Hi, So, I've been riding my first Ducati for a couple of months now - only managed about 1500 miles so far but the weather has been rubbish. Anyway, it's an '04 749s and I noticed on Saturday that it was spitting oil form the exhaust on startup. It was a pretty cold day, I don't know if that means anything. The oil level is high (after engine warmup) and the amount that it's spitting is tiny but it does seem to be oil. Can anyone advise as to what this might be, should I be worried? Thanks in advance for any help. Best, Ben
Ben - you say engine level is high - just check it as per handbook when cold i.e. - on level ground and upright. It's certainly possible that over filling will produce your symptom and it can be a risk to some oil seals so worth checking soon. You have to be patient in cold weather as it does tale ages for oil to settle in the 'level sighting ' window. If it is still spitting oil when engine is hot and the level is confirmed to be ok then worth investigating more.
My first thought - valve stem seals? Are you sure its not condensation mixed with carbon etc? What are you calling "high" re: the oil level? Is it above the Upper mark?
My SS runs with the oil level a bit too high, but it doesn't spit oil........however, it does drip dirty condensation from the exhaust cans in when cold weather....I drilled a drain hole in each at the lower end of the cans simply because some previous bikes did spit dirty condensation.... I would do as Chris says and check the oil level, but also make sure it is oil you are seeing....... AL
If it still persists place a sheet of A4 an inch or so away from the pipes for a couple of minutes or so and post up the results. Or get a compression test.
If itis oil in the exhaust you will find it smokes alot.If it doesnt smoke,I would suspect wet carbon.
Firstly, thanks for all the replies, some very encouraging stuff. So, I'll take a look at the consistency of the liquid tomorrow (she lives in a garage away from my house so I can't see her every day). Then check the oil level when up to temp. Thanks again. Ben
Ok if it is oil spitting from the exhaust then the bike will smoke like James Bond style smoke screen filling the road!!. ITS CONDENSATION!!!!! mine does it, infact you can actually see the moisture making its way out
another vote for condensation - its black because its picked up the carbon from the exhaust. if it were spitting oil out I doubt it would run on two, if at all..
