998 Biposto: Oil cooler issue

[El Gladiateur]

Last week, i discovered that my 998 suffered from a leak coming from oil cooler. First, i thought it was only an oil line who needed to be checked....not at all: the cooler itself is DEAD...430 Euros

It's really pain in the axx, 'cause the bike just came out of service (valve adjustment, etc etc...all was OK) and there was nothing wrong on it.


So, have you ever heard about bad oil cooler on 998?
Is there an other oil cooler, coming from a monster or other SBK, that could fit the 998?

[viper1]

Float E-bay, their always on there for like $135!

[Old Fart]

+1 on the used parts on ebay.
Perhaps you can have a very talented person weld the leak closed for you. That is if it is just a small hole.

What can happen on the 998 is that the chin fairing can rub on the oil cooler. Although it is plastic it WILL eventually rub through the cooler causing a leak.

When you get your new cooler mounted, assemble the bike and note that the plastic is touching the cooler. Take the chin piece off and grind it down about 4-5mm so that it clears the cooler by at least that 4mm. You won't have a problem again. I noticed that mine was rubbing and modified it long before it caused a problem.

[moto]

We are putting on oversize oil cooler on our 996R--we will have an OEM oil cooler for sale as soon as we determine if we can get this big oil cooler mounted.

-M

[El Gladiateur]

Originally Posted by Old Fart

+1 on the used parts on ebay.
Perhaps you can have a very talented person weld the leak closed for you. That is if it is just a small hole.

What can happen on the 998 is that the chin fairing can rub on the oil cooler. Although it is plastic it WILL eventually rub through the cooler causing a leak.

When you get your new cooler mounted, assemble the bike and note that the plastic is touching the cooler. Take the chin piece off and grind it down about 4-5mm so that it clears the cooler by at least that 4mm. You won't have a problem again. I noticed that mine was rubbing and modified it long before it caused a problem.

That's my second oil cooler. The first one had been cut by the ducati performance CF "v" part. At this time, the bike was under warranty, and all had been repared/fixed/modificated for free. This time, the bike is near 5 years old....no warranty
The issue i have nowadays is different. This bloody fxxxing part leaks, but you cant' tell WHERE it does come. It seems to come from the left side of the cooler, but there is a lot of oil front of it.

[hardway]

My 998 oil cooler got cut by the carbon fiber v-piece. My local radiator shop welded it and it held up fine (I didnt think it would) Since then,I found a used one in excellent condition. The 998 cooler is diff from the 996, so make sure you get the right one.

[Old Fart]

Originally Posted by El Gladiateur

That's my second oil cooler. The first one had been cut by the ducati performance CF "v" part. At this time, the bike was under warranty, and all had been repared/fixed/modificated for free. This time, the bike is near 5 years old....no warranty
The issue i have nowadays is different. This bloody fxxxing part leaks, but you cant' tell WHERE it does come. It seems to come from the left side of the cooler, but there is a lot of oil front of it.

Are you sure it is leaking as in puddles on the floor?
Some idiot (me) adjusted the valves a few years ago and the cooler filled with oil leaking from the front cylinder when I took the cover off. It took a LOT of solvent three times to finally clean all the oil out of the fins.

Won't do that again....

[El Gladiateur]

I confirm it doesn't come from valve cover or oil line. It comes from the oil cooler body itself.
Here is a pic of a 998 oil cooler. The red marks shows where it comes:

[996F4S]

JBWeld baby!!!!

[mrgrn]

buy a cheap one from ebay for a different bike that shares the same measurements

[El Gladiateur]

One month and no part. Ducati is unable to provide parts for their bikes. Shame on them. I'm totally Disgusted and Enraged. Who rule this brand? "Qui est le putain de rigolo à la tête de cette putian de boite?".
They don't seem to care about 5 years old bike, the same one they COPY to sell their brand new Supab'ike.

The fact is that i want an OEM new part, with warranty. I don't want to find a approximativ part on ebay or elsewhere that would be shot as mine.

DUCATI, I WANT MY OIL COOLER, RIGHT NOW.
10 years i ride ducs, 10 years i put bucks in this brand. That's the first time i see such a thing personnaly, BUT NOT THE FIRST TIME I HEAR ABOUT IT.

-A part that dies without reason (Desmoquattro rockers like....)
-No part that comes from Bologna.....
-One ducatist VERY ANGRY

[El Gladiateur]

My 998 is "off" since November 10th.

The part needed is "out of stock"......i'm loosing faith.
Congratulations Mr Ducati, you've won motogp title but you've lost a 10 year customer.

[molasses]

Jeezuz! What's with us Ducati owners? Every time we're given an opportunity to start whining we're going at it as if we're paid to do so.

El Glad, have you considered buying a used oil cooler or perhaps order a similar one from Febur?

There are thousands of 916-998 generation bikes out there. I find it hard to believe it's impossible to get hold of a suitable oil cooler for your bike.

If it takes no more for you to give up a 10 year love affair with Ducati then perhaps it's time for you to start riding Japanese bikes instead.

[El Gladiateur]

What the **** molasses?

I've tried to find this part in used-market: IMPOSSIBLE. This cooler is 998 only, the one from 996/916 doesn't fit. Did you now that?
I don't think it's paranormal to want an OEM part from the brand of my bike. if they are unable to have part for a 4 or 5 years old vehicule, they should stop all business right now.
I don't find ridiculous to be totaly pissed of by a bike you've just serviced and that is in fact unable to be ridden.

[Ben710]

Impossible?

You must be joking

If you really need one, I will make a few phone calls and see if I can dig one up. 2nd hand though.

[Le Kiwi]

Send it to Pro-Radia, Christophe, they'll repair it and send it back quickly and well repaired.

Proradia : vente et réparation de radiateurs pour auto, moto et poids lourds.

Otherwise try Bibi Dufour.

[El Gladiateur]

Thanks Kiwi and Ben

The next "dead line" is Saturday. My DS had been told by Ducati France that the part should be here december 22nd , then january 15Th. Saturday should be the day i know if i go on with this crappy way of making business or if i'm ready for more serious stuff.
The fact that you can't have parts for your bike from its brand is, imo, a bad sign.

[El Gladiateur]

Originally Posted by Ben710

Impossible?

You must be joking

If you really need one, I will make a few phone calls and see if I can dig one up. 2nd hand though.

That's not a joke Ben, this part is near impossible to find: Not found on ebay, not found on ducatannonces.com.
There are plenty of guy that think the 996 cooler fit 998, but it's not the case. 998S, 998R, 996R and 998 share a specific cooler you don't find on an other model.
Furthermore, the reason i want an oem brand new part is for warranty reasons. Indeed, it's more expensive but if such an affaire occurs later again it's better.

[molasses]

I don't know if you've found an oil cooler already, El Glad, but in any case there's one available on eBay right now:

If you're interested you should go to eBay and type in item number 150236347681.

Good luck!

[El Gladiateur]

@Molasses: It's very late, but thanks for the tip

I "up" this thread cause i've met this morning a 2002 748R that has encountered the very same issue.
As mine before, it's waiting for its part. I've waited mine near 4 months........This 748R sits at the dealer for 1 month already.......

I wonder if there is a way to buy directly from the supplier this part....the supplier that is in fact...KTM!

I remember this very well this red 748R cause 6 years ago we ran together in a ducati meetin. I remember this crazy "duc attack" when we took the Noirmoutier Bridge at a very huge speed. There were my 998 and three 2002 748R (1 yellow, 2 red). That looked like an "X wing hyperspace jump" LOL.