There are many who have experienced oil consumption on their Ducatis. I have discussed the topic with my local Ducati dealer, and they recommended using Motul 7100 10w60 oil. They told me that others had done it with their Ducatis, and that the oil consumption fell on their engines. Does anyone else here on the forum have experience with this? Of course there will be a discussion about whether Motul is the best oil, but it was primarily viscosity that I was looking for experiences with
The sort of oil used in high mileage engines as it retains a thicker viscosity at higher temperatures so I can see why your dealer would recommend it. You’ll probably find most high end oil producers will have a similar offering but IMO, you can’t go much wrong with Motul, it’s my ‘go to’ oil. Andy
Will be watching this thread with interest. Not sure if the slightly higher viscosity will make that much difference TBH. Willing to be proved wrong though. Have stuck with the recommended Shell Advanced Ultra 4T 15W-50 thus far myself. Though Ducati Worcester did put Motul in once.
Gone and ordered some Motul 300V 15w50, I'll speak to OYB (on yer bike) lads about going for a Motul 7100 10w60 oil scenario. I'm also riding a multi-enduro mind!
A topic I too have been part of, I generally carry a 1ltr top-up bottle with me on any extended tours. I too have stuck to the Shell advance guff but I'm open to changing if it solves this PITA problem. As it's not a problem of consumption, it's when, it's inconsistent and has caught me out before.
Motul 300V is not recommended for a bike with wet clutch. Whilst a supreme oil, it has a lower percentage of detergents than something like the Motul 7100. If you only do 1000 miles and usually change your oil every year, I doubt you would notice but I’d be aware that the oil might need changing more frequently. Andy
I have checked the oil level after 900 km. Mostly canyon carving at a good pace. No signs of consumption on these kilometers. I will measure regularly, and update continuously. Oil change will be carried out at 5000 km. The Multistrada is placed on Ducati depot supports at the rear, and on blocks at the front that correspond to the exact height at the rear. Then I have leveled it up sideways, so that it stands exactly the same at each measurement.
In my experience oil consumption is most significant with sustained high speed constant throttle motorway/autoroute riding.
I have driven another 950 km, a total of 1850 km. This time it has been a bit varied driving, also with motorway. This is the consumption so far, Minimal. The measurement is done in exactly the same way. Same height front and rear, and level. Otherwise, everything works as it should and no problems. Gearbox works perfectly
@folbjo, it's interesting that you mention using Motul oil and that your consumption is low. The Pikes Peak I bought late last year, only just over 1,000 miles so far and the oil consumption has been negligible. Though it must be noted the riding has been mainly on winding country roads, lots of throttle variation and gear changes. The oil in the sight-glass is red rather than golden so I'm assuming that I have Motul of some sort in there. On my previous 1260S I ran with the recommended Shell Advance 4T Ultra 15W-50, consumption was observed, especially on sustained motorway/autoroute riding. With a 2,500 mile continental tour coming up in a months time I was thinking only last night that I should be thinking about reserve oil to take with me as I have on previous trips with the 1260S. If I was doing a similar trip on my 1260S I would be expecting to use most, if not all, of a litre bottle. I got caught out the first time having to buy Ducati branded oil in Italy at something like €35 for a litre bottle... (I had to buy two as a riding buddy let me have most of his spare litre)*. I have a sealed litre of the Shell Advance sitting in my garage and was thinking that I'd take that and mix it with whatever's in there on a needs basis. I have a service booked in July for my return anyway. Maybe I should enquire with the dealer, a Ducati franchise, ask what they used and match that. * I did at the time have a leaking oil seal on the engine cam pulley shaft, fixed under warranty after the trip. This contributed to the oil loss on that trip but not entirely. Guessing that the recommendation for 10w60 from your dealer, when the Ducati spec is 15w50, is down to you being in Norway and thus lower temperatures in winter?
