if it helps, I just got my bike rode it home, washed it and noticed the oil was white. I'm not sure opening the filler will help get rid of the condensation. oil floats on water so it wont get out, That why you get it, when the bike is hot and hen allowed to cool it draws moist air in through the breather, the moisture then settle's on the cold surfaces in the engine and hay presto when u start it it gets mixed in and emulsifies in the oil, the only real way you'll get it out is to ride the bike for a few hours and keep the oil hot for along time so the moisture can get back out of the breather. If it helps, you only need one drop of water in your oil to make it look white and scummy, there probably isn't that much in it to worry about unless your storing it over winter when it will settle in the bottom of your sump but it shouldn't rust any thing due to lack of oxygen.
Well, I did as suggested after dropping the other half off at the station this morning, went for a little ride after after, got home. Left the hike running until the fans kicked in. Turned the bike off, left off the filler cap and now it's clear as day. Only down side is, I've just noticed the bike has loads more oil in it than it should...
Ok, so it happens in the UK and NZ....but I still don't understand why this happens on Ducatis. I've owned BMWs, Hondas, Kawaskais, Suzukis and a Yamaha that I have ridden summer, winter, wet and dry and never seen that happen before. Surely if it is the hot oil cooling and sucking in moisture which then contaminates the oil, it should happen on them too? Also the flaw in that theory is that if it sucks the moisture in via the breather tube, then taking off the filler cap would only allow more moisture to be sucked in. Doesn't seem right....
Neither of mine have this condensation but then I only ride in warm weather on long enough journeys that they get properly hot and they live in a heated garage. Don't worry about it.
It happens on nearly all engines, bikes, cars, etc. You aren't aware of it on most of them because they haven't got a sight glass.
+1 for leaving off the filler cap after a ride. Cleared the gunk for me. On the subject of oil level. I check a couple of months ago as per the manual (cold, level ground, bike upright and off its stand etc) and the level was below the bottom level. I dashed down to the dealers to get some oil and got chatting with the chief mechanic. He said that contrary to what it said in the manual, the oil level should be checked when the engine is hot. The level in a hot engine is apparently higher and many owners end up overfilling the oil by mistake. Checked when I got home after a run and sure enough the level was bang in the middle of the marks.
