472 F (244 C) Degrees and 5 Bars!!!!

[hypurone]

In all my automotive tech years, I have never seen an engine run at temps like you guys are posting and last for very long. Heck, the lead tech at GM for the corvette group sent me this:

Optimal oil temperature is 220 degrees while anything over 250 degrees is dangerous for petroleum-based oils. Synthetic oils can withstand higher temperatures in the 250 to 260 degree range for sustained periods of time.

you can also see the similar info on this site for air cooled Porsche's:

http://www.elephantracing.com/techtopic/oiltemperature.htm

My question is: where are they measuring the oil temp at on the engine? Perhaps the location is not an oil temp but a "head" temp? I'm not getting a warm/IZ_ feeling about it. Excuse the pun... Oil temp is critical in an air cooled engine vs a water cooled. Though temps like that would eventually kill a water cooled. I personally would be very nervous about operating temps like that. If they are indeed actual oil temps I would do an oil cooler upgrade (inc a temp activated fan) immediately and switch to synth regardless of actual oil temps!!

[He Man]

The temp of the 696 and the original monsters are taken at two differnt locations. You dont really know the oil temp of the 696 (atleast i dont think so). But if the engien is anything like the 695, you can assume the operational temps are the same. Aka 300 is not uncommon on hot summer days. Out on the road, 270-280 is about right. Im not sure what the breaking point of FULLY synthetic oils is, but i cant inmagine it being only 40 degrees higher than that of dino oil. Maybe that number is for semi synthetic?

With an oil cooler, my bike does 240-260. so theres about  20-30degree difference with the oil cooler.

[hypurone]

The temp of the 696 and the original monsters are taken at two differnt locations. You dont really know the oil temp of the 696 (atleast i dont think so). But if the engien is anything like the 695, you can assume the operational temps are the same. Aka 300 is uncommon on hot summer days. Out on the road, 270-280 is about right. Im not sure what the breaking point of FULLY synthetic oils is, but i cant inmagine it being only 40 degrees higher than that of dino oil. Maybe that number is for semi synthetic?

With an oil cooler, my bike does 240-260. so theres about  20-30degree difference with the oil cooler.

Yeah, I just can't see that being an actual oil temp. It is flat out just too high to be a working temp. It's gotta be some hybrid thingy or the cyl head temp or....

[He Man]

Check that.

"aka 300 is NOT uncommon on hot summer days"

I heard it was a cyclinder head temp too.

[giordy]

Since i started riding it the oil temp indicator has being climbing, at first when it reached 200 F i thought that something was wrong but then i realized that they where F and not C as the manual stated. Some weeks have passed and today it reached 472 F with 5 bars ( air temp has always being from 95 to 105 ). When it reaches to 5 bars (the day starts with 1) it gives allot of heat on my legs and knees.

Where are you getting the 472 F number? 5 bars is status 6, which means oil temperature between 161 C (322 F) and 175 C (347 F).

My 696 is usually at 2 bars (with outside temperatures not much higher than the 50's since I bought it), it gets to 3 bars after I stand in traffic for a while or I go near the redline, and then it pretty much stays at 3 bars.

Giordy

[giordy]

Yeah, I just can't see that being an actual oil temp. It is flat out just too high to be a working temp. It's gotta be some hybrid thingy or the cyl head temp or....

According to the parts manual, there is a "temperature sensor" (part 552.4.145.2A) in the vertical cylinder and a generic "sensor" (part 552.4.132.1A) in the crankcase half. I'm not sure what the latter does (maybe oil pressure?) but if the former is the one used for the oil temperature, then it's not an actual oil temp.

Giordy

[Howie]

The sensor is in the cylinder, not the crankcase, so i would think it is measuring both hotter oil and cylinder temperature as well.  5 bars, according to the owner's manual is 321 to 347^oF*.  Do have your dealer inspect your coil wiring though, particularly if the bike likes to surge at 3-4K RPM since running hot and surge are both symptoms of the problem.

Correction by me, Bladecutter's numbers are correct.

