Experimenting with magnets.

[OceanRuns]

Recently I had concern about metal shards from a cross-threaded\stripped oil drain plug on my 1985 Country Squire. I also posted asking peoples' opinions on placing magnets on/in an oil filter. Does anyone think magnets on an oil filter will interfere with valve operation?

Yesterday, I went to Home Depot and did a little shopping. A member in my other thread had mentioned that some magnets lose effectiveness when heated. So, I did some googling.

I am no expert, so if anyone here is better informed, do chime in. I found that some neodymium magnets, while very strong for their size, begin to lose strength around 176 degrees. My googling also seemed to indicate that ceramic magnets, while not quite as strong, are able to resist heat attenuation much better.

---------------------------------

These are ceramic magnets which look like they'd fit an oil filter. They sell for 2.25 (+tax) a pack. The packs also open and close easily, so if one doesn't like them/they don't fit right, they can be returned easily. They seem decently strong (will slam together at about 2 inches distance - not a great idea, as I've read that can shatter them.)


---------------------------------

As to putting a magnet on the oil pan, I went with this. It looks to be ceramic (though doesn't say), and is quite strong. It was $3.24.



(Mounted on pan, the one near it is a slightly smaller version, they didn't have enough of the larger one in stock.)



---------------------------------

These are the neodymium ones, which I read lose effectiveness at a lower temperature than ceramic. They are stronger per given size, but I wanted to use the more heat resistant ones.

 

[Kestas]

I have a reservation with placing magnets on the outside of pans and filters. They can get knocked loose during service. Then you have a flush of magnetic particles coursing through the unit.

 

[OceanRuns]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
I have a reservation with placing magnets on the outside of pans and filters. They can get knocked loose during service. Then you have a flush of magnetic particles coursing through the unit.


I definitely understand that concern. I would not send this car to be serviced like this. When I next changed the oil, I am going to remove the two magnets and then use a magnet on a little telescopic rod inserted into the pan to try and get anything from that area.

That said, these magnets are on pretty snuggle, it takes some effort to get them off.

 

[OceanRuns]

Here's the 1985 Country Squire. 302 engine, throttle-body injection, 130k miles, jump seats at the very rear which face one-another. Purchased from a tow yard recently.

 

[mongo161]

I've never used your setup for the oil or ATF. However:

For a few years, I've been using a Filter Mag that attaches to the outside of my spin on oil filter. It is still as strong as when I first placed it on my oil filter.

When the weather gets cooler, and I have time, I plan on installing a "spin on Filter" for my ATF. I installed a remote cooler for the ATF at the beginning of the summer, after the pan was dropped filter changed and new rubber gasket installed. IMO, the remote HD ATF cooler has reduced the heat of the AT fluid back to the transmission pan dramatically.

So when the weather gets cooler, I'll install the spin on filter mount and hoses inside the engine compartment before the fluid enters the remote ATF cooler. I have the threaded high compression hoses, filter mounting bracket, barbed connectors and clamps ready to be assembled with Teflon tape and permatex.

I plan on using another filter mag on the ATF spin-on filter to catch any shards of iron or steel as it enters the ATF filter and changing the remote filter should be a simple task.

 

[Pontual]

I don't think the magnet inside the filter is better than outside, because it gets hotter, and a magnet looses atraction force at about 82 degree Celsius ... Outside will be cooler by exposure to air and won't loose ex trapped material. I use neodimium magnet outside the can with a 5 lbs force, so don't put it on top of the can or the metal bypass will be oppend more times and sooner. Put on the side. and if you loose the magnet (never happened to me) because the can is too hot, you still have the media barrier for those debries.

 

[OceanRuns]

Originally Posted By: Pontual
I don't think the magnet inside the filter is better than outside, because it gets hotter, and a magnet looses atraction force at about 82 degree Celsius ... Outside will be cooler by exposure to air and won't loose ex trapped material. I use neodimium magnet outside the can with a 5 lbs force, so don't put it on top of the can or the metal bypass will be oppend more times and sooner. Put on the side.


