HI all, I have searched on the forum and was surprised not to find this question posted before. Looking for advice on which oil to put in my 888 Strada and any recommendations please. Same for filter too. Thanks Richard
I use Motul 300v 15w50 in my D4s (916). This oil has a higher zinc level (zdpp) than other modern oils and that’s a very good thing for everything running flat tappet cams, or desmo rockers.
Any top quality fully synthetic 15/50 like Shell Advance etc. I'm currently using Putoline. I've owned my 851 (now actually 955c) for 25 years now, without any major engine failures due to oil. Steve R
However, Motul 300V does not contain the higher percentage of detergents more usual in an oil formulated for road use and more specifically, bikes with wet clutches. Motul issued technical guidance about 3 years ago, informing some (UK) Ducati dealers that 300V is not recommended for road use. Andy
Well, as always in an « oil topic », we’ll have to agree to disagree. PS: I know telling you how many miles I’ve ridden my D4s (with zero rocker issues) will not convince you, so I won’t.
Last 888 Strada I had came with a dry clutch not a wet one. So it would appear that notice is probably irrelevant for (all?) Desmoquattro engined Ducs .
Modern oils don’t just lubricate, they are formulated to reduce deposits built up in the engine. Motul’s web site clearly states for their latest generation 300v, oil change frequency needs to be increased if used for a road bike. They recommend at least every 3,000 miles. I highlighted wet clutches because most Ducati V4 engines (V4R obviously not) use a wet clutch. My own preference for an older bike, would be to use a modern equivalent of the original oil, not some fandangle, ultra thin, low friction concoction, formulated for modern high performance engines. Andy
The important bit is viscosity; 15w/50 is the best choice. I use Motul oils. There's no doubting 300V is a great oil but as mentioned, it's a "race" oil and should be treated as such. I wouldn't push it more than 3000 miles for road use and tell customers this. My go to oil for regular service work on the road bikes is Motul 7100. It has the additive package that will keep the motor cleaner and we regularly have bikes doing the 9000 miles intervals on it. It's a single Ester synthetic and apparently is/was based on the original incarnation of 300V which is now, and has been for some time, a double Ester. When you drain the oil, you want all the crap to come with it. A road specific oil with the correct additives will do this as it will hold the dirt in suspension. 300V doesn't have such a strong ability to do this. You can see this in the sight glass when the new oil immediately darkens when you start the engine. You'll save a few quid to
Except 300V is precisely formulated with higher zdpp (zinc dialkyldithiophosphate) in order to BETTER lubricate older (classic/historic) engine internals. It also acts as an antioxidant. 300v holds around 1500ppm, IIRC. Zdpp was drastically reduced in newer oils (Motul 7100 zdpp is below 1000ppm) as it destroys catalytic exhausts. Some people use zdpp additives in their oils for older engines. I use Lucas Hotrod Classic oil in my 1969 V8, as it has a zdpp of 2100ppm. https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/z/zinc-dialkyl-dithiophosphates.html#:~:text=Zinc dialkyl dithiophosphates (ZDDPs) are,applications in the automotive industry. I will personally keep on using 300V in my D4s (and D2s) for as long as I can, even though it’s a rather costly product. And change my oil every year, whatever the mileage (generally around 3000 miles). As mentioned by @nelly and from Motul's own lit: "300V is not designed for extended oil change intervals, therefore it should be changed after track/race events, at 3000 miles on ultra high performance street vehicles or at 5000 miles on lower performance engines."
