Ducati Sporting Club UK > Model Specific - Discussion, Technical Problems and Help > 998 / 996 / 916 / 748 > Oil level/colour on 748s

[Lee1980]

On my 748s the oil looks really black, see the attatched pic it is on a abba stand so the level is not right.

Is the oil normally this colour on a 748/9** as the clutch is dry would have thought it would be much cleaner.

Regarding the level, before I put it on the stand my brother sat on it and it takes a while for the oil to come down, and then the level settles just above the min line by about 3mm.

Topped it up not long ago after it was dropped, do they burn oil?

[DJ Tera]

When I change the oil on my 998 it stays "oil-coloured" for about 500 miles then gets prgressively darker!

[antonye]

The oil in my 2000 748S looks as good as it did the day it went in!

Your oil level is also way too low - but check it when you hold the bike upright with nobody on it to get it correct between the marks. However, even on a paddock stand it shouldn't be that low!

Get your oil changed asap and make sure enough gets put in.

[DC]

Mmmmm,

My oil is shell fully synthetic and its gone black after about 2000 mls. I thought that this was the norm.

Here we go again............I feel a thread starting up her!!!

[Archie]

i don't honestly see anything wrong with the Oil, apart from as said, the level being very much on the low side.

[Henners]

Fully synthetic oil always goes black - that's just a function of how it deals with the by products of combustion. Changing it every 3000 miles is seen as the most cost effective interval, and always let the oil get to the rockers before giving the engine a blip when you start from cold saves the hard chrome plating.

[antonye]

Yes guys, I agree - should have said that my oil gets changed around every 3K miles (which is about every 6 months) so I probably haven't noticed it before.

I use Shell Advance 15w50 - the fully synth, stupidly expensive stuff!

[Lee1980]

The pic is the level when on the Abba stand this lifts the back wheel a good 6 inches off the floor so would obviously tip all the oil forward giving a false reading, just using the pic to show the colour.

When the bike is upright it is above the minimum by about 3mm so should be ok.

So mines not the only one this coluor atleast only done 2000 since first service when it was changed.

[DC]

Originally posted by Lee1980
The pic is the level when on the Abba stand this lifts the back wheel a good 6 inches off the floor so would obviously tip all the oil forward giving a false reading, just using the pic to show the colour.

When the bike is upright it is above the minimum by about 3mm so should be ok.

So mines not the only one this coluor atleast only done 2000 since first service when it was changed.

As long as its not burning oil and its either black or clean oil colour. Then i shouldnt worry about it.

Start worrying when you can see chunks of metal in the sight glass or it has changed colour to cloudy white.........lol!

[Lee1980]

Just never seen oil that colour on me honda's

Not to worry to much as it will have its first 6000/yearly service at the end of the year still under warranty so not going to change it meself.

Just keep an eye on the level.