Engine operating temperature - normal or not?

[metroplex]

I saw that my 696 got up to 4 bars, and my data analyer showed the peak temperature to be 306F. Is this normal? I realize it is an air cooled engine, but I just want to confirm that it is running at over 300 degrees!

[corey]

Don't know how the temp gauge stuff works on the 696, but 300°F is definitely running WAY hot.

I suspect this may end up in the Tech section.

[metroplex]

The temperature bar graph seems to correspond with the value in the data analyzer. It peaked at 152C, and the owner's manual shows that 4 bars = 136C-160C

[Veloce-Fino]

In cold weather (< 50F) I'm always on 2 bars. Anything above 50F combined with spirited riding and I'm usually at 3 bars. If it's an 80F > day I'll peak into 4 bars sitting at a light or cruising in traffic.

Read the manual. 4 bars is fine, I believe 5 or 6 is danger zone.

[ducatiz]

How new is the bike?

When my S2R was new, it was staying around 300 during the summer.  Now it rarely gets over 260-270.

[Veloce-Fino]

Pages 23-25 in manual.

-1 Bar - if the temperature is between -40 °C and +80 °C, the display shows “STATUS 2”;
-2 Bar - if the temperature is between +81 °C and +110 °C, the display shows “STATUS 3”;
-3 Bar - if the temperature is between +111 °C and +135 °C, the display shows “STATUS 4”;
-4 Bar - if the temperature is between +136 °C and +160 °C, the display shows “STATUS 5”;
-5 Bar -  if the temperature is between +161 °C and +175 °C, the display shows “STATUS 6”;
-6 Bar -  if the temperature is between +176 °C and +190 °C, the display shows “STATUS 7”;
-7 Bar -  if the temperature is between +191 °C and +200 °C, the display shows “STATUS 8”;
-8 Bar -  if the temperature is ≥ 201 °C the display shows “STATUS 9” with the series of dashes flashing;

I'd start to worry at 6 or 7 bars.

[metroplex]

I bought it new, and it only has about 34 miles. Yesterday was about 80F ambient, so it looks like 4 bars is OK. That is pretty taxing on the engine oil. Makes me wonder if Rotella T6 5W-40 synthetic would be up for the job (it still has the factory fill right now).

[Veloce-Fino]

I use off the shelf Mobil 1 MX4T 10-40.

The max temp you can be in the 4 bar range is 320F and the low end is 276F. 10-40 Seems to work well enough.

[ducatiz]

I bought it new, and it only has about 34 miles. Yesterday was about 80F ambient, so it looks like 4 bars is OK. That is pretty taxing on the engine oil. Makes me wonder if Rotella T6 5W-40 synthetic would be up for the job (it still has the factory fill right now).

I would not even worry about it until you have finished the break-in period.  Read your manual?

Tolerances are closer which means less shedding and more friction.  It's nothing. 

[sgollapalle]

I just bought a 696 a couple of months ago. I think its pretty normal to get to 4 bars in slow speed (under 50 mph) rides. Essentially you will only be in 3rd/ 4th gear max, and the stop and go adds to it. If I'm on the highway, it gets to 3 bars.. Like the others said, I wouldn't worry until it gets to 6 bars or over.

Have 500 miles now. Hope it starts to run cooler, coz my legs and crotch are burning 

[ducatiz]

Hot crotch is a normal effect on a Ducati

[696DCRider]

I regularly go into 5 bars riding around town in stop and go traffic.  I was a little worried when I first got my bike too.  Now I know it's fine.  My buddy's 1100 stays a bar cooler than mine though.  Now the main thing that bothers me is the blow torch effect under my leg.  Hopefully, I will be reducing that my ceramic coating my pipes when I get the chance.

[Howie]

The temperature sensor is in the cylinder casting, so you are reading a combination of cylinder temperature and oil temperature.  As  sgollapalle said, worry at 6 bars.  Even then just worry.  Panic at 8!

[ChrisH]

During break in on my 696 last year in the summer heat I saw 6 bars a couple of times, but it hasn't gotten that high since break in. The hottest I have seen it since was 5 bars, and that was last week after I had ridden 60 miles of very curvy roads with lots of on and off the throttle sections, and it only ot to 5 when i got stick at a light, immediately went to 4 once cruising again. don't worry about it, or consider an oil cooler if it bothers you.

[Kev M]

We're 400 miles or so into the break-in on a new M696 and are seeing 4 bars pretty regularly.