Oil and Filter

[mysticbluex3]

Where do you guys get your oil and filter?  I'm thinking about buying in bulk to save some money.  Right now, I'm just getting it at the dealership.

Filter = $17
1 quart of Spectro or BMW oil = $12 X 2.5 quarts = $31

That means each oil change is roughly $50

[ducatiz]

Check out the oil filter review in my sig below.

I have been using HiFlo filters now for a while.  You can get them in bulk for around $7 each.  I use Mobil1 4T from Advance for $10/qt. 

How do you get away with 2.5qt?

[HotIce]

I did mine. K&N + Mobil 1 Racing 4T (4qt). IIRC it was about $55 total.

[George S]

I first used Ducati oil filters, then K&N with the nifty nut welded to the bottom - seems like a good idea. When the oil filters (and nifty nut) are painted though, it can make it difficult to get a socket on that nut. So now I'm using Hiflo and I have no complaints.
As for oil, there is a LOOOOOONG thread somewhere in the Tech discussion board related to different types of oils and how they suit us for use in our motorcycles. The one guy involved in the discussion is some sort of engineer and certainly sounded like he knew what he was talking about. Read the discussion - it is VERY interesting. I will say this: after reading the discussion, I currently use Castrol GTX 10W40.... plain ol' motor oil. And my S4R runs great


Cheers!

[mysticbluex3]

How do you get away with 2.5qt?

I don't know.  2.5qt is all I need to top her off.  Its a M696 if that matters at all.

[ducatiz]

I don't know.  2.5qt is all I need to top her off.  Its a M696 if that matters at all.

manual says 3.1L which is about 3.25 qt so I guess it's close enough.  It just means about .75qt is in the engine.  The cooler doesn't hold near that, maybe 0.2-0.3qt so I wonder where it is staying...

[mysticbluex3]

Would the Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W40 work for 120F weather?  Here is arizona, it gets that hot.  Most oil weight chart I find only show it going up to 100F+

I'm currently running 15W50

[mysticbluex3]

manual says 3.1L which is about 3.25 qt so I guess it's close enough.  It just means about .75qt is in the engine.  The cooler doesn't hold near that, maybe 0.2-0.3qt so I wonder where it is staying...

I unscrew the oil drain plug, the metal mesh filter on the side and the oil filter and let it all drain for about 10 minutes.  I don't know if there is anything else I can open up and drain.  And yes, the bike is on front and rear stands.

[ducatiz]

I unscrew the oil drain plug, the metal mesh filter on the side and the oil filter and let it all drain for about 10 minutes.  I don't know if there is anything else I can open up and drain.  And yes, the bike is on front and rear stands.

no idea.  i let mine drain overnight usually and i do it on a rear stand only, which tilts the sump forward.  i doubt that helps much, but it seems to make it come out faster.  i have to assume that near-half-quart is trapped in the case passages or heads, but that seems like a LOT

[He Man]

cycle the engine by hand.

[ducatiz]

cycle the engine by hand.

The oil moves by being pushed by the pump.  If there is no oil, then there is nothing to push it out.  You might free up some in the crank galleys and heads by the rotation, but any that is in the case galleys will still sit there.

[booger]

I unscrew the oil drain plug, the metal mesh filter on the side and the oil filter and let it all drain for about 10 minutes.  I don't know if there is anything else I can open up and drain.  And yes, the bike is on front and rear stands.

That's a good way to get it all out. Seems to drain best when the bike is level and the sump screen has been removed. Maybe undo the filler cap as well. Letting it drain for a few hours may help too. Only other thing I can think of would be remove the oil cooler and drain that but that's going way too far and those fittings are delicate.

[Roaduser]

wow.. once again how us aussies get ripped off... the mobil 4t at $25 qt! used to be able to get down to near $22 if u shop around but unfortunately mobil has sold all its stations to 7/11 now and mobil are pulling out of Australia!! so its getting hard to get any oil from them now. so $25 a qt it was for my latest change!!

[ducatiz]

wow.. once again how us aussies get ripped off... the mobil 4t at $25 qt! used to be able to get down to near $22 if u shop around but unfortunately mobil has sold all its stations to 7/11 now and mobil are pulling out of Australia!! so its getting hard to get any oil from them now. so $25 a qt it was for my latest change!!

Mobil1 isn't the holy grail, any 4T full synth is good.  You have brands they don't even offer in the USA. 

[Thermite]

When I do my oil change I automatically add the recommend amount of oil.  The sight glass is fully submerged.  After the bike is run and back on level ground the oil level is at or maybe just a hair above the high mark in the sight glass.  You shouldn't be watching the glass at all while you're filling it.