Oil consumption??

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My "R" has not used a drop of oil since new. It has had 2 oil changes already at 2700 miles and going in for its 3rd oil change in another 300 miles. Since the first oil change we have been using the 15/50 full synthetic.
 
leftcoast32 said:
My "R" has not used a drop of oil since new. It has had 2 oil changes already at 2700 miles and going in for its 3rd oil change in another 300 miles. Since the first oil change we have been using the 15/50 full synthetic.
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I build Superchargers and Components for the GM LS engine series. This is a video of our LSX390 CI Engine that we use for testing. It was broken in on a Water Brake Engine Dyno. I am a firm believer in breaking them in the way they will be driven. It has made over 70 full pulls on the dyno so far all at or over 1000 HP. It doesn't burn or drip a drop of fluid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lYcQWrEUvA
 
Using oil is not a cause for concern - if however the rate of consumption suddenly were to increase (with riding style/tach usage remaining the same) then you might need some attention - otherwise a good oil rule of thumb might be: if it's from a dinosaur you'll be fine - synthetic "even better" :)
 
Sloopy said:
If I remember right I believe Ducati changed the ring design somewhere in 2013 model year. However I would be more concerned if it wasn't using oil. I know its not how we think but all engines should use some oil or lubrication is being sacrificed. As long as it is not too much all is good.

Mine is a 2013 try with about 2400 miles. Service done at about 800 and site window was full when I picked it up. Now showing about 1/2 in the window. It sounds like you run yours a lot like I run mine. I cruse in the 4K range but live in the mountains and once in the turns I am between 5 and 10K.
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That's right.
They did indeed change the piston ring design at the end of, or near the end of the 2012 model run.
I think all 2013 models have the updated rings


As an update.
I have always used, and continue to use a 20w-50 grade full synthetic oil in my bike since the first service.
After the break-in period, my bike consumed about 200 ml of oil in 6000 kms.

After I switched the EBC to "off", the oil consumption has increased to some where between 600 ml - 800 ml/6000 kms.

I mostly put it down to 2 main factors which are worth while considering.

Firstly, the throttle plate is being closed more rapidly now that I'm riding with EBC switched "off", than it was with the EBC previously set at "level 3".
This has the side effect of increasing the duration and severity of negative cylinder pressure when in a closed/closing throttle condition.

Secondly, I am also riding the bike more aggressively.
This is due to the new found smoothness in the bike, by using my preferred latest engine and EBC settings in combination with the latest update.

Cheers:)
 
Does this mean after the 2013 piston ring update, there are less reports of oil consumption? I'm in the market for the R and I want to be fully informed. I plan on riding on the street, so no track. How do I avoid burning oil after the first service?
 
There's nothing wrong with burning some oil.

Actually all engines will burn some oil.
It's just that in some cases it's extremely hard to detect.
The universal maximum tolerance set by manufacturers is 1 litre/1000 kms.

Good luck:)
 
kickarsmann said:
Does this mean after the 2013 piston ring update, there are less reports of oil consumption? I'm in the market for the R and I want to be fully informed. I plan on riding on the street, so no track. How do I avoid burning oil after the first service?
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-- if you use the tach liberally (you should) you might burn some up - ebc off might suck some into the combustion chamber too - just watch your oil level in the window....you'll be fine - i never needed to change the oil in my sedici, as it was in a constant state of flush, adding oil after each ride :D

-- consider yourself informed, go get that R :)
 
Checking in here @ 3200mi. I seem to run the bike a lot harder now than I did even 500mi ago (good weather and new tires!), and for the first time in 1000mi I've had to top off the oil from the min line to the max line. After last weekend's 250mi ride I see a little less oil in the glass so I'm expecting to do this again in another 1000mi or so. Nothing strange going on, bike runs solid. Very liberal tach usage :)
 
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Just an update on the current state of play, regarding the actual oil consumption of my bike.

The current oil change interval is approximately 6000 kms.
The EBC has remained switched off for full the duration of this current oil change interval.
The bike has been ridden aggressively wherever possible.
Oil level has been maintained at the bottom line on the sight glass.

Total consumption for this period is slightly < 600 ml.

It's at the bottom end of my previous estimate.
It's all good:)
 
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How much oil is it from the lower to the upper mark on the sight glass...?

