Gold plug oil drain plug

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I have a Gold Plug, but I got it for a different reason. I quickly rounded off the OEM Mitsubishi plug, so I said "I am taking no chances on this happening again" and bought that Gold Plug.

The drain plug stays clean.
 
My magnetic drain plug has an aluminium washer. Been off maybe 4-5 times while I've had it and never shown any sign of needing replacement.

I don't use a torque wrench though.

I did smear some RTV silicone on it, but doubt that I really needed to
 
Originally Posted By: Greasymechtech
DimplePlug $35

Magnet on filter is another option.

Magnet on diptick? So genius but that would be too simple.


Magnetic pickup on printer paper by ed_lithgow, on Flickr

Above (if it works, havn't used Flickr for ages) shows the result of wiping a magnetic pickup tool (that had been in the dipstick hole for 5 days) on a piece of printer paper.

The contrast between the (presumed ferrous) tip deposit and the relatively clean oil from the rest of the tool is, I think, quite clear.

I did this to check out some sediment I'd noticed on my ordinary dipstick. I guess its probably from the cams.

While I havn't heard of magnetic dipsticks being commercially available for cars, I THINK I've seen some reference to them for motorcycles.

IMG_0093[1] by ed_lithgow, on Flickr

Second pic is the mag plug on first removal. It had some PTFE tape on it which I didn't replace. Doesn't seem to need it.

I THINK these are mostly diagnostic rather than significantly oil-cleaning, for which I doubt they have the range/field strength. The filter mag arrays probably remove a lot more metal but I'd be mildly concerned about magnetising the wear particles.
 
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Has the particle size of the fuzz been determined? Also once the filter starts picking up debris it's retention rating will also go down.
 
Originally Posted By: greasegunn
Has the particle size of the fuzz been determined? Also once the filter starts picking up debris it's retention rating will also go down.


Not sure if this is a question for me, but I'll assume it is.

I havn't determined the particle size. This shouldn't really be a surprise, since as far as I can tell I'd need a pretty good microscope, a scaled graticule, and the means to take automated or manual counts and measurements. I'd guess image analysis software would be the way to go, and if I had a few months and quite a lot of money to spare I might look into it.

But I havn't

Originally Posted By: greasegunn
Also once the filter starts picking up debris it's retention rating will also go down.


Filter is a misnomer here. The statement is true for a magnet, but would be untrue for a filter.

Limited magnet capacity is one reason why a dipstick is better than a plug, since it can be cleaned more often, but the main reason is that it can be (and probably will be) checked more often, so its diagnostically more useful, especially if it were to be used as a (partial, hopefully) guide to oil-change frequency.

A magnetic drain plug is knocking down the stable to see if your horse has bolted..er...as it were.
 
I suppose I MIGHT be able to post off a sample for ferrographic analysis.

Dunno how much they charge for that, or how informative its likely to be, but its almost certainly more than I'd want to spend.

Doesn't seem to be part of the standard used oil analysis that are discussed on here, and, come to think on't, don't remember ever seeing any ferrograms(?) discussed on here.
 
Originally Posted By: SHOZ
Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
Originally Posted By: 01_celica_gt

I never understood the drain plug gasket as a "maintenance" item...


Some of them really do need to be replaced. Soft copper "crush" washers...why because they are designed to deform and seal when torqued to the correct specification.
All Hyundais use an aluminum washer. I want to get a plastic one and quit buying the OE washer.


21513 23001 is the part number
smile.gif
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
I have a Gold Plug, but I got it for a different reason. I quickly rounded off the OEM Mitsubishi plug, so I said "I am taking no chances on this happening again" and bought that Gold Plug.

The drain plug stays clean.


the standard plug hasa 17mm head. Did you use an imperial size wrench?
 
I do think if you go for really long Amsoil or Mobil 1 Extended Performance OCIs the Gold Plug might really help in keeping Fe wear out of the oil to help with keeping abrasives low.

So if you do 10,000 mile OCIs all the time, the Gold Plug is probably really worth it.

Also, when you dump such a long drain, you get to visually see the Fe wear.

So it does serve some sort of a purpose.
 
Originally Posted By: Falken
I do think if you go for really long Amsoil or Mobil 1 Extended Performance OCIs the Gold Plug might really help in keeping Fe wear out of the oil to help with keeping abrasives low.

So if you do 10,000 mile OCIs all the time, the Gold Plug is probably really worth it.

Also, when you dump such a long drain, you get to visually see the Fe wear.

So it does serve some sort of a purpose.


