Oil window can\'t see through glass
 

I have a 748s with 740miles on the clock going for its first service on Monday.

I was cleaning it on the abba stand and noticed a white creamy substance on the inside off the glass. Once finished set the bike level for checking the oil and I can't even see if theres any there. Went for a 20mile ride and was still there.

Anyone know what causes it heard it about before but can't remeber what causes it.

I have ridden it the rain a lot is that a cause?

Thanks in advance

Lee1980 ;)

Its the oil emulsifying.
Its caused,I think,by the oil not being warmed up properly,causing a kind of condensation inside the engine.Perfectly normal at this time of year.
I'm sure nelly or Shazaam(or some other tech minded bod) will correct me if I'm wrong.:roll:

It takes a good 30 mile ride to get the window clear on my bike at this time of year.
Water is a by product of the combustion of petrol and finds its way into the oil. Get the oil hot enough and it will evaporate. Dont get the oil hot enough and it turns into the mayo that you have seen and eventually does all sorts of damage to the inside of the engine. The solution is to only take the bike for long rides at this time of year and to change the oil more often. Dont run the bike for ten minutes every week like some poeple do during the winter.

I have recently only been doing the 10 mile round trip to work as I have been trying not to do to many miles before I can afford the £200 first service, oops on 740 miles anyways.

The last time I checked it was fine but these last few weeks have been real cold.
Let the bike warm up for a good time and by the time I get to work after 5 miles is on about 80-100 degress celsius depending on how bad traffic is.

Whats the dealer likely to say?

Thanks

Lee1980 ;)

Sounds like the bike is only just coming up to temperature at your journey's end.
I would get the bike in for a service sooner rather than later,try not to go over 1000 miles.
You could change the oil yourself for peace of mind.

Keefy its going in tommorow will have about 750 miles on the clock.

I would change the oil myself but to keep up the warranty got to have first service around £200, they say loads of things are checked/adjusted 3.5 hours of labour @ £50 per hour. I wish I got that much for one hours work!

Thanks

Lee1980 ;)

Lee,
why are you paying £200 for 600 mile service?

The first service is normally free labour + parts. Which should be about £50 for the oil and filter.

Nigel,

Where do you go for Ducati (Warranty approved) service? I, like Lee, will be forking out £200+ for my 999 first service soon as that is what my dealer charges (and advertises the fact).

Other Ducati dealers I tried also charge about the same and, as you can see from OYB's tariffs below, some charge more (£50) if the bike wasn't sourced from them in the first place.

This has always been the way for me in my 8 years of owning Dukes:(:(

Part of the pleasure of owning a Ducati I suppose:D:D:D:D

Just had my VFR serviced for the first time at 850 miles and it cost £24 all in from a Honda main dealer:mad::mad::mad:

BTW..............the advice I have received (more than once) regarding first service mileage is that 660 miles (1,000 Ks) is the minimum. Try & get more on it if possible but don't exceed 1,000.

Nigel, I don't have any choice really as they are the only official dealer close enough. When i bought the bike didn't think to ask to get one included.

I have heard of people on here paying more, Evertons paying the same as me.

What else can I do? Speak to Ducati?

I knew it would be more than the honda I had before.

According to the service book with the bike it is all checks, but the service guy said they will be doing more stuff, is it needed though after only 750 miles?

I guess I'll just have to pay it:mad:

Thanks

Lee1980;)

Don't know about the servicing cost, I presume it depends on what you negotiate when you buy the bike but I've heard Ducati have withdrawn their free first service policy... although someone might want to correct me on that.

