Break in oil?

[Christian]

If one were to purchase a used bike that had less than 100 miles on it and was considered "not broken in" but is a few years old and has therefore sat for a little while - what would you guys recommend for a break in oil?

Obviously the smart thing to do is to drain the old oil and swap the filter as the oil has been sitting collecting moisture.

A full synthetic is generally thought to be avoided for break ins. What's the factory fill on the Ducatis up to the break in procedure?

Motor is a 999 motor, if that has any impact on the answer.

[booger]

Well I know Mercedes at least ships their cars with full synthetic from the factory. I think the assertion that one shouldn't use syn in a new engine is a fallacy. However I would change the oil out cold with an inexpensive dino oil first without changing the filter and run it for a few miles, then do a full synthetic oil & filter change hot after that & declare victory. Don't forget the belts & hydraulics.

[Christian]

I know there are two schools of thought on the "no synth on break in" thing.

The bike is an '08, I'm thinking the belts and hydraulics should be fine, no?

I'll probably swap the filter when I drain the factory fill just because the filters are cheap. I'm wondering if the factory uses a different weigh for break in oil also.

[♣ McKraut ♣]

i thought the most you would want to go on belts was a couple years, even if you haven't reached the mileage requirement to replace them?

[Christian]

Hmm. Good point. Probably better to replace the belts. Rather be safe than sorry.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Definitely replace the belts.

My thoughts on oils would be just moto-specific oil.

[booger]

I know there are two schools of thought on the "no synth on break in" thing.

The bike is an '08, I'm thinking the belts and hydraulics should be fine, no?

I'll probably swap the filter when I drain the factory fill just because the filters are cheap. I'm wondering if the factory uses a different weigh for break in oil also.

You're probably better off using the $20 or so that you would spend on replacing a filter that has less than 100 miles of use on some inexpensive cleanout oil, then change the cleanout oil hot with some good moto oil and then change the filter. I happen to think that the Ducati filters aren't cheap. You want to change that cleanout oil hot and allow it to drain for a good long time to make sure you get all you can out of the engine, and don't drain it with the bike on the sidestand or a rearstand(find a way to hold it upright and level), and also pull the screen as well. Helps with getting it all out. Is this your 999? You're a bike-buying mofo! And definitely change those belts, cheap insurance I say. Their integrity decreases with time as well as mileage.

[Christian]

That's good advice. I hadn't though of using clean out oil.

I don't know that I'd call Ducati filters "cheap", but the $20 or so dollars is cheap insurance with the bike in such its infancy, IMO.

So it looks like my plan is:

Replace belts.
Drain current oil cold and clean screen. Replace filter (optional)
Add clean out oil.
Run bike up to temp.
Drain clean out oil while hot and clean screen again. Replace filter.
Fill with dino (still need to decide what to fill with here)
Break in bike.
Drain and fill with normal oil and go about my life.


Sound about right?



Also: this is my bike, yeah. It's an S4RS I just picked up. I'm going to post some threads soon, but re: bike buying mofo, just wait and see.

[booger]

I'd probably break the bike in with at least some semi-syn. But I'm kinda anal about things, just wouldn't want to run the bike with pure dino for very long. I think your plan looks good.

Why did you buy an S2R800 then? Those are great bikes but if I had that and an S4RS I'd have to let the 800 go. And you just bought my S2R800 Termis!Did you get some kind of awesome deal on the RS? You're a wild man.

[Christian]

Yeah. Although the break in oil is still in question. What brand/weight?


Short version: I had an agreement to buy the S2R. Saw an amazing deal on an S4RS, bought that instead. I'm going to have to figure out what to do with the termis.

[Howie]

Your bike came out of the factory with synthetic oil, break in oil is a thing of the past.  Run the dino first if you like,

[Christian]

Thanks howie. I'll just toss what I'd normally use in the thing and break it in.

[lwszabo]

what bike did you get, I think you were getting a member here's bike right?

[lwszabo]

also I believe Ducati ships them with full syn.

[duc_fan]

When deciding what to use for break-in, I highly recommend reading the oil thread with George, which can be found HERE.  (It's also stickied at the top of the Tech board)

After reading that, I changed my mind on break-in.  I used to think break-in with dino oil was good, but now, I will perform future engine break-ins with synthetic.

Just my $0.02...