Interesting that you mention that you had an oil leak on the cam pulley shaft. I have now discovered that I had a drop of oil hanging on the underside of the solenoid. I took off the belt cover but could not locate the leak. Could it possibly be the seal on the upper or lower cam pulley? Or could it possibly be a leak at the solenoid? Or could it also be from the gasket to the valve cover? It is not much, but this will be rectified when it is due for Desmo service I will, first of all, replace the solenoid on the horizontal cylinder. There is a small O ring there, I was told.
So an update from mine on a recent trip to the picos & Pyrenees Used a litre of oil for 1800 miles. Bike has done 33k miles. Checked it daily , definitely used more in the twisties and hardly any on the motorways in the UK If I hadn’t had a few days of rain , I think I would have had to buy more. I’ve tried Shell and Motul , didn’t notice any difference I asked grok why it burned oil Answer below: The Ducati Multistrada 1260’s oil consumption, often described as “burning oil,” can stem from several factors, based on owner reports and technical insights from forums and reviews. While some level of oil use is normal for high-performance engines like the 1260’s L-twin DVT (Desmodromic Variable Timing) engine, excessive consumption can point to specific issues. Here’s a breakdown of the primary reasons, grounded in available data: 1. **Engine Design and Oil Level Sensitivity**: The 1260’s engine appears sensitive to overfilling. Owners report that filling oil to the top mark on the sight glass can lead to excess oil being pushed into the crankcase ventilation system, where it’s burned off or expelled. This isn’t true “burning” but rather the engine managing excess oil. Keeping the oil level closer to the lower mark, as advised by some owners, often reduces consumption significantly. For example, one owner noted no oil loss over 17,000 miles by maintaining the level at the bottom line.[](https://www.ducati.ms/threads/burni...w.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/page-2) 2. **Piston Ring Blow-By**: Excessive blow-by, where combustion gases and oil slip past the piston rings into the crankcase, can increase oil consumption. This is more likely in engines with wear or poor ring sealing, especially if the bike is ridden hard or has high mileage. Owners have reported oil use as high as 200-250 ml per 1,500-2,000 km, with some suspecting ring issues, though dealers often claim this is “within spec.” If blow-by is severe, oil can enter the airbox via the crankcase breather, leading to higher consumption.[](https://www.ducati.ms/threads/burni...w.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/page-2) 3. **High-Performance Usage**: The 1260’s 156 bhp engine is designed for spirited riding, and high-revving or aggressive use (e.g., track days or sustained highway speeds) can increase oil consumption. Owners report higher oil use after intense rides, like a track day at Cadwell, where 650 miles led to noticeable oil loss. Hard riding can exacerbate blow-by or push oil into the ventilation system.[](https://www.ducatiforum.co.uk/threa...hreads/new-member-exessive-oil-burning.19324/) 4. **Break-In Period Issues**: Some owners note oil consumption starting early, even after the 600-mile run-in service. Improper break-in (e.g., overly aggressive or overly gentle riding) can prevent proper piston ring seating, leading to long-term oil use. One owner reported burning oil from 600 miles, needing to top up every 500 miles.[](https://www.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/page-2) 5. **Crankcase Ventilation System**: The crankcase breather can contribute to oil loss if oil vapors are drawn into the intake and burned. This is a normal process for emissions compliance, but excessive oil in the system—due to overfilling or blow-by—can amplify consumption. Owners have found clean air filters and airboxes, suggesting oil is burned rather than leaked.[](https://www.ducatisupersport939.net...w.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/page-2) 6. **Potential Mechanical Issues**: Though less common, faulty valve guides, worn seals, or other internal issues could cause oil burning, especially if accompanied by symptoms like black soot on the exhaust or a burning oil smell. One owner confirmed oil burning through the exhaust after swapping bikes and noticing the smell, pointing to possible internal wear. However, dealers may dismiss this as normal unless consumption exceeds Ducati’s threshold (e.g., 650 ml per 1,000 km).