Hi, can anyone recommend a quality oil filter wrench( socket) to tighten as well as removing the filter. I have owned and self serviced my 748 from new. But have only just started using the later design of filter , I can't get enough purchase on the filter by hand,like I could on the old deeper design. The result is oil is leaking from the filter.This has happened to the last two oil/ filter changes. Any recommendations would be appreciated . Cheers Dogrose
I preferred this type I then switched to K&N filters that have a nut on the base and use a small torque wrench when fitting.
Thanks for your reply chrisw. Think I'll bin the Ducati ones and use K&N filters in future. I've only ever needed to use my hands to tighten oil filters whether they've been on my bikes or cars,so this makes me think that the later design filters are not seating properly. Dogrose
TBH I always have ever only hand tightened oil filters myself, but on my 996 no matter how tight i do it up by hand it *always* still leaks. Ducati actually recommend torquing it up to fix this leak, which seems a bit of a cop out really, as surely if both surfaces are smooth and you have a new seal with a drop of fresh oil on, it should mate up perfectly. Last time I torqued it up, it was a total nightmare to undo again afterwards, so this last oil change ive gone with the k&n one hoping it will be easier to undo come oil change time next.
Ducati filters are well known to distort and leak and tightening them can actually make it worse although it might stop the leak. I use Hi Flo filters after Ducati John recommended them to me and supplied me with the correct filter removal tool which is very similar to the standard Ducati item. Not had a problem with any of them since changing over and my local bike shop orders them for me several at a time which makes it slightly cheaper.
I can't believe that some thing as simple as fitting an oil filter is so frustrating. Only one job simpler than that is putting fuel in the tank. I never had a problem with the old design in over twenty five years of owning and servicing my own Ducatis. Oh well ,K&N or HiFlo it is. P.S. Big shout out to Ducati John, he's the only man to touch one of my bikes, when He did a valve check and general look over. Every thing was fine including the rockers. Dogrose
Couldn't quite believe the limited amount of filter I had to grip hold of on my first change this winter. Big shock coming from Jap IL4s. Had to ditch my old wrench and buy same as above which worked a treat. I bought a K&N to replace, more I have to grip on the better. I torqued mine as per Haynes and no leaks so 500miles later.
I had a problem with a leaking oil filter on my 748. I have now changed to the K&N type with a nut on the bottam on all of my Ducati's. No more problems.
K&N all the way. The nut gives you a head start. If its snaps off you are just where you would have been with a standard filter.
