Over a year ago I sent a request for technical information via their website Technical Contact Form.
http://www.ducati.com/contact_us.jht...echnical.jhtml Here's what I asked:
Myself, and a number of other Ducati owners are tired of all the speculation and would like a definitive answer to the following:
1.) Why does the clutch fluid (and not the brake fluid) turn black in color on Ducati motorcycles?
2.) What is the solution to prevent it, and why hasn't Ducati done so? No answer ...
The answer lies in the kind of hydraulic fluid that you use.
The above picture shows fluid that had been in my 916 for two years after I changed to an aftermarket slave cylinder. Everything else except the system high-point bleeder (arrow in the picture) is stock. I used Valvoline SynPower Dot 3/4 fluid - Part No. 057 (boiling points: dry 513ºF, wet 333ºF.) Other owners have reported similar success with ATE Super Blue fluid.
See ...
http://ducatisportingclub.com/contro...d.php?tid=7924 Maybe the color change is Ducati’s way of reminding us to change our brake fluid every year or so. That’s the answer Ducati should have sent to me.