[](https://www.ducatisupersport939.net/threads/new-member-exessive-oil-burning.19324/) 7. **Ducati’s Tolerance for Oil Use**: Ducati’s service manuals and dealers often cite high oil consumption as “within spec,” with figures like up to 1 quart per 500 miles considered acceptable. This can frustrate owners, as it suggests the engine is designed to tolerate significant oil use, possibly due to its high-performance nature or DVT system characteristics. Owners report dealers reluctance to perform major repairs under warranty unless consumption is extreme.[](https://www.ducati.ms/threads/burni...hreads/new-member-exessive-oil-burning.19324/) **Context and Owner Experiences**: - Consumption varies widely: Some owners report negligible oil use (e.g., no drop over 12,000 miles), while others top up 200-500 ml every 1,000-2,000 miles.[](https://www.ducatisupersport939.net...s://www.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/) - No visible leaks or smoke are common, suggesting oil is burned internally rather than lost externally.[](https://www.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/) - Warranty claims are tricky, with dealers often requiring extensive tests (e.g., oil weight tests) and sometimes dismissing claims if consumption falls within Ducati’s broad “normal” range.[](https://www.ducatisupersport939.net/threads/new-member-exessive-oil-burning.19324/) - Mods like aftermarket exhausts or sprockets, and riding style (e.g., hard downshifting or high RPMs), may exacerbate oil use but aren’t direct causes.[](https://www.ducatisupersport939.net/threads/new-member-exessive-oil-burning.19324/) **Recommendations**: - **Check Oil Level Correctly**: Follow the manual’s guidance (warm engine, center stand, wait a few minutes) and keep oil at or below the midpoint of the sight glass to minimize excess oil entering the breather system.[](https://www.manualslib.com/manual/2...w.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/page-2) - **Monitor Consumption**: Track oil use per mile/km to establish a baseline. If it exceeds 500 ml per 1,000 km, push for a dealer inspection under warranty. - **Inspect for Blow-By**: Check the airbox and filter for oil residue, which could indicate excessive crankcase ventilation issues. - **Proper Break-In**: For new bikes, follow Ducati’s break-in guidelines to ensure proper ring seating. - **Dealer Engagement**: If under warranty, insist on compression or leak-down tests to rule out ring or valve guide issues, but be prepared for dealers to cite “normal” consumption.[](https://www.ducati.ms/threads/burning-oil.729691/page-2) **Critical Note**: While Ducati’s engineering is high-performance, their tolerance for oil consumption seems higher than some owners expect, especially compared to other brands. The DVT engine’s complexity may contribute, but without clear evidence of widespread defects, much of the issue appears tied to design tolerances, usage patterns, and maintenance practices. Always verify dealer claims independently, as some owners report inconsistent support.[](https://www.ducatisupersport939.net/threads/new-member-exessive-oil-burning.19324/) If you’re experiencing specific symptoms (e.g., mileage, oil use rate, or exhaust soot), share them for a more tailored analysis.
Thank you very much fatbob99 for your detailed and informative review of the different scenarios regarding oil consumption on these DVT engines. Very useful info, but also a bit scary for me. First of all, I think about how Ducati chooses to meet customers, and the problem. I don't like this!
Could be wrong, but none of my bikes have used oil in a manner which required topping up between services. I put this down to not being gentle with them when running in..
Likewise none of my 4 Multistrada’s have used oil as others have reported here. …or maybe I’m not obsessive enough about checking it!
I have experienced increased oil consumption but only when ever I've done multiple back to back hours of motorway running. I often blitz the run down from Holland to Northern Spain in one stint, which is purely motorways, almost always I need to top up after that run. Yet riding spirited for a week or more after that run doesn't consume a single bit.
Were both bikes bought by you new? Differing running in procedure has been suggested many times as a causational factor in this issue. I ran my previous 1260S in as the dealer reccomended, which was relatively gentle prior to 600 mile service, varying the revs but not being too obsessive about keeping them below the book 6000 RPM limit. After 600 mile service ride as normal. That bike did consume oil. The jury is out on my used Pikes Peak, bought late last year. I obviously have no clue as to how that was run in. I'll have a more definative measure on oil use on this bike by the end of June with a 2500 mile Euro tour completed. BTW, the 1260 is, like the MY2015 onward 1200, also a DVT engine.
