Severe issues with 2023 Panigale V4R. Need help.

Hi everyone. I am facing a back to back issue with my 2023 V4R. I am writing a detailed report here on the problems that I faced, hoping someone would be able to help me out, and so that it helps others. I bought the v4r on July 2023 and at 500 odd km before the first service, the engine check light popped up. Upon taking the bike to dealership, they said that its an engine failure and will need a full replacement under warranty. I was fine with it. They replaced the engine within 1 week and I got the bike back. I rode around 1000km on the new engine, while following the engine break-in (below 8k rpm) as mentioned in the manual. No issues so far. During the first service for this new engine again, I purchased the underseat akra exhaust and they flashed the Racing Evo. I purchased the Racing Pro DTC flash seperately. Post this, I rode the bike for 50 odd km around 10k rpm on all gears and didn't find any issue. I took the bike to track, and while ripping the bike to it's shift indicator, the bike started leaking oil of around 15-20ml from the breather pipe behind the front tyre. I saw that the oil level had gone down. I asked the dealership and they said its fine, as its a racing bike. After topping it up, I rode the bike again on track, for around 40-50km, and there were oil sprayed on the frame of the bike (below the tank), and around 100-200ml of oil leaking from the breather pipe again. The oil level had gone down considerably. I sent it to dealership again, as the oil on the frame was concerning. They asked me for DDA. I didn't record any, but I told them that the bike only leaked oil when I was in higher RPMs. I touched 331kmph on track, as well as had a lean angle of 57 degrees. They said it could be a blowback issue, but also said that when they installed the engine back, there could be a possibility that air filter gasket, water pump and oil seal for the clutch might not have been fully sealed. So they opened the fairings and saw that the oil was leaking from the airbox too. They said that there is a possibility that the cyclone seperator might have pushed the blowback oil/fumes into the airbox due to high rpm pressure. Also the sprint filter was soaked in oil. They decided to change all the gaskets, reinstall clutch cover, refill the oil, change all oil seals, replaced the cyclone seperator and sent it back again. They also kept the oil level in the engine to min just to make sure they dont overfill. I took the bike to track again but rode it a bit on the easier side this time. Maxed to 300kmph, and lean angle of just 45, changing all gears above 11000 rpm, but no redlining. Oil leak again from the same places. The Airbox sprayed the oil on the frame, air filter got soaked with oil, and the breather pipe was throwing oil of around 100ml again. The oil level went below minimum. Luckily I also enabled DDA this time, as dealership asked for it. I sent the bike again last week to them.
They reverted back saying there is no oil leak from any seals. They said the only possibility is that the blowback is originating from the cyclone seperator due to high-rpm usage on the first 2 gears (which they saw in the DDA as I was changing gears at 14-15k rpm), into the airbox which is normal. They asked me to test the bike again this week, while keeping the first 2 gears below 12k rpm, and the remaining gears can be used normally to see if the leak happens again. I will test the bike again this weekend now.
To be honest, I do not understand their logic at this point. But this is the response from Italy. I love the bike and its character, so I do not want any stupid responses asking me to sell the bike. I want to understand technically what could be the possible issues for this, any ways to fix this. Because if Italy themselves is saying its normal, then I might've done a big mistake buying this. FYI, I have a Streetfighter v4s 2022 with full akra, and I do not have any issue on that while being ridden in a similar way. Just frustrated at this point, and any technical support here will be very helpful. Has anyone else faced this issue?

The engine has way too much crankcase pressure at higher loads/rpm. Either the rings aren’t sealing or the crankcase venting is plugged. Of course, the simplest error is too much oil in it. I recommend a different dealer or independent shop. If not available, then a new bike.

They thought there might be too much oil too. So they did set it to min when they changed the cyclone seperator, but it still spilled the oil, and went below min. But is this a common ocurrence on the v4r?

They replaced the engine in a week? Did you verify this? That's a complete disassembly/reassembly of the bike. Sounds like BS. I'm trying to figure out where the tube you're talking about is coming from? Is it the one that comes off the oil separator on the valve cover? Regardless if the front head is filling up with oil and leaking it out it sounds like the scavenge pump section for the front head isn't working or the return passage is plugged somehow. The pipe from the valve cover oil separator is evacuated into the air box (by vacuum) when it's valve activates. If the front head is full of oil it would suck it into the airbox. Call the factory representative directly and deal with them.

I had an engine replaced in v4r 2023 due to a faulty starter (leaked oil on track) and strange noises.

Since then I was at Misano, didn't see any leaks (bike was run-in on a roller + 1 day at the track at 11-13k rpms max. changed factory oil to 300v after 1st day).

Going to Mugello in 2 weeks, where it will be warmer and more load on the engine. Will see how it goes.

baggerman said:

They replaced the engine in a week? Did you verify this? That's a complete disassembly/reassembly of the bike. Sounds like BS. I'm trying to figure out where the tube you're talking about is coming from? Is it the one that comes off the oil separator on the valve cover? Regardless if the front head is filling up with oil and leaking it out it sounds like the scavenge pump section for the front head isn't working or the return passage is plugged somehow. The pipe from the valve cover oil separator is evacuated into the air box (by vacuum) when it's valve activates. If the front head is full of oil it would suck it into the airbox. Call the factory representative directly and deal with them.