[aaronb]

...
You are correct the manual shows >201 C and 7 bars, but it has not gone over 5 bars for me and now it shows 485, every time i ride it goes a little higher.
...

are you looking at the odometer?  when it hits 600 degrees take it back for an oil change.   

[Langanobob]

are you looking at the odometer?  when it hits 600 degrees take it back for an oil change.   laughingdp

Aaron,  Thanks for making me start out the day with a laugh.  Wonder if you just might be right though??

[Bladecutter]

This is my first bike and first Ducati. I have a brand new 696 for 2 months now. I have being learning allot from this forum and is really incredible how friendly you'll are when a newbie comes in.

Since i started riding it the oil temp indicator has being climbing, at first when it reached 200 F i thought that something was wrong but then i realized that they where F and not C as the manual stated. Some weeks have passed and today it reached 472 F with 5 bars ( air temp has always being from 95 to 105 ). When it reaches to 5 bars (the day starts with 1) it gives allot of heat on my legs and knees.

Im not sure if this is common but im afraid something is going to happen to the bike.

Just to make this perfectly clear:

1 bar visible = -40 C and +80 C is equal to -40 F and 176 F
2 bars = 81 C to 110 C is equal to 177 F to 230 F
3 bars = 111 C to 135 C is equal to 231 F to 275 F
4 bars = 136 C to 160 C is equal to 276 F to 320 F
5 bars = 161 C to 175 C is equal to 321 F to 347 F
6 bars = 176 C to 190 C is equal to 348 F to 374 F
7 bars = 191 C to 200 C is equal to 375 F to 392 F
All 7 bars flashing means that it is above 201 C which is 393 F.

Please reread pages 23 through 25 in your 696 owners manual again, more clearly.

And just to give you an idea of how high synthetic engine oils can go, temp wise, here's a product data sheet for Mobil 1 0W40 car engine oil:

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/GLXXENPVLMOMobil_1_0W-40.asp

Note that the Flash point for the oil is 230 C, which is 446 F.
That is the point where oil vapor can catch on fire, under just the right circumstances.

And in case you wanted to see the Mobil 1 motorcycle oil pdf, here it is:

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/NAUSENPVLMOMobil1_Motorcycle_Oils.asp

Note that the 10W40 goes up to 253 C, which is a stunning 487 F, and the 20W50 goes all the way up to 270 C, which bring the temp up to 518 F.

So, do you still think your engine is too hot now?

BC.

[Goat_Herder]

are you looking at the odometer?  when it hits 600 degrees take it back for an oil change.   

We might have a winner here!  When the temperature reaches 1000F, I'd be really concerned.   

[Raux]

ok this is a 696 and maybe a newer one. but have you had the coils checked?
they were all supposed to be fixed, but at some point i would expect a few to slip by the dealers if that had them in stock for awhile.

the early bikes have a misfire that happens about 4000-4500 rpm due to the coil wires being swapped from the factory.

mine was one and i did have the overheat issue. i ran 5+ bars on the bad days. even had to stop the bike on a 1hr highway trip due ot the overheating. anyway. i got the coils checked and wires fixed. never seen higher than 4 bars even in hot city stop and go.

[be350ka]

I emailed (and talked to) DNA about this exact issue and this is what they said.  The temp comes from two sensors.  So, the above sensors that another user posted are what I would expect to be the two in question. 

I just had the DP oil cooler installed the other week, but since mother nature cant decide if late Dec. is really spring or winter, it will be a while until I get it out on the roads. 

[Langanobob]

Note that the 10W40 goes up to 253 C, which is a stunning 487 F, and the 20W50 goes all the way up to 270 C, which bring the temp up to 518 F.

So, do you still think your engine is too hot now?

Now, I think we need to clarify something here.  Just because your oil may be operating below its flash point and isn't in danger of bursting into flame  doesn't mean that it's not too hot to be providing good lubrication.   And yes, if his oil temp really is 472F, it's too hot.

[Bladecutter]

And yes, if his oil temp really is 472F, it's too hot.

The problem is that his bike was only running 4 or five bars, and he was doing his conversion from C to F incorrectly.
His oil was nowhere near 472 F.

4 and 5 bars is normal, HOT weather riding on the 696.

BC.