Weird oil leak at filter.

[scott_araujo]

I changed the oil and filter a few weeks ago.  I installed as usual: wipe off the mating surface and take a look, a little oil on the seal, spin it on hand tight plus a bit more.  A few weeks after the bike is warming up and I noticed oil dripping from the filter.  I grabbed a wrench and tighened it a bit, problem solved.  Roll on a few more weeks, I went for a 5 minute ride last night after a repair.  This morning, a few drops of oil on the ground under the filter.

Anyone seen something like this before?  I'm torn between just giving it another tweak and simply replacing the filter.  Maybe there's some grit on the seal or it got pinched.  How much oil will I lose when I take the filter off?

Thanks,
Scott

[erik822]

There are a couple possibilities I can think of (I have seen these happen on cars, not bikes, but it could be similar).
1. If you over tightened the filter or if the surface wasn't slick enough, the gasket could have twisted in the groove on the filter and might not be seated flat, so oil gets by.
2. You might have cross-threaded the filter so it seems to be seated tight, but it's not seated right.
3. Oil might be leaking from somewhere higher up and ending up running onto the filter while you're riding so the filter seems to be leaking when the leak is somewhere else.

These are guesses, obviously.

I'd take the filter off and try again. You'll probably lose a fair amount of oil.
But it's better to lose some oil now, rather than risk a toasted engine later. 

[Spidey]

How much oil will I lose when I take the filter off?

You could lose a lot.  OTOH, if you don't take off the oil filter cap and don't undo the drain plug, a surprising amount of the oil will stay in the engine.

If you're running synthetic and it's a lot of $ and you want to be a cheapskate, I'd just capture the oil in a clean pan and then stick it back in the bike once you've checked and/or replaced the filter.  If you're running dyno oil, don't be a cheapskate.  Just change the oil.  

Here's the thing:  have you ridden more than 5 mins it since the oil change?  Ridden it hard?  If you accidentally left two gaskets on the filter, under load the gaskets can give way and you can blow out all the oil in your engine.  It'll make you crash or grenade your engine or both.  Not good.  It's not pretty when it happens.

[scott_araujo]

Thanks for the responses.  Not two gaskets up there, I always check for that.  It's not cross threaded but the gasket may have folded or pinched.  That's not going to get better on it's own.  I don't think there's anywhere else for it to leak from up there unless the seam on the filter just outside the gasket is leaking. 

I have ridden several hundred miles (some hard) since I tightened it after the first leak and it was fine, but then this this just happened yesterday. 

Not too concerned about the cost, just the hassle.  Thinking more about it, I don't want the bike to grenade for the cost of an oil change so I'll just swap out the filter.  I'm going to the shop today anway so I can pick one up.  Plus, if it is the gasket then I should know when I remove it.

Thanks,
Scott

[erik822]

Once you've figured it out can you post what you found? Might be helpful in case someone else runs into the problem in the future.

[scott_araujo]

Will do.

[Langanobob]

Scott, Don't know if you're using an "official" Ducati filter but it seems like someone mentioned recently in a similar thread that Ducati has gone to a harder o-ring compound on the filter and it's been causing problems.   Ever since the oil thread on TOB I've been using the Amsoil Eao filters  (don't remember the part number) without any problems.

[Sleeper_I]

You can turn your bike upside down as you take the filter off and save.....

Sorry I had to 

I'm no help

[Mash]

I've seen this post several times here.  And I have personal experience.  You really gotta tighten up the oil filter a lot more than 'hand tight and a little more.'  Even though I've used that rule for everything else I've EVER worked on, it just didn't work with my s2r1k.  I had to use the wrench to tighten the filter until it didn't leak. 

[Ddan]

I've seen this post several times here.  And I have personal experience.  You really gotta tighten up the oil filter a lot more than 'hand tight and a little more.'  Even though I've used that rule for everything else I've EVER worked on, it just didn't work with my s2r1k.  I had to use the wrench to tighten the filter until it didn't leak. 

+1  I just replaced a pair of filters that I never got to completely stop leaking.  Both gaskets were fine when I took them off, so that wasn't it.  Try tightening it while the motor's hot.

[Bones]

I'm having the same issue after my 1st oil change on my (new to me) '02 620.
doesn't drip as much as OP's bike, but maybe a drop or two on bottom of filter after a longish ride.  I'm using a K&N filter and I thought something was wrong with me because I've NEVER had that happen to me on any of my cars or past bikes.  I was afraid to tighten it more, but I guess I'll give it a try.

[scott_araujo]

I am using an official Ducati filter, so the harder o-ring compound may be the culprit.  And yes, apparently Ducati likes to have the filters on really tight, not just hand tight plus a quarter turn like I usually do even though that has worked fine for the last two years.  With that in mind, I think I'll pick up a filter to have a backup but try tightening the exising one up a bit more and carry my wrench with me for a while.

I usually stick with the OEM filter because one of the big variables in filters is the bypass spring pressure, often higher on motorcycles than other vehicles.  So a lot of aftermarket filters that 'fit' are actually car filters and have a lower bypass pressure, but that matters less than losing all my oil past the seal so maybe I'll look up the Amsoil number.

Oh, and a drop or two at the end of the ride could mean many drops were passed along the way.

Scott

[scott_araujo]

I stopped by MotoCorsa and picked up a filter.  I also spoke to the techs.  Yes, the gasket is now made out of harder material, you really have to crank the filter down, and never put it in dry, always oil the gasket.  It's not uncommon to leak a bit after initial install.  So I'm going to give it another crank and see how it goes.

I tried to find a wrench on the way home that fits the filter so I could actually torque it but couldn't find the right size.

Scott

[Langanobob]

So a lot of aftermarket filters that 'fit' are actually car filters and have a lower bypass pressure, but that matters less than losing all my oil past the seal so maybe I'll look up the Amsoil number.

I don't think there are any worries with the Amsoil Eao filters.  They were thoroughly tested and 'approved' by georgecls and I trust his opinion on them.  The only downside I know of is that they were only available in chrome awhile back but that may have been changed by now.  I'm not an Amsoil fan and I think there is too much hype in their marketing but I have to give credit where it's due and I think the Eao series oil filters are good.

And yes, I agree about being careful with non OEM oil filter selection, for example Fram - never will be found on my bikes.

[scott_araujo]

Chrome?  On a Dark Monster?  C'mon!  I only wash it once a year!  Do I look like I want CHROME?!?

That sounds cool.  What's the price roughly?  And can you get the two crush washers too?

The local auto parts store told me to stay way from Fram too, they recommend WIX.  Had some cut open and you can see how much better it is made.

Scott