Leaking oil pressure sensor - 851 SP3

Desmonut

My SP3 has a high mileage but has been impeccably mechanically maintained with > 143k Km on the clock. No oil leaks until a couple of weeks ago. Out for a fairly fast ride over 3 hours trying to keep up with a 1299S (and succeeding). Got home and smelled burning and then notice oil around the clutch cover, up the RH side panel and scarily just starting to coat the extreme RH edge of the rear tyre.
Where the hell is that coming from then?
Looked like the oil filler plug and/or pressure switch. Tried both for tightness and the pressure switch wasn't tight. Aha thinks me that must be it. So ordered new crush washer and also a new green rubber O ring for the filler cap just in case. Fitted them and tightened everything up. Went for ride - and after 2 miles or so stopped to look. Low and behold oil leak!
Where from? Back home, fairing off and I stand looking at the switch while holding revs a 4000rpm or so. Bugger me if a drop of oil, as if from a pipette didn't come out from around the male spade terminal.
Rang JHP, Coventry. Old part superseded by part same as on my 996. Reasonable price c£25. 3 hours later back home with new part fitted and oil leak solved. Mentioned it John Burrows JHP Workshop Manager and he said 'oh they leak they do, when they get old!'
Now I know.

Mr.R

Not only do they leak but they also tell lies, so much so that I don't bother fitting them.
If your motor really lost it's oil pressure you'd soon know and if the switch gave you a warning at this point it would already be time to strip the motor.
The factory didn't bother fitting them to the race bikes.😉
If you really want one though a VW one can be bought for a fraction of the cost of the Ducati item.

Steve R

hindsight

Desmonut wroteMentioned it John Burrows JHP Workshop Manager and he said 'oh they leak they do, when they get old!' Now I know.

To be fair, we all leak a bit when we get old. 😉

Chris

hindsight wroteTo be fair, we all leak a bit when we get old. 😉

but these leak even when their young hindsight! I don't know how many of you continue to buy O.E.M. oil pressure senders, but the pattern part versions fitted to many cars can leak, stop working or a combination of both within 2,000 miles. Also had an O.E.M. unit fail within 4,000 miles. It's bad enough for me to buy them in bulk, but if I had one non-std bike I would probably blank (as per Mr R) or fit a capillary type gauge instead.