Magnefine in Pwr Steering circuit

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VNTS

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I am going to add a megnefine in the return line on my PT GT.

How long can one of these be used in miles? I would think at least 50K since I really dont think there would be much debris coming out of a rack and PS pump.

Anyone use one in a PS system and if so how long do you intend to leave it in service before you replace it?
 
people use them in the PS system all the time don't recall on the mileage but they can go a long ways tho.
 
I went with a NAPA 3003 for $5. You can replace the original after a while, and imo, you are good from there.

filter2004.jpg


filter2006.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: Audi Junkie
I went with a NAPA 3003 for $5. You can replace the original after a while, and imo, you are good from there.

Have you ever cut one open?
 
I have a magnafine on my boat power steering for 4 years now, and I've had one on my car for two with no problems. If you open them, they have a filter element and magnets in them. For most people, having one installed on the p/s should last a long time. Though p/s fluid does wear out, and you do get wear and debris in them, it don't think they produce enough to clog a filter in a short time.
 
I am replacing the line with a new on and run the Amsoil ATF in it, so I will put all new fluid in. I just figured adding the Magnefine would be a cost effective way of hopefully increasing the lifespan of the pump and rack. It has 100K on it but I have run the Amsoil since 17K miles and refresh it twice a year with a Turkey baster.

Originally Posted By: Johnny248
I have a magnafine on my boat power steering for 4 years now, and I've had one on my car for two with no problems. If you open them, they have a filter element and magnets in them. For most people, having one installed on the p/s should last a long time. Though p/s fluid does wear out, and you do get wear and debris in them, it don't think they produce enough to clog a filter in a short time.
 
Originally Posted By: VNTS
I am replacing the line with a new on and run the Amsoil ATF in it, so I will put all new fluid in. I just figured adding the Magnefine would be a cost effective way of hopefully increasing the lifespan of the pump and rack. It has 100K on it but I have run the Amsoil since 17K miles and refresh it twice a year with a Turkey baster.

Originally Posted By: Johnny248
I have a magnafine on my boat power steering for 4 years now, and I've had one on my car for two with no problems. If you open them, they have a filter element and magnets in them. For most people, having one installed on the p/s should last a long time. Though p/s fluid does wear out, and you do get wear and debris in them, it don't think they produce enough to clog a filter in a short time.


That is exactly what I have going on, Magnafine and Amsoil ATF
 
A fuel filter may not handle the flow and heat that a PS system can operate at. Even at a return line, it may be restrictive.
I would shy away from a fuel filter in a PS system.

A very large one, like a FI type? Maybe.
 
There is a thread somewhere around here that is 8-10 pages long about people putting fuel filters and Magnefines on their Power Steering lines.
I don't remember one person having an issue, as long as they place it on the low pressure return line.

I have been planning on putting a Napa Gold fuel filter on the low pressure return lines of a few of my vehicles, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
I'm not worried about restriction as most PS fluid is pretty thin, and even Napa Gold Fuel Filters are pretty porus. The extra capacity probably helps the system out a little also, although we are talking about a couple Fluid Ounces.

Magnefine or a Fuel Filter is better than what comes from the Factory, and from what I remember either will cut down on the particles floating around your PS system. (Yes, someone actually had a Particle Count and a UOA done before/after installing the fuel filter.)
 
The Magnefine is rated for high temps and a PS kit is offered by the MFR. I have personally seen almost 300F in a power steering system (on a 4x4 rockcrawling and big tires w/front locker in use). The Magnefine is rated for that degree of temp... a fuel filter not so much. In street car use, however, I doubt a "plastic" fuel filter would be a problem at the temps most street car PS run (which I would guess up to about 150F). Certainly a metal cased one would be OK.
 
Quote:
Magnefine or a Fuel Filter is better than what comes from the Factory, and from what I remember either will cut down on the particles floating around your PS system. (Yes, someone actually had a Particle Count and a UOA done before/after installing the fuel filter.)


I speculate that some systems have substantial debris in the PS fluid. Magnefine's (or a like product) was OEM on some Ford products ..or at least some members alleged. A member pointed out the parts at rock auto.com

1/2" sized Magnefines were $2.20 each. The 3/8" were more in line with our sponsor's price.
 
The power steering can generate significant debris, as shown by the particle count tests below. How significant it is to long term life of the PS system in automobiles, I do not know. If you use the studies done on ag/commecrial hydraulic systems that are generally similar, you want a target level under about 19/14 for pumps and 18/12 for he most sensitive of valves. I honestly do not know how those specs relate to most power steering systems, but I am told that rack & pinions systems are more sensitive than recirculating ball. In the end, the old adage, "there's no such thing as oil that's too clean," applies.

I did some testing on two trucks, using optical particle counting.

In an '05 F-150 (rack & pinion). The oil at about 20K miles was 20/17/12. I installed a Magnefine into the return line and ran it for 552 miles before resampling the oil. The ISO code dropped to 17/15/12.

In an '86 F250 diesel w/140K miles and about 50K on a fluid change (I deliberately didn't change the oil and tried to minimize fluid loss when adding the filter), the ISO code dropped from 21/18/14 to 18/16/13 in just 289 miles.

It's been about a year since I did those tests and I bet they dropped at least once more ISO code in the thousands of miles since.
 
SO any guess how long one could leave the magnefine on PS system in service?

Also, am I correct in saying that if the magnefine gets loaded it will by pass and still flow enough fluid so the PS or transmission wont starve or am I incorrect? GUess what I am asking is if one left it in service in either application too long it wont hurt anything other than not filter?
 
Magnefine recommends 30K for the filters on transmissions. Since a PS system generates much less debris than an automatic transmission, you could likely extend that to 50K (IMO), maybe more if you have already changed the fluid from the original break-in. In truth, after the first change, the filter could probably go as long as you would run the fluid... if not "lifetime" ... but that only my educated, but none-the-less WAG. But yes, the Magnefine will bypass at 4-6 psig. Even bypassed, it will continue to filter, at least the ferrous particles which will continue to be attracted to the magnet.
 
Whoops... meant to say PSID not PSIG. I just looked up the specs and the cracking pressure is 4 psid + or - 1 and fully open a 7 psid + or - 1.
 
I ran a Magnifine over 80K on a trans with Amsoil and it was clean to the point of nothing noticeable to the eye when I tore it apart.

The trans was a rebuilt unit that ran with the transmission fluid through the break in period as well. I would be a little leery of a plastic fuel filter handling the pressure of transmission fluid. It it was metal maybe......
 
Originally Posted By: rslifkin
The transmission cooler lines aren't under much pressure at all. Power steering is under more pressure, however.


I would not trust either to a plastic fuel filter.......
 
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