:
1. Where the oil dissapeared (bike is due to service, I just can not believe that the oil consumption is so high) ?

Common mistake - reading the oil level incorrectly. Refer to manual and check correctly. These bikes drink next to no oil between services. People often look in the sight glass - panic at the apparent lack of oil and then overfill the engine with oil, causing even more problems.

dodoKTM said:
2. Could it harm the engine? Everything looks and sounds ok, so I am just thinking about some microscopical signs of wear somewhere in the engine which could cause engine damage later on. There is no warning light on the dashboard saying low oil at all.

The volume of oil required to make it appear (by looking at the sight glass) that the bike has lost/burned/dumped its oil is not that great - so the chances are that you will not have caused major damage.

dodoKTM said:
3. The Bike after starting somethimes is idling between 3000 - 4000 and revs are not going down, After restarting engine several times it goes then to normal idling at low rews. Happend to me twice. Any idea?

Common error - usually down to poor servicing and the earlier mapping - easily cured (a download) by the dealer at the next service.

Twizz · Nov 16, 2009

My 690 sm uses 50ml of oil per 100 miles.
The upper and lower limit on the Site Glass equate to 300ml.
So keep an eye on it.

Some owners report nearly no oil usage and others about 50ml per 100 miles, the same as me.

restitution · Nov 16, 2009

Interesting comments on oil consumption - can't say I've ever seen this reported before. Personally - my 690 SMC seems to require zero top ups between scheduled services.

Are you claiming that 1.5 litres of oil consumption between scheduled services (3,000 miles) is 'normal' and acceptable?

dodoKTM · Nov 16, 2009

Hi,

Thank you for both answers.

I bought an oil today and going to top up. Will see how much is missing...

Can you see any oil in the glass in upright position when engine is cold? I suppose there should be something visible at least on the minumum level...

fleabitten · Nov 16, 2009

Check the oil when the motor is cold. I flog the guts out of mine & don't burn any oil:smokin:

Twizz · Nov 17, 2009

Too bloody right, I am unhappy it burns 50ml per 100 miles, but it does it. I don't get any black smoke and there are no leaks. It just disappears.

lexinoo and atom7ktm of this site reported similiar problems.

The handbook has a comment in the troubleshooting section, that high oil consumption can be due to a kink in the engine vent hose. I haven't fully investigated that yet.

It is an 07 SM with 5K miles by the way, so it may be something that was corrected in later models.
Or maybe my dealer is putting the incorrect oil in. I wouldn't be able to tell.
While I am on a rant, the clocks have condesation but my dealer is not being helpful about replacing the unit, so a letter to KTM needs to be written.

Still a damn fine bike though.

restitution · Nov 17, 2009

Twizz said:
While I am on a rant, the clocks have condesation but my dealer is not being helpful about replacing the unit, so a letter to KTM needs to be written.

Believe that the record to date on here - is a claim 4 sets of clocks on one bike! They are quite simply not fit for purpose - they cannot handle a slight downpour of rain and a chilly day in the UK. Possibly the cheapest and nastiest component on a KTM bike.

If you don't get them changed under warranty or goodwill - the legibility just gets worse and worse until you cannot read your speedometer and odometer - then you may develop problems with the ignition ......... and replacement costs are truly eyewatering ..........

Replacement clocks come with the odometer reset to whatever reading (if legible) is on the old odometer.

Dealer takes about 20 minutes to change the unit over.

dodoKTM · Nov 17, 2009

I just toped up oil to see it in the bottom quater of the glass.... 350 ml was missing !!!

I was riding bike after for 10 minutes and checked oil 5 min and 10 min after, but is was showing almost the same as when the engine was cold.
I am little bit worried that it could harm engine if over 300 ml was under bottom limit... finger cross

660smc · Nov 17, 2009

time will tell.... you MUST check your oil level regularly.. infact i got into the habit of checking it before i started the bike, everytime..

VxJon · Nov 18, 2009

My bike is going back to dealers for another set of clocks this weekend ( hopefully ) Had a set fitted last week but they came with 2k extra and overreading by 100mph or so

Will be the 4th set Iirc

dropping the bike off sat morning then off to snetterton for a trackday on Sunday and won't be able to pick the bike up till the sat after. Just hoping it's finally sorted as this will be the fourth warrenty repair in as many months.

KTM 690 SM oil consumption-low oil level + high revs on idle

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