Oil leak 2014 1199R this time is the front cylinder

kickarsmann · Jul 9, 2015

Few weeks ago I discovered a oil leak on the rear cylinder head, I took it in and had warranty work done to it. I thought it was leaking again when I noticed a pool of oil around the same area. I took it in and my dealer confirmed that it was just some residual oil from the plastic covers. Either way, they put some dye in the oil just in case it ever leaks again... I asked about if anyone experienced the front cylinders were leaking and they never seen it. Low and behold... I jynx'd myself, I took the bike to Maine and did over 1000 miles on July 4th weekend, I saw that underneath the lower radiator guard had oil and sand binded together. At the time I thought that I over lubed my chain... I took off the left panels off and saw even more oil and sand underneath. It was no where near the drive sprocket where chain lube could of leaked. I snapped a few pics and called my dealer and they took me in.

Has anyone else discovered oil leaks from the front and rear? Once you had the gasket replaced, has it leaked since?

Phl · Jul 9, 2015

LJuice had the center bolt in the valve cover coming out (the one next to the spark plug).
you can access that one through a small cover between the radiators.

BTrain5489 · Jul 9, 2015

kickarsmann said:
Few weeks ago I discovered a oil leak on the rear cylinder head, I took it in and had warranty work done to it. I thought it was leaking again when I noticed a pool of oil around the same area. I took it in and my dealer confirmed that it was just some residual oil from the plastic covers. Either way, they put some dye in the oil just in case it ever leaks again... I asked about if anyone experienced the front cylinders were leaking and they never seen it. Low and behold... I jynx'd myself, I took the bike to Maine and did over 1000 miles on July 4th weekend, I saw that underneath the lower radiator guard had oil and sand binded together. At the time I thought that I over lubed my chain... I took off the left panels off and saw even more oil and sand underneath. It was no where near the drive sprocket where chain lube could of leaked. I snapped a few pics and called my dealer and they took me in.

Has anyone else discovered oil leaks from the front and rear? Once you had the gasket replaced, has it leaked since?

My vertical and horizontal cylinder valve covers leaked. Haven't since warranty fixed them both. Not nearly as bad as yours though.

kickarsmann · Jul 9, 2015

@BTrain

How many miles do you have on your 14 S? When did you notice the leak? I first noticed oil leak on the rear around 7500 mile mark, and noticed the front leak around 8900 miles.

bp7178 · Jul 9, 2015

Being that you have the radiator guard installed, I'm guessing its the lower valve cover bolts. Its a goofy design by which the radiator guard bolts thread into the valve cover bolts. When removing the bolts, its possible to loosen the valve cover bolts. In your last pic, this appears to be right from where the leak is coming from.

You should be able to get an open end/box end wrench on the valve cover bolts after removing the side fairings.

kickarsmann · Jul 9, 2015

@ bp

Are you sure? I got the Evotech guards and the bolts weren't very long they mount between upper and lower. I'll double check when I get the bike back, but I'm 99% sure the bolts don't reach to the valve covers.

jogy · Jul 9, 2015

kickarsmann said:
@ bp

Are you sure? I got the Evotech guards and the bolts weren't very long they mount between upper and lower. I'll double check when I get the bike back, but I'm 99% sure the bolts don't reach to the valve covers.

They do, see attachment.

kickarsmann · Jul 9, 2015

Thanks Jogy,
Evotech guards don't utilize those bolts. Here is a pic.

BTrain5489 · Jul 9, 2015

kickarsmann said:
@BTrain

How many miles do you have on your 14 S? When did you notice the leak? I first noticed oil leak on the rear around 7500 mile mark, and noticed the front leak around 8900 miles.

The horizontal one was early for me the first time. Around 1k miles I noticed oil on the inside of the lower fairings and on the radiator and my dealer tightened down the bolts on the horizontal valve cover. Around 4.5k miles I noticed oil pooling at the base of the vertical cylinder and the dealer replaced the gasket on the vertical cylinder. A few hundred miles later I noticed oil in the places in your pictures.

I was told that Ducati didn't use thread locker on the valve cover bolts until the Superleggera and that valve cover bolts backing their way out is a common Superquadro issue.

jogy · Jul 9, 2015

kickarsmann said:
Thanks Jogy,
Evotech guards don't utilize those bolts. Here is a pic.

Bolt No 5 on the parts catalogue is one of the two bolts holding the lower guard on your pic, those are screwed into the lower valve cover bolts.

bp7178 · Jul 9, 2015

kickarsmann said:
Thanks Jogy,
Evotech guards don't utilize those bolts. Here is a pic.

Yes they do. Don't fight it buddy. Just go with it. The lower bolts you circled thread INTO the bolts holding the valve cover on.

There are quite a few threads on it between this site at the 899 forums.

The proper way to do it is to hold the valve cover bolts in position with a wrench while you unscrew the bolts which hold the radiator guard on so you don't loosen both and the valve cover bolts stay tight.

The way to fix it requires you to remove the side fairings and tighten the valve cover bolts with a wrench, then clean off all of the old oil, and go for a test ride.

AKKutz · Jul 9, 2015

Funny, My R was leaking oil, found around the 7500 miles! Fixed under warranty. The Vert.cyl. 1400 miles later the horz. cly.

kickarsmann · Jul 9, 2015

Haha! Is that why you're selling your 2013?

Yup same exact mileage when I discovered mine.

kickarsmann · Jul 9, 2015

Haha! Is that why you're selling your 2013?

Yup same exact mileage when I discovered mine.

AKKutz · Jul 10, 2015

kickarsmann said:
Haha! Is that why you're selling your 2013?
Yup same exact mileage when I discovered mine.

No, oil leaks happen on all makes at valve cover gaskets from time to time. I'm selling mine cause I have a major woody for the 15 Panigale R!!!!!!!

jogy · Jul 10, 2015

The oil leakage happens basically because originally Ducati used additional sealer (silicone based) ony on the edges of the half circles at the valve cover gasket.

I once did fix the issue myself with a new rubber gasket and silicone sealer completely in the half circles and a bit beyond. No more leakage since then.

At 1299 engine, the silicone sealer is applied from factory over the entire halfcircles and a bit beyond.

Important: Always use new aluminum washers for all head cover bolts after opening them, as those have to seal also.

Styler · Jul 10, 2015

I've had the valve covers loosen and leak oil as well.
It was explained to me by a Ducati tech that there is so much power from this V-twin one can only expect the entire engine to move around quite a bit and be somewhat structurally fluid/dynamic; so it is no surprise that things come loose.
We bought race bikes, not commuter bikes and so I have come to learn that things like this are just part of the deal.
All hail the extended warranty!

jdgun · Oct 23, 2015

bp7178 said:
Being that you have the radiator guard installed, I'm guessing its the lower valve cover bolts. Its a goofy design by which the radiator guard bolts thread into the valve cover bolts. When removing the bolts, its possible to loosen the valve cover bolts. In your last pic, this appears to be right from where the leak is coming from.

You should be able to get an open end/box end wrench on the valve cover bolts after removing the side fairings.

Thanks for the heads up, noticed some oil after the install fo the lower radiator guard. Will snug that bad boy up tonight.

Oil leak 2014 1199R this time is the front cylinder

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