I was going to put these bar ones on the side. Do you think they're too long and would interfere with the bypass?

 

[BlueOvalFitter]

That CS looks to be in great shape. Did the tow company give you a good deal on purchasing it? Is the interior in ok condition as well?

If at your next OCI you retrieve small metal shards from the oil pan with your scope magnet you might want to consider dropping the oil pan and clean it and the oil pump pickup assembly. Good luck.

 

[camrydriver111]

Originally Posted By: Kestas
I have a reservation with placing magnets on the outside of pans and filters. They can get knocked loose during service. Then you have a flush of magnetic particles coursing through the unit.


It's possible. It depends on how strong the magnets are.

If they are weak enough to get knocked off they probably don't capture any metal in the pan anyways.

 

[OceanRuns]

It was $1,497. I could sell it today on Craigslist for more. I did try to offer less, but they wouldn't do it for a couple more days. I didn't want to risk losing it.

Interior is nice. Headliner great, seats very nice overall. AC doesn't work, but all parts are there (AC isn't critical where I am, but I'll plan to charge it). ATF is nice and pink. Had an owners manual in the glove box.

I agree on the pan. On this vehicle, the pan looks like a real pain to take off, so hopefully not necessary. LOL.

Originally Posted By: BlueOvalFitter
That CS looks to be in great shape. Did the tow company give you a good deal on purchasing it? Is the interior in ok condition as well?

If at your next OCI you retrieve small metal shards from the oil pan with your scope magnet you might want to consider dropping the oil pan and clean it and the oil pump pickup assembly. Good luck.

 

[stchman]

OIl filter magents, oil pan magnets, both gimmicks.

 

[Kawiguy454]

That car is AWESOME! too bad there are no drive-ins to take it to.

The metal the magnets are stuck to will shunt the flux field. So inside the pan there will be little or no magnetic strength.

AZ sell drain plugs with magnetic insert. Get one and youll find between changes there is not so much metal there that you need more.

 

[Leo99]

I had a country squire back in 1998. Guess it was about an 85. Paid $400 for it and put 10,000 miles on it. It must have been sludged up or something because I could only get about 1 quart of oil to come out when I drained the pan but the dipstick showed full.

I bought neodymium magnets off amazon that are incredibly strong. But won't the oil filter capture the metal shards?

 

[camrydriver111]

Originally Posted By: Leo99
It must have been sludged up or something because I could only get about 1 quart of oil to come out when I drained the pan but the dipstick showed full.


That's honestly disturbing.

 

[Pontual]

Originally Posted By: OceanRuns
Originally Posted By: Pontual
I don't think the magnet inside the filter is better than outside, because it gets hotter, and a magnet looses atraction force at about 82 degree Celsius ... Outside will be cooler by exposure to air and won't loose ex trapped material. I use neodimium magnet outside the can with a 5 lbs force, so don't put it on top of the can or the metal bypass will be oppend more times and sooner. Put on the side.


I was going to put these bar ones on the side. Do you think they're too long and would interfere with the bypass?


Maybe, because one pole is too close to th bypass. But, for me the main problem is running hot and loosing atraction and consquent reliasing after media. Not a good desing.

 

[CT8]

Originally Posted By: stchman
OIl filter magents, oil pan magnets, both gimmicks.
Why? Lots of expensive industrial engines have them as well as auto transmissions ,manual transmissions and differentials have them.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

Only economically effective when placed on the inside. Placing outside on steel surfaces requires a huge and expensive magnet to produce any useful flux on the other side.

 

[larryinnewyork]

My 2 cents;

1) Go to www.goldplug.com and get a drain plug with (very strong) magnet.
Then when you change the oil, you can inspect/clean the magnet each time.
I did this with my transmission pan.

2) Go to www.magnefine.com if you want a magnet on your oil filter.

I have the Magnefine / applied to outside of filter
Conclusion: When I cut the used oil filter open, you can see very fine black powder (microns) where the magnetic fields are.
Does it actually help, who knows ? ? ?

My transmission pan has the GoldPlug drain plug.
My Oil Pan has a Fumoto Ball Valve