Hi, Is this the correct oil filter for an S4?, reason I'm asking is it was fitted to my bike during a service and noticed a drip coming from it today. The seal is separate from the filter and doesn't sit very well in the groove. Changed it today for a Hiflo filter just to be safe. Cheers, Brendan.
Think there has been an issue with Ducati oil filters recently, done a wee bit of searching and came up with this. Might help anyone else out there who has recently changed filters etc.
Think that was the issue, the new filters are slightly different from the old ones. The domed area that screws in is slightly higher causing the issue of leaking oil.
I started noticing this problem a few years ago on both my M600 and 900ss carby and just put it down to a switch of suppliers. I started fitting HiFlo filters and immediately the problem leaks stopped. Interesting to hear a valid reason as to what the actual cause was though. At the time I also noticed a discrepancy in the torque values quoted between the writing on the filter itself, the factory manual and the Haynes versions. From memory (not brilliant at the best of times mind!), the value on the filter was something like 8nm, the factory manual 11nm and the Haynes version something like 14nm. All of them were WAY higher than my traditional 'hand-tight' which I was always told to do them up to and have done so on cars and bikes for years, with no issues till then!?
Got too admit I follow the school of hand tight oil filters and have done for years, only time I have had an issue is with the o.e filter in this thread.
I used genuine filters on my S4r and recently used K & N. No problems ( I hand tighten and maybe 1/4 to 1/8 of a turn with a tool).
If it's got the nut on I wouldn't do up with a spanner on it, I've heard tale of them leaking under hard load. Full hand tight on a lubed(?) seal is plenty IMO.
I always use K&N after a new OEM Ducati one leaked very badly. It was fitted during a summer but at the first cold day in winter it pissed out as soon as I started the engine. Mind you, I should have used K&N in the first place....I have always used them without any problems. If the canister nut causes a leak, then it has been overtightened. K&N have specific instructions in the box on how to tighten their filters.......generally as below, but it may vary from filter reference / vehicle make. "Hand tighten the filter clockwise until the rubber gasket contacts the adapter; then tighten the filter an additional ¾ - 1 turn" IIRC I tighten mine 3/4 turn with a socket + wrench. The Ducati one is the only filter I have fitted which has leaked......that's going all the way back to the late 60s on bikes and cars.
