Do magnetic crankcase drain plugs make any difference?

[demarpaint]

I see it as any metal the magnet catches is a plus, even a very slight amount. The less wear metal circulating through an engine the better imo. There are some very high quality drain plug magnets and some cheap ones. I'm sure that can make a difference too.

 

[burbguy82]

where the filter will trap the metal particles.

transmissions have filters

transfer cases have magnets such as the NP246

 

[JHZR2]

Back to the magnet thing........

I can see the validity in it, I mean many transmissions have them stuck to the pan.....further some factory pans have bosses in them to raise the magnet off the surface and increase their holding surface area.

I think the issue is the specificity of the test to validate the results, meaning you would have to run several engines with the same oil, fuel, load, etc, blah blah blah........

I have changed my opinion to the side of maybe it does something worth while, but not sure that it makes a difference in engine life.....

Maybe they are intended to help removal manufacturing debris from the bottom of the pan. Most stuff is so small I can see it not settling to the bottom..........not sure.

Some units that use them don’t even have a filter, so it acts kind of as one for some wear materials. And the ratio of sump to magnetic field is likely different. Having a magnet pulling from a 1L diff, or a couple larger disc magnets pulling from a 3L AT sump is somewhat different in terms of area and amount of fluid covered at rest.

 

[burbguy82]

Some units that use them don’t even have a filter, so it acts kind of as one for some wear materials. And the ratio of sump to magnetic field is likely different. Having a magnet pulling from a 1L diff, or a couple larger disc magnets pulling from a 3L AT sump is somewhat different in terms of area and amount of fluid covered at rest.

I agree.

In a gear case I can definitely see the value as they are closed, and their drain intervals are much, much longer.....as for an engine, nah. I just dont want folks to apply "no magnet" in engine oil drain, to "no magnet whatsoever anywhere ever and ever"

 

[JHZR2]

I agree.

In a gear case I can definitely see the value as they are closed, and their drain intervals are much, much longer.....as for an engine, nah. I just dont want folks to apply "no magnet" in engine oil drain, to "no magnet whatsoever anywhere ever and ever"

Agree.

The one that I think about a lot is the AT. Universally they have either big, long magnets on the plug (Honda), or multiple in the pan. Systems hold more than engines in many cases, but the sumps don’t necessarily hold the quantity of oil. So there’s still this ratios and this covered area by the magnetic field that I suspect comes into play. What does it mean? Perhaps that a bigger, longer magnet is really needed for the engine sump to be effective. Maybe (?).

 

[nomas]

I can see using a magnetic plug for the differential and on the transmission pan. I don't see a reason to use for the engine where the filter will trap the metal particles.

And yet you have people here talking about changing the oil in their brand new vehicles . Why don't THEY trust the filter ?

 

[burbguy82]

Agree.

The one that I think about a lot is the AT. Universally they have either big, long magnets on the plug (Honda), or multiple in the pan. Systems hold more than engines in many cases, but the sumps don’t necessarily hold the quantity of oil. So there’s still this ratios and this covered area by the magnetic field that I suspect comes into play. What does it mean? Perhaps that a bigger, longer magnet is really needed for the engine sump to be effective. Maybe (?).

Maybe, but then it would have to be removable so to speak, and many engine oil pans are not easy. Like I said before, the magnet is trapping metal......to that there is no question, but is the juice worth the squeeze to try and add magnets all over the place to increase engine life, nah.

Transmission pan, I think so, make the whole bottom a magnet, as it would most definitely increase filter life.

I wonder if adding strong magnets everywhere would mess with electronics on todays computers on wheels?