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They did replace the engine. The got it airshipped and the engine number on my vehicle registration also changed. So I can confirm that. The breather tube at the bottom of the bike, and the cyclone seperator. I will check the scavenge pump, not sure what it is, but will ask them to check it. They said the blow-by is pushing oil into the airbox.

panibadboy said:

I had an engine replaced in v4r 2023 due to a faulty starter (leaked oil on track) and strange noises.

Since then I was at Misano, didn't see any leaks (bike was run-in on a roller + 1 day at the track at 11-13k rpms max. changed factory oil to 300v after 1st day).

Going to Mugello in 2 weeks, where it will be warmer and more load on the engine. Will see how it goes.

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Gotcha. I am trying to convince them to give me a new bike if this doesnt get fixed. Not sure if its an engine issue or the components attached to it.

This pipe at the bottom is the breather pipe from where the oil is leaking. There also oil in the airbox.

Scavenge pump is in the motor. If the case is being pressurized enough and it is blowby it's done. Call the factory rep. Doesn't matter what the problem is. They need to just replace the bike. 2 motors and counting. These guys have serious quality control issues.

BTW is the oil separator line on the right side that runs from the airbox to the sump under the right frame rail actually connected? They're a pain to get back on. The oil separator looks like a funnel coming off the airbox on the right side and is connected to the right frame rail as it runs under the front frame next to the engine. 3 clamps total i think.

seems unusual, always look for the simple answers first, I had a similar problem on the 1299 that first showed up at the track. Oli streaks on the fairing, on the casings and dribbling a tiny bit when stopped. Turned out to be a breather hose inside the airbox had come loose. Get the dealer to check all the hose fittings are clamped correctly, and inspect the engine very carefully for any other sources of the leak, make sure the oil level is correct when you pick the bike up. Go for a street ride keeping it under say 10k, inspect again, if no leaks then a full on blast redlining it a few times and inspect again. Blowby seems unlikely but from a purchasers POV, this is unacceptable and I would return the bike and get a replacement if they cant fix it. While its under warranty and at this early stage, DONT work on it yourself as much as you might be tempted to.

Considering that this guy grenaded his first engine, I wouldn't hold my breath that he didn't fück this one too

SuperDomestique said:

Considering that this guy grenaded his first engine, I wouldn't hold my breath that he didn't fück this one too

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This ^^^^ is becoming more likely as the thread continues. It would require some severe abuse though. Maybe the op likes to hear the engine banging off the rev limiter while stopped or similar to the typical squid abusing a Japanese bike…?

It’s usually the dealer goons who work on the bike screwing up something or everything.

These have a rev limiter. The only thing that's getting run in is the valvetrain. You could flog it from the first minute and it shouldn't do this in a couple of k miles or km. It was either assembled wrong from the factory or the dealer screwed it up. I can't tell if the oil separator return is actively scavenged. It's connected to both the breather and the airbox and returns into the lower portion of the lower case (not the sump case) and maybe is scavenged. The only way you can see the return hose where it enters the case is from the bottom looking up. The whole separator assembly is hidden by the front frame and ABS hardware. Probably the mechanic.

Thanks baggerman, Paul. I am not working on the bike myself. Just asking dealership to check whatever is posted here because they seem to blame this on Italy saying this is normal for a wsbk bike which is not. Also I am not someone who bangs till rev limiter, or revs the bike in idle. I hate such scumbags. The dealership checked the hoses right infront of me, and they changed the air filter gasket too last time thinking that might be a fault. Yesterday, a senior technician came who asked me to keep the first two gears below 12k rpm, rest can be ridden normally, to see if the blowby still pressuries the bike to leak oil into airfilter box. They said the blowby chance is only possible in the first 2 gears post 12k rpm. So I will check the bike on friday, however I feel this is an issue related to bad fitmet of the engine and its components when the first engine went kaboom. Also, when they diagnosed the first engine, the error shown in their tool was bad timing within the engine due to which it was replaced.

Does anybody have email and contact (email/phone) for Ducati Italy Complaint/Factory? I feel the dealership in my country doesnt have the necessary skills to work on this, and the nore they work on the bike, the more it will end up getting wrecked.

baggerman said:

They replaced the engine in a week? Did you verify this? That's a complete disassembly/reassembly of the bike. Sounds like BS. I'm trying to figure out where the tube you're talking about is coming from? Is it the one that comes off the oil separator on the valve cover? Regardless if the front head is filling up with oil and leaking it out it sounds like the scavenge pump section for the front head isn't working or the return passage is plugged somehow. The pipe from the valve cover oil separator is evacuated into the air box (by vacuum) when it's valve activates. If the front head is full of oil it would suck it into the airbox. Call the factory representative directly and deal with them.

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Agreed. This sounds suss.

Check the VIN on the engine vs chassis. The dealer might not have changed your engine. You’re spinning your wheels with the same problems bc it’s the same engine

I checked the engine number. Its different. Also, I was tracking the new engine from Bologna myself via DHL when they shipped it.