Oil Change and Better Oil Plug & Filter

RSL · Jul 18, 2015

I'll pass on discussing oil as it upsets too many people.

3 little bolts hold the plastic crash guard under the engine. Easy to remove.

The oil filter I selected is what fits most Ducati motorcycles. I also purchased the filter wrench for an additional $2.35. Added paint pen marks to allow for easier 3/4 turn tightening easier.

Changing the pitifully weak stock magnetic oil plug for the Dimple plug for Ducati. Using real copper M12 crush washers too.

OE oil plug removed.

The 5mm Allen oil plug is the magnetic one.

Refill made easier, and certainly cleaner, using a throwaway paper funnel.

3 quarts to hit the target volume.

zibbit u2 · Jul 18, 2015

Where did you order the drain plug?

RSL · Jul 18, 2015

DIMPLEÂ® OIL PLUGS ANNOUNCES CUSTOM MAGNETIC PLUGS FOR DUCAT

Right from the manufacturer. Magnets loose their power with heat, so getting a very powerful magnet, more resistant to heat, is the way to go.

RSL · Aug 22, 2015

OK, some oil discussion.

The Owners Manual says 3.3 liters. I found that 3 quarts refilled the filter and crankcase.

The Owners Manual says 15w-50, though a technical expert said that Ducati design the engines around a 40 viscosity at operating temperature.

In addition to using a superior oil filter, I'm using a Group IV synthetic oil that performs well.

Understand that besides meeting the wet clutch requirement, viscosity is a critical standard to consider when selecting an engine oil. Finding a viscosity index as close to the magic 200 as possible is a bonus.

gatdammit · Aug 22, 2015

Yeah, I used 3.3 qts on my 9500 mi service after letting it drain for a very long time. It was too much. Drained about .3 qts after, which was a pain.

I also use Amsoil, but went with the suggested 20W-50.

appliance821 · Aug 22, 2015

Used Mobil one 15-50. About $9 a quart and nothing has blown up.....yet.

kuksul08 · Aug 22, 2015

I have used Motul 15W50 and Mobil 1 10W40. The chart says 10W40 is good for all temperature ranges. I'm sure any of these listed are fine. I was planning on using Amsoil 10W40 next time.

gatdammit · Aug 22, 2015

Any modern synthetic near the prescribed weight is fine. There so good anymore.

AussieHyper · Aug 23, 2015

Love the funnel

Duc821hyperstrada · Aug 30, 2015

Great post on oil change

Do you know the torque specifications for the drain plus, and screen bolt and filter?

thanks

RSL · Aug 30, 2015

Oil drain plug with magnet - 20 NM

Oil Filter - 11 NM

GTHawk · Sep 1, 2015

so good thing there are 2 drain plugs.

Did oil change last night, the plug with the magnet just would not budge. Decided to stop before I striped the head and tried the other one. I must admit i hate Allen key sometimes, of its over torqued (dam shop why i do it myself) it can strip and then be a real pain to get out. but ya make sure to go to the spec on these things. When I do next change I will be getting it out and replacing with the one linked above.

but wanted to ask, dose anyone see any issues using one plug over the other (besides not taking any metal shavings off the magnet in my case) ?

BlueSwede · Sep 1, 2015

I don't know the main purpose of the second drain plug, but I believe as long as you get a complete drain from that one, it can't be a big issue to use it over the magnetic one, apart from the metal bits, as you've already mentioned.

I don't normally have issues with allen head bolts (can't actually recall stripping one of those, while I have stripped plenty of other types of bolt and screw heads....), but I also much prefer using allen sockets to those little L-shaped wrenches. With the sockets, I can use the t-handle spinner or any socket wrench that best suits the job, including the torque wrench.

In a pinch where you only have the L-type allen wrench, you can add a nice length of "torque arm" with any crescent (or other) wrench that has a hole at the end of the handle. Just set the allen wrench on the bolt head as normal and then slip the hole of the crescent over the other end of the allen wrench to use as an extension...
yeah, and before you ask, I definitely grew up on a farm... ;-)

appliance821 · Sep 1, 2015

GTHawk said:
so good thing there are 2 drain plugs.

Did oil change last night, the plug with the magnet just would not budge. Decided to stop before I striped the head and tried the other one. I must admit i hate Allen key sometimes, of its over torqued (dam shop why i do it myself) it can strip and then be a real pain to get out. but ya make sure to go to the spec on these things. When I do next change I will be getting it out and replacing with the one linked above.

but wanted to ask, dose anyone see any issues using one plug over the other (besides not taking any metal shavings off the magnet in my case) ?

I had no problem getting the bolt out, but due to the shallow allen hole, I had trouble torquing it properly with the wrench. I'll be getting a bolt with a standard head so this can be done properly. Annoying.

GTHawk · Sep 1, 2015

BlueSwede said:
I don't know the main purpose of the second drain plug, but I believe as long as you get a complete drain from that one, it can't be a big issue to use it over the magnetic one, apart from the metal bits, as you've already mentioned.

I don't normally have issues with allen head bolts (can't actually recall stripping one of those, while I have stripped plenty of other types of bolt and screw heads....), but I also much prefer using allen sockets to those little L-shaped wrenches. With the sockets, I can use the t-handle spinner or any socket wrench that best suits the job, including the torque wrench.

In a pinch where you only have the L-type allen wrench, you can add a nice length of "torque arm" with any crescent (or other) wrench that has a hole at the end of the handle. Just set the allen wrench on the bolt head as normal and then slip the hole of the crescent over the other end of the allen wrench to use as an extension...
yeah, and before you ask, I definitely grew up on a farm... ;-)

ya done those tricks many times. just felt adding so much force i would strip any second and just dont want to deal with it. especially considering one of the Allen screws on the bash plate striped on me earlier the day before. The guy who made custom crash bars must have tightened it to much. Anyway got it out and replaced with a proper m6 bolt.

appliance821 · Sep 1, 2015

GTHawk said:
so good thing there are 2 drain plugs.

Did oil change last night, the plug with the magnet just would not budge. Decided to stop before I striped the head and tried the other one. I must admit i hate Allen key sometimes, of its over torqued (dam shop why i do it myself) it can strip and then be a real pain to get out. but ya make sure to go to the spec on these things. When I do next change I will be getting it out and replacing with the one linked above.

but wanted to ask, dose anyone see any issues using one plug over the other (besides not taking any metal shavings off the magnet in my case) ?

Not sure how the larger plug affects oil drainage, but it's linked with a gauze filter right above it. Every second oil change you're supposed to remove the plug, and then the gauze filter and clean the filter. They say gauze but I think it's a metal mesh. You can see another bolt at 90degrees to the drain bolt - that's where the filter is.

pacaver · Sep 1, 2015

"They say gauze but I think it's a metal mesh" - yep, it's metal mesh. When I cleaned mine around 3K miles it had about 5 tiny flakes of metal. Seems like a bit of overkill, but better safe than sorry.

GTHawk · Sep 2, 2015

pacaver said:
"They say gauze but I think it's a metal mesh" - yep, it's metal mesh. When I cleaned mine around 3K miles it had about 5 tiny flakes of metal. Seems like a bit of overkill, but better safe than sorry.

interesting. ya dont have a service manual and the owners manual basically says "bring to dealershp for this" including oil changes. That is a complete crock. But ya no clue it had that filter. Have to wait for the next oil change

appliance821 · Sep 2, 2015

I think you can still get a hyperstrada shop e-manual on ebay for around $30.00. JKE used to sell one but I don't think they do anymore. And there's always this ever friendly forum.

RSL · Sep 2, 2015

Oil Change and Better Oil Plug & Filter

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