Magnetic Drain Plug Truly Worth It?

One thing I think people miss regarding magnetic filters is that they are functioning 24hrs a day, every day. The fluid that is within the magnetic field, where it's strong enough to influence the particles, will be cleaned of these particles while the vehicle / equipment is not in use. These particles will not return to circulation to create more damage / particles. Cleaner fluid reduces wear which reduces the rate of wear particles added to the system. Magnets help to flatten the curve.

The filters / screens that are used in engines, transmissions, gearboxes, hydraulics, power steering, etc are only functioning while the fluid is in motion and cannot remove magnetic particles as small as a magnet can. Magnets improve the filtering of fluid in all cases where there are magnetic particles of any size.
 
Magnetic plugs do function as a "filter" in transmissions etc per a GM service bulletin: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2016/MC-10078481-7690.pdf

Purpose of Magnetic Drain Plugs
Magnetic drain plugs in drive axles, transmissions and transfer cases are designed to attract metallic particles generated during normal operation and prevent them from passing through the gears or bearing.
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For engine oil, I assume they are a diagnostic tool but I haven't found any factory reference materials to support this.
 
I have them on all cars. I’d rather have metal on the magnets vs in the oil.

K&J 23lb high temp neodymium: PS pump reservoirs, remote oil filters, AT pans
Votex drain plugs: differentials, transmissions - manual and automatic
IPD drain plugs: 240 oil pans.
 
Carlostrece said:
I've never heard of anyone having a problem with a Gold Plug. I wouldn't worry about its glue. Plus the oil pickup has a screen on it. So the worst that could happen if magnet came loose is it'd stick to that screen. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

The legit purpose of a magnetic drain plug is to show you a sample of the ferrous (iron/steel) particles circulating in your oil so you can see how much (and how big) ferrous (iron/steel) particles are in your motor oil. This gives you an idea of engine health, wear, and a warning if anything is catastrophically shredding metal or breaking.

i.e. - A magnetic drain plug's purpose is to show you if there's a problem.

A drainplug magnet is not big enough to remove signifigant amounts of ferrous particles out of oil.

If you want magnets that are big enough to remove most ferrous particles from your oil... A pair of Filtermag SS will remove almost all ferrous particles from your oil.

Put a pair of Filtermag SS on outside of oil filter. When you change oil move the pair of Filtermag SS to the new oil filter.

In the second photo you see a cut open oil filter can. On the inside of the can you can see the ferrous particles that Filtermag SS captured and kept inside can. Thus removing those ferrous particles from the oil.

View attachment 323802

View attachment 323803
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I've seen that bottom picture before :unsure: 😁. That was 21.5 years ago 😲 when I started cutting filters open. Might be time to change the cutting wheel on my filter cutter.

From my post back then "Toyota YZZD3 Filter. Mobil 1 5W-30 with 4500 miles on it. Total miles on engine 14,300. This is what is stuck to the filter can. It's that grey, paste, goop that you find on all the magnetic plugs".

Dang I'm getting old. My daughter wasn't even a year old at that time, now in OT grad school clinicals.

Yup, I've had Filtermags that long. That one was on each filter on the Sequoia, I don't think I replaced it ever and it got turned in at dealer in November 2018 with I thing 196K on the motor.

The Votex plug on my daughter-in-laws Tucson has that pull to side on steel pan install issue. On the '08 CRV the Votex has no issue, I think pan is aluminum. Accord and Pilot have Fumoto and Valvomax respectively (and Filtermags). I forget what my sons Forte has.
 
Carlostrece said:
I look at it this way. A pair of Filtermag SS is a one time expense for the life of my vehicle. They can easily be moved to my next vehicle if it has a similar diameter oil filter. The cost for a pair of Filtermag SS is equal to 8.5 of my oil premium filters.

Engines with under 30K miles shed a lot of ferrous particles of various sizes. After 30K miles an engines sheds less ferrous particles, but still sheds some.

A premium oil filter by itself can remove 99.9% of particles that are smaller than 20-25 microns. A pair of Filtermag SS removes all ferrous particles that are larger than 2 microns and some that are smaller. i.e. - Filtermag is very effective at its job.

Is a pair of Filtermag needed? That depends on how you define needed.

It's not needed to reliably go as far as car warranty covers, which is what car makers care about.

I think Filtermag SS is very helpful to new engines during breakin period, IMO. That's assuming you want engine to last as long as possible. With Filtermag SS in place, I would feel no need to change oil and filter early during engine breakin period. I'd just change oil and filter at a normal 3.5-5K OCI same as I would after breakin period (depending on driving style and climate).

So the pair of Filtermag SS on a new car pays for itself quickly by reducing wear from seed contamination during new engine breakin period, and because you don't need to change oil or filter early to remove ferrous wear particles. Over the 30K engine breakin period, Filtermag more than pays for itself, IMO.

I think Filtermag SS is still somewhat helpful after 30K miles engine breakin period, but not as helpful and certainly not a necessity.

Will Filtermag ever pay for itself if you put it on a high mileage car? It's debateable. It might help, can't hurt.
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Typo Correction, and rephrasing to be easier to read and more clear. I meant to say:

A premium oil filter removes 99.9% of particles 23-25 microns and larger.

A pair of Filtermag SS removes 100% of ferrous particles 3 microns and larger.

Filtermag is very effective.
 
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Just wiped some paste off of my magnetic plug, similar to noalox. At the last oil change there was no paste. 168k miles, Ford Focus ST. Oil in vehicle was and is Mobil1 ESP 0w-30.
 
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Ang said:
Stripped the Head a little on my OEM Drain Plug, So i decided to replace it with a Gold Plug. That Plug came with slightly bent threads compared to the head, but it still seals without a leak. The Magnet Did Pick up a very small amount over 4100 Miles, But i dont like the idea of its Poor Quality Control, And Unknown glue stopping that magnet from breaking off into your engine, And im debating just going back to OEM for $15 (I know other aftermarket is $8 at most). I guess the Magnetic plug is either a Peace of mind having it, or in my case a peace of mind sticking to oem And not much of a real benefit?
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A Mag plug Is a great diagnostic tool, but its surface area only adds marginal ISO reduction, still it does offer some cleaning.

It's not as effective as a filter magnet which if filter mags test claims are to be believed, can result in 1-3 code drops - which is substantive.

Are magnetic separators necessary - no, are they helpful , yes they are wherever you can fit them.

If you want to know what the pros think vs guys on here check out Jim Fitch at Noria corps take on magnetic separators.
 
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