Ducati 998

[BradVB]

I just bought a Ducati 998 - dry clutch, prone to overheating, also slow to lubricate on start-up. Mine is 10 years old, low millage, but maintenance is severely neglected. It will be used mostly for commuting on open roads and freeways.

Manual says to use "SHELL Advance Ultra 4", which I think is 15W-50 and not sold in the USA. It has a chart with "local average temperature" and everything from 10w to 40w oil.

LT Synder (who wrote a good Ducati manual) recommends (and profits from selling) "Belray v-Twin Synthetic Motor Oil" but his book also says you can't go wrong with "any synthetic motorcycle oil" a statement I find worrisome from someone I otherwise find knowledgeable.

I know there are Ducati threads on here already about which oil is closest to "SHELL Advance Ultra 4", and a few comments about what to run in a Monster, but I don't see enough to decide what to put into my 998.

This engine (testastretta) is NOT the same as a monster, and very different from most non-Ducati motorcycles.

 

[FowVay]

Well, if it's a dry clutch then you don't really need to worry about the JASO ratings for wet clutch motorcycles. So you can scratch that requirement from the list.

If it's slow to lubricate then you want something that flows rapidly. Regardless of outside temps I'd look at a 5W-something.

If it's air cooled then a 5W-40 minimum, 5W-50 preferable.

Motorcycle oils sheer rapidly but you can easily notice this by the shift quality. I'd look for a oil in the 5W/10W-50 range and plan on changing it around 2,000 mile intervals.

These are just some thoughts. I have no experience with Ducati but I do ride a vintage Honda CBX and a current ZX14R Kawi so I do dable in the sport. Play around a bit and see what works for you. Let us know what you results you get.

 

[fxrider]

Rottella T-6 5W40

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Get on Ducati forums and see who's running what, I love BITOG, but i reference many sources. For a exotic like your 998 id look to others that own the same for there experience and recomendations..

 

[AuthorEditor]

I am not a Ducati expert, but I would venture to guess that you can't go wrong with Mobil 1 20W-50 for V-Twins.

 

[JetStar]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
Get on Ducati forums and see who's running what, I love BITOG, but i reference many sources. For a exotic like your 998 id look to others that own the same for there experience and recomendations..


+1

 

[BradVB]

Most Ducatisti recommend buying whatever is the most expensive, completely disregard technical things such as oil weight, and change it as often as possible. Maybe I am exaggerating, but they are not at all scientific about it.

BTW - This is not air cooled.

 

[Smoky14]

Originally Posted By: BradVB
Most Ducatisti recommend buying whatever is the most expensive, completely disregard technical things such as oil weight, and change it as often as possible. Maybe I am exaggerating, but they are not at all scientific about it.

BTW - This is not air cooled.


Amen to that, when all else fails, throw money at it. Lots of passion and not much common sense among Ducatisti

 

[beanoil]

Mobil 1 15w50 or Valvoline VR-1 20w50 should be fine. I'd lean toward the Mobil 1, I used it in a BMW boxer for years with good results.

 

[BradVB]

I have some 5w30 synthetic that I don't have a vehicle to use in. I am tempted to run it for 2000 miles. Is there any harm in oil that is too thin other than it breaking down faster? I need to do the valves and cams and possibly other engine work, so I want to change the oil first, but there is a possibility I will end up draining it again before I can ride.

The manual lists 33C "local average temperature" for 30 weight oil. It doesn't recommend using anything lighter than 10, but these engines have trouble circulating oil before they warm up.

 

[ddtmoto]

Did you get service records? Don't ignore the cam belt replacement. A small fortune to let the dealer do, but a big fortune if one should let go....like my buddy's did.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: Smoky14
Originally Posted By: BradVB
Most Ducatisti recommend buying whatever is the most expensive, completely disregard technical things such as oil weight, and change it as often as possible. Maybe I am exaggerating, but they are not at all scientific about it.

BTW - This is not air cooled.


Amen to that, when all else fails, throw money at it. Lots of passion and not much common sense among Ducatisti


I will give you guys that, Most that have the $ to spend on a Duc will do one of two things, #1 throw money at it or #2 never do anything to it as they dont care (have a ton of cash)
but there are those on the Duc sites that are in the middle ground.

After some quick searching 10-40 seems to be most popular for your 998. OP as mentioned before join a site, do some reading, and make your own educated decisions.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: BradVB
I have some 5w30 synthetic that I don't have a vehicle to use in. I am tempted to run it for 2000 miles. Is there any harm in oil that is too thin other than it breaking down faster? I need to do the valves and cams and possibly other engine work, so I want to change the oil first, but there is a possibility I will end up draining it again before I can ride.

The manual lists 33C "local average temperature" for 30 weight oil. It doesn't recommend using anything lighter than 10, but these engines have trouble circulating oil before they warm up.


30 wt Will sheer down way to fast, thats no good protection for your engine.. if it was my bike, 5-30 WOULD NOT enter the fill hole..

 

[Norm Olt]

AMSOIL 20W-50 or 15w40. Take it from a guy who grew up in Dayton: it's all you'll ever need for Ohio's climate.

Cheers!

p.s. Go BUCKEYES!

 

[95busa]

Yeah man....40w minimum. What a great bike! I can't tolerate sportbike ergos anymore, but I sure can appreciate them. Things Italians do REALLY well- women, cars, bikes!

 

[QuietPortage]

Mobil 1 15w-50
Rotella T6 5w-40

Both available in jugs at WM.

 

[CBR.worm]

If you can't get the recommended oil (AGIP?), I would be inclined to use Mobil 1 10w40 bike oil.

I used to race 748's (2 of them) using Golden Spectro 10w40 which I am sure did not meet the spec. None of the failures I had were internal.

See what they sell at the DUC dealer