So I did a track day a couple weeks ago. Halfway through the day I noticed something shiny on my oil cooler. Turned out to be oil. It wasn't enough to drip. It was just a little bit but was present on each "level" of the cooler. It was pooling where the lower half of each "level" overlaps the upper half. It did not appear to have dripped down from the top but rather like it was oozing out of those seams. I wiped it off at that point and by the end of the day there was a little bit more but not too much. I had not ever noticed it before or since (just ran out and looked once more). I had just put in fresh synthetic oil. Also, it was about 100 degrees that day so I imagine it was getting pretty thin. Has anyone else noticed this? Also, does anyone know of a quality aftermarket oil cooler that bolts right up with better cooling ability? My bike is pushing 290 degrees on these lovely Arizona summer days.
From your description, I would just keep an eye on that area and maybe put a wrench on the fittings, but do not overtighten. Old proverb: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Good point - fittings are tight and dry. With a flashlight I can see oil accumulating down in the seams again. All in all its not a big deal at this point. I am mostly wondering whether it is (a) just one of those things that a lot of people observe and is probably never going to turn into anything more than a nuisance or (b) a defective cooler that is beginning to fail and is going to oil down the track. Anyone else experiencing this?
I've never seen one weep from the seams.
I have never seen one leak from the seams either. If the cooler is weeping from the seems it needs repair/replacement. I believe ryanracer on this board put a kit together with a larger cooler for your bike. This might be it, I'm not sure:
http://www.motowheels.com/italian/mySearchResult.cfm?parentcategoryid=&productID=2770&showDetail=1&categoryID=1077 (http://www.motowheels.com/italian/mySearchResult.cfm?parentcategoryid=&productID=2770&showDetail=1&categoryID=1077)|Monster%20Engine%20Cooling&vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=ducati%20oil%20cooler&collection=
clean the area very well... (soak it with degreaserm then wash it off by hand) and start the bike up, rev it, let it idle, and pour some footpowder around the area. youll see the oil begin to soak around a certain area and youll know for sure if its the cooler or the lines.
I had a small film of oil on my cooler, it ended up being the oil cooler line. i cleaned it up and retorqued it no issues since. when removing that hose, use TWO wrenches so you dont split your radiator.