Thanks :)
 
SirRichi said:
How much oil is it from the lower to the upper mark on the sight glass...?

Thanks :)
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Something like 100-200ml?

FWIW, this is my top-off frequency so far:
600mi (oil change)
750mi (WTF!, oh yeah I ran the .... out of the engine then!)
2171mi (oil change)
2970mi
3598mi

I track everything in Excel so I remember when I had to bleed the clutch, change/top off the oil, lube the chain, replace tires, etc.
 
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SirRichi said:
How much oil is it from the lower to the upper mark on the sight glass...?

Thanks :)
Click to expand...


It's only about 150 ml from bottom to top.
Hardly anything to worry about really in the grand scheme of things, but the bottom is just where I chose to run it in order to help control oil consumption.

For the next 6000 kms I will be running the oil level at the top line to see if it makes much difference.
 
Having only done about 1200 miles on the SL, I seem to be using about .1 of a litre every 100 miles so far. To me this seems quite a high usage tbh. At 1 point at 560 miles I used nearly .9 of a litre. So based on the info already supplied should I be concerned by the SL's oil consumption or not?

Since its oil change at 730 miles I have only used .3 of a litre. So just wondering what the concensus is. Top up with Shell T4 Ultra 10-40w as suggested by the Manual. The Panigale is the 1st bike I have had to buy oil for. 1098R/ MTS and Monster's hardly ever used a drop.
 
Samieb said:
Having only done about 1200 miles on the SL, I seem to be using about .1 of a litre every 100 miles so far. To me this seems quite a high usage tbh. At 1 point at 560 miles I used nearly .9 of a litre. So based on the info already supplied should I be concerned by the SL's oil consumption or not?

Since its oil change at 730 miles I have only used .3 of a litre. So just wondering what the concensus is. Top up with Shell T4 Ultra 10-40w as suggested by the Manual. The Panigale is the 1st bike I have had to buy oil for. 1098R/ MTS and Monster's hardly ever used a drop.
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How did you break in the motor??? By the book??...and how are you riding it now???
 
Tried to follow the book guidelines and stuck to 6500 and made sure that I didn't labour the motor in urban conditions. Tried to keep the revs 3/4/5K rev's in town/urban riding. When on the open road went to 6500/7K on the revs after about 3/400 miles. After the service @ 730, I have started to open up further. Again on the open road riding in 3rd/4th gear using between 6-8K on the rev's normally. Whilst making sure that I never labour the motor when in urban areas. I have touched 10K on a few occasions 2 or 3 times when seeing what she might have in the tank.

Try to remember it's a race engine and not a road engine, especially with its internals.

Why what are your thoughts STW?
 
Samieb said:
Tried to follow the book guidelines and stuck to 6500 and made sure that I didn't labour the motor in urban conditions. Tried to keep the revs 3/4/5K rev's in town/urban riding. When on the open road went to 6500/7K on the revs after about 3/400 miles. After the service @ 730, I have started to open up further. Again on the open road riding in 3rd/4th gear using between 6-8K on the rev's normally. Whilst making sure that I never labour the motor when in urban areas. I have touched 10K on a few occasions 2 or 3 times when seeing what she might have in the tank.

Try to remember it's a race engine and not a road engine, especially with its internals.

Why what are your thoughts STW?
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Without getting into the whole break in BS I am a believer in the hard break in procedure.... also.. in my previous bike (1199) I found changing to Motorex Full Syn T stopped any oil usage immediately... Never understood why but it did..... in my current bike I use the same oil and zero oil consumption.... go figure (also hard break in fyi)
 
Ok thanks. just lets say this way I wasn't soft with it, just enjoyed it within reason without abusing it.

Admittedly in about 550 miles from the service I have only had to add just over .3 of a litre where by in the 560 miles before the service I used about .9 of a litre. So hopefully it'll improve as I get some more miles on it. I also have a 1098R and don't remember having to add any oil at all. So just a bit puzzled by it and the SL's usage tbh.
 
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the sedici motor (like most ducs) used almost a case of oil in just topping off over 23,000 miles -- if you use the tach, some oil will get away -- no big deal -- just think of the Smile Factor you have as the tach paws for 11 & 12k.....and those shift lights !! :)
 

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