My impression (and its no more than that) is that the plugs have rather limited capacity so don't remove much and "saturate" rather quickly.

I think main usefulness is likely to be diagnostic. Perhaps with experience you can detect a problem, but I think that's more likely with a gearbox plug, where big chunks can indicate bearing failure.

I've got ferrous slurry in my oil but I don't really know whether the level is abnormal.
 
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Originally Posted By: greasegunn
Has the particle size of the fuzz been determined?


Thinking about that further I'd guess you might be able to get some idea from the differential sedimentation rate.

You'd still need microscopic examination (or a standard to compare with) to interpret the result, though.
 
Ducked, the strength of the magnet used on the Gold Plug is absurd.

I picked up a 6" Wescott with it.

It could easily collect a gram of iron without loosing effectiveness.

It is a very good product.
 
You'll get increased fuel consumption with a gold plug though....

the crank will be attracted by the magnet every time it passes through BDC.


I'll get my coat...
 
Originally Posted By: Falken
Ducked, the strength of the magnet used on the Gold Plug is absurd.

I picked up a 6" Wescott with it.

It could easily collect a gram of iron without loosing effectiveness.

It is a very good product.


Ok, mine isn't a "Gold" Plug (though I've seen actual gold-anodised oil filler plugs on scooters here - blingtastic). IIRC its "King" brand (?), and probably isn't a high-strength rare-earth magnet.

I'm still unsure whether that's such a great idea though. These particles get magnetised even on my wimpy plug, because they form "whiskers" on a paper clip.

Its seems possible that, however powerful the plug is, it will acquire more iron in static, cold oil than it can hold when the oil is turbulent and hot.

This would imply circulating magnetised wear particles. This MIGHT be a good thing, since they MIGHT clump, and MIGHT then be trapped by the oil filter which they would otherwise go through.

OTOH, they MIGHT be attracted to other iron things, like crank and camshfts. This MIGHT promote wear.


I dunno, and if anyone else does, AFAIK they are keeping quiet about it.

I think ideally you'd want something that can be cleaned regularly (like a dipstick, though that wont hold much and if it did the fuzz might scrape of on the dipstick hole) or a multi-plate magnetic collector that sequesters the collected iron from the oil flow. I've seen pictures of the latter for industrial use, but they aren't consumer items and they won't be cheap.
 
Originally Posted By: Jetronic
You'll get increased fuel consumption with a gold plug though....

the crank will be attracted by the magnet every time it passes through BDC.


I'll get my coat...


Losses on the upswing should be cancelled out by gains on the downswing, swings and roundabouts stylee.

I don't have a coat.
 
Originally Posted By: Ducked
Originally Posted By: Falken
Ducked, the strength of the magnet used on the Gold Plug is absurd.

I picked up a 6" Wescott with it.

It could easily collect a gram of iron without loosing effectiveness.

It is a very good product.


Ok, mine isn't a "Gold" Plug (though I've seen actual gold-anodised oil filler plugs on scooters here - blingtastic). IIRC its "King" brand (?), and probably isn't a high-strength rare-earth magnet.

I'm still unsure whether that's such a great idea though. These particles get magnetised even on my wimpy plug, because they form "whiskers" on a paper clip.

Its seems possible that, however powerful the plug is, it will acquire more iron in static, cold oil than it can hold when the oil is turbulent and hot.

This would imply circulating magnetised wear particles. This MIGHT be a good thing, since they MIGHT clump, and MIGHT then be trapped by the oil filter which they would otherwise go through.

OTOH, they MIGHT be attracted to other iron things, like crank and camshfts. This MIGHT promote wear.


I dunno, and if anyone else does, AFAIK they are keeping quiet about it.


Well. pretty quiet. Stumbled on this just now, the only mention I've seen of this problem, if it is a problem. Certainly I don't recall it being mentioned in any discussion of magnetic "filtration".

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/781/particle-contamination

"Magnetic Susceptibility. Permanent magnets are used in some filters and online wear particle sensors. Particles of iron or steel that are attracted to a magnetic field are preferentially separated from the oil by these devices. Later, any particles that may have sloughed off these separators and sensors (due to shock or surge flow conditions) are often left magnetized. They can then magnetically grip onto steel orifices, glands and oilways restricting flow or simply interfering with machine part movement.

Additionally, directional control and servo valves commonly used in hydraulic systems deploy the use of electro magnets in their solenoids. The actuation of these valves can be adversely affected by the magnetic susceptibility of iron and steel particles that are attracted by the solenoid."
 
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