[terrible_viking]

Just got off the phone with Bev Hills Duc after being quoted $100.- for an oil change!!

Anyway, that figure included $40.- for synthetic oil, according to the owner I'll run into valve stem problems if I run anything but synth. I'm not one to question a prof. mechanic's opinion, but I'm curious anyway - is that true? What type of oil are y'all using? Any preference for (cheap) filters?

I've used all kinds incl. car oil in my Hondas and Yamahas with no problem at all, you just hear all kinds of stories about Ducs breaking down cos the owner rubbed the wrong kind of wax on the tank so...

Thanks in advance!

-R.

 

[MonsterHooligan]

do it yo'self.
here's how:
http://www.ducatimonster.org/faq/faq_oil.html

here's a survey of what people use:
http://www.ducatimonster.org/faq/faq_oil_survey.html

 

[Guest]

...valve stem problem...huh?! what the heck does that mean...

Anyway BHD is on the high end side of high regarding price, besides they are a bit arrogant and not very friendly, they surely want to choose their clients and make their store some kind of exclusive place. :

Now changing your oil is like the easiest thing to perform. Come to my place and we'll do it together!

I use Mobil1SuperSyn, the one for cars, less than $5 a 1/4Gal at local Peepboys; but as far as difference with a $2 bottle of dino oil I cannot tell. The oil topic is VERY confusing. Lots of Boolsheet going on!

Hey I'm in MArVista! never seen a foggy around...

Cheers, J.

 

[Guest]

20w50 castrol...works fine, others may feel different.
if you change regularly, you should not have any problems.
whatever you are the most comfortable with.
just don't use that energy conserving oil.
hiflo filtro oil filters are good quality. most any bike shop can get um. i think part unlimited distributes them. $7.95

 

[ducaddiction]

Definatly do your own oil changes. You will save mucho greens so you can buy other things. Just follow the directions on this site. I run Mobil 1 15w20 in summer and put in Castrol 20w50 for the winter storage. The 15w20 works awsome in my wifes wet clutch 620. You want to make sure that you get a somewhat quality oil to hold up to the shearing that happens in your tranmission. The engine oil also acts as the transmission oil. I am not totally sure what the exact number is that you are supposed to look at for this, but I will find it and post it. You can't go wrong with Mobil 1 though, and never pay $100 for a :-Xing oil change. Have fun ;D

 

[terrible_viking]

Sweet. That's about all the info I needed!

I'm not worried about changing the oil myself, it's just that after years of driving exclusively 60's American muscle cars and rebuilding my share of V8s I've simply gotten tired of wrenching on my vehicles myself. I'm just craving something that runs, and something I can pay other people to take care of for a change. Guess a Ducati is closer to a vintage muscle car than a Honda in that regard

I could've sworn that the old shop I used to take the Monster to only charged in the vicinity of $40.- per oil change, but who knows what oil they were using and although they're literally across the street from me I've vowed not to use their service department anymore, for unrelated reasons.

Anyway, I'll spare you the boring details. Will revert to changing the oil myself, at least on the Duc.

Thanks guys!!

-R.

 

[btkacs]

Yep I'm a Mobil 1 15w50 user also. I use K&N gold oil filters since the quality is top notch and they are still cheaper (almost equal in cost) to stock.

Do I feel you have to run synthetic oils not really... I own six bikes and the duc is the only one I use synthetics in. It must just be love ;D

 

[Guest]

...across the street...huh? Since when BHD is in Venice...?

yes yes the details!

 

[ADG]

^ uhh...read his post again.

 

[terrible_viking]

...across the street...huh? Since when BHD is in Venice...?!

I was referring to Hammy Boys on Lincoln - but you're right, I guess they're more 'down the street' than 'across the street' from me
:-*

-R.

 

[mmoore]

As a point of reference, I've paid $36 to $48 on an oil change here in high-overhead Marin county. That was using semi-synth BTW, which is what the shop recommended. Using full synth Motul the DIY price for oil, filter, crush washers etc. was $46.

Given the economics of the thing (ignoring the fact that I might be working and earning) I see oil changes as more of a character-building, getting-to-be-one-with-the-bike kind of experience rather than a cost-saving measure.

 

[terrible_viking]

^^ word. I'm very willing to pay 50 bucks for an oil change, but at $100 it seizes to be about the money - it's a matter of principle, even if I'm actually loosing money by taking time off work and doing it myself.

Mmmmhh.. Marin County... Any good motorcycle roads up there?

-R.

 

[mmoore]

Mmmmhh.. Marin County...

 

[Tarik]

Ahhh, Marin. Brings me back to the good old days. We moved from Oakland/Alameda to Mass about a year ago, but when I was out there it was all about the SMR's, meeting up at the Getty at the beginning of Rt.1 and doing a full-day loop through all those twisties.
Michael, you ever meet up with those guys for the sunday morning rides?
Ever run in to a guy named Ian Young? I used to ride with him and his buddies, but lost touch. He and his buds were great riders. Or a girl named Desire' who (at the time) rode a white early model CBR.
Anyhow...it was fun. Enjoy it! You are very lucky to live there and have those roads/weather to ride in
Tarik

 

[MikeD5172]

Anyway, that figure included $40.- for synthetic oil, according to the owner I'll run into valve stem problems if I run anything but synth. I'm not one to question a prof. mechanic's opinion, but I'm curious anyway - is that true? What type of oil are y'all using? Any preference for (cheap) filters?

My last oil change cost about $42 and I did it myself. I'm using Mobil 1 20w50 for V-twins and OEM filters. Not too long ago I veiwed an online article about mc oil filter construction. It compared a number of filters from the leading manufacturers along with some OEM filters. These were for a Honda but the author also reviewed some others which included the Ducati OEM. He was rather impressed with the Duc filter. K&N filters ranked right up there in quality construction. The Fram was poop.

 

[mmoore]

Ahhh, Marin. Brings me back to the good old days.

 

[Tarik]

BTW, I moved from Boston to here, so I know what you went through...

 

[TX907]

I think any good oil would probably work as long as you change it regularly.

Most decent Ducati shops will not mark the Ducati filters way up - that way you are encouraged to keep the oil changed regularly.