oil leak

[jsriley]

Hey guys,

About 5-6 weeks ago my 696 had a big oil leak. I got it to the shop and they said it was a faulty oil filter. That seemed a little BS. I know that the 696 is an air cooled bike so it will run hot, but I seems like the bike runs hotter then it should. Prior to the first oil leak the oil temp went up to 5 bars and the air temp read ---. I took the bike out last night for a long ride, mainly highway, and when I got on the side streets it started to feel really hot again. The temp outside was around 60F. When I washed it today I saw about 3 beads of oil about to drop and the oil filter looked like it had streaks of oil on it from when i was riding.

I'm wondering if this is normal at all, because with all the problems i'v had if this oil leak is a defect i'm going to demand a new bike. I got the bike mid June and it has been to the shop half a dozen times already.

Any insight?

Thanks

[jsriley]

By the way here are the pics.


IMG_0226 by riley3245, on Flickr


IMG_0223 by riley3245, on Flickr


IMG_0224 by riley3245, on Flickr

[Slide Panda]

Looks like your filter could stand another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.  Probably as simple as that.

[Howie]

in traffic your temperatures are normal, the leak is not.  Try Sad Panda's advice first.  If that doesn't work, back to the shop.  If your dealer can't find an oil lesak you need a different dealer, not a new bike.

[elgallo73]

Looks like your filter could stand another 1/4 to 1/2 turn.  Probably as simple as that.

+1

Finally fed up with having to super-tighten my Ducati filters, I dumped OEM and went aftermarket, no problems since.  From my reading in the forums, this seems to be a common issue with the Ducati OEM filter, I've experienced it personally on my 696.

I've used the K&N 153 with zero leakage, even hand tightened it held a seal.  Napa Gold 1352 works as well.  If you are really nuts about having choices, purchase an adapter ($8.95) to modify the spigot thread from 16mmX1.5 to 3/4-16 TPI, then you will have over 30 filters to choose from...

[jsriley]

Thanks guys. I'll tighten it and if that fails take it to another shop.

[elgallo73]

Oh, and on the temperature thing...

If it helps, my typical cylinder head temperature is 4 bars after warm up, particularly freeway...  In traffic I will see 5 bars on occasion.  Never seen 6 and never hope to.  Mind you, these were my temps during the recent heat wave in North Texas and I rode EVERY day, so unless you are seeing 5 bars during normal freeway riding, I don't think you have too much to worry about.  If you are concerned, you could always add an oil cooler.

As for this:

air temp read ---

I've seen this a couple of times, usually after stopping my bike.  I believe the sensor has a min/max rating and the heat coming off the engine raises the temperature enough (the sensor is located in the intake) as to give an error or "unreadable" level.  Unless you are seeing this during normal operation, I would not concern myself too much with it.