As for the white oil... make sure you're not losing any coolant - if the coolant level is dropping then you've got an internal leak somewhere and it needs to be sorted asap, but most likely scenario is like what's already been said about condensation. If it's just a thin white film on the glass then it's not worth worrying about, but if you notice big gloopy bits in the oil then oil and filter change quick smart because it'll degrade the lubrication qualities of the oil.
Make sure you point it out to the mechanic when it goes in for service, he should recognise if it's excessive.

nb

[Edited on 30-11-2003 by NBs996]

First Service
 

All I can offer on this subject is the following personal experience:

Although I live in Switzerland I bought my ST4s (yellow) from my favourite UK Ducati official dealer and I have just checked my records on the subject and they reveal the following costs:

The Ducati Warranty booklet that contains the service coupons states that the first service should be within 1,000kms (625miles) or 6mths. This cost me £29.55 which was for the cost of the oil, oil filter, and drain plug washer.

My service cost at next officially recommended service 10,000kms (6,250mls) or 12months thereafter was £257.97 including all parts and labour. Both totals included VAT.

This is why even though I live in the Alpes I still return to Blighty to get my servicing done (total round trip of 1600mls) because they are great guys - offer excellent servicing - and give a great deal on new Ducati.

Its a sad fact that Duke dealers now charge for the first service.Some dealers will waive the labour costs to regular customers.It does clearly state in the warranty book that the first service "Material and labor costs are at Owners charge".
I think OYB charge 45quid an hour labour.Hence the 200 pound bill.

Looking at those prices - I'm glad I use Snells!:o
(have saved well over £130 on the 12,000 service on mine then:D)

Seems (with monsters anyway) that 1st service labour is free - if you buy from a 'Ducati shop', otherwise nearly all 'authorised dealers' seem to charge for it!

C

Hourly Labour
 

Checked my dealer's rate = £30.00 an hour

£45 seems extreme to me - that's getting close to swiss standards - has the uk economy improved that much recently?????

Blimey £50 an hour :o I take mine to Alf's in worthing and he only!!! charges £27 an hour .(i thought that was expensive at the time!! ) and he does a pukka job as well ( and i got a service with belts and two new tyres for no extra charge when i bought the thing as well!!)

[Edited on 30-11-2003 by Nigel C]

[Edited on 30-11-2003 by Nigel C]

where do you take it? the cheapest I have found is £30+vat at motorapido. Even Honda dealers will charge £30+ in the main...but this is still far less than a franchised car dealer...at last, something cheaper on a Ducati!!:sing:

I guess if Ducati are throwing money into 0% finance deals and other incentives, something has to give.....

I didn't realise that ducati dealers had started charging for the first service. Seems like a total rip off to me, I can't see that any new bike needs much more than an oil change and a nuts and bolts check after only 600 miles.

My 996 was bought from P&H motorcycles in 2001 and the first service was inclusive in the price. I never had to push for the service as an extra it was just part of the deal.

My local duke dealer is CMW in chichester and they charge £42.50 ph, but they did manage to do a full 12k in under 6 hours so its not all bad.

I'll be taking mine to Riders of Bristol, they have recentliy moved into a brand new building, so I guess they are trying to recoup some of the money maybe:lol::lol:

It still now sounds really expensive, but needs to be done.

Thanks

Lee1980 ;)

Depends on your dealer. Ducati Manchester are still advertising free 600 mile services on their website if the bike was supplied by them.
If it wasnt their listed charge is £155.00

I payed £197 in the end
 

With a 10% winter servicing discount.

The parts list include things like the tank seal, fuel filter, 'sludge washer', oil filter and oil + a few other little bits parts came to £45 the rest is labour.

They said the glass blocked is caused by condensation, couldn't see when I picked it up if it was gone will check tommorow.

The tank will be replaced due to the steering damper rubbing. A washer/spacer had been moved/crushed.

Now the damper clears the tank.

One good point is that I got the Multistrada demo as a loan bike for the day, great fun in the wet weather, really comfy to, torquey engine and the clocks are fab when they light up blue. After a while looks good in the flesh, in black a t the dealers looked wicked.

If I had the space and money would have one as a second bike, really needs a hugger the shock and back end was filthy:lol::lol:

Thanks

Lee1980 ;)