magnets & oil sump

[bonjo]

is there any real world gain by either replacing the oil drain plug with a magnetic one or just attaching a strong magnet to the sump?

The claim is that the magnet will catch & hold a lot of iron/ ferrous (only) particle the oil filter does not filter. Is this true?

 

[knerml]

Based on magnetic drain plugs and sump magnets used in transmissions, yes.

However, placing an external magnet on the sump can cause problems. If the external magnet is displaced or removed, the collected metal will be released.

A magnetic drain plug or oil filter magnets will not cause this problem.

 

[JC1]

I think the filter will do most of the work to catch the metal. If you sleep better at night, then do it.

I've never wanted a magnetic plug. The most I've done is put magnets on side of the filter.

Any of the pics that I've seen of magnetic plugs never seem to have a significant amount of metal attached to the plug. Maybe those are on well maintained engines.

 

[RayCJ]

Some folks will say yes and some will say no. I'm solidly in the "yes" camp. I've used them in industrial machinery crankcases (Mills, Lathes, CNC machines) for many years. At the end of their (typical) 200-400 hour service interval, they always have a good amount metallic build-up. I've also had them collect sizeable chips of metal and pieces of casting remnants from steel gears. Sometimes those pieces fall off even after 5 years of machine use.

I've used them in my cars and they usually collect a good film of oil shavings. I would stick with a factory purchased magnetic plug rather than a home-made one unless you are confident enough to attach it without falling off. If that happened and if you had an aluminum pan and block, the results could be real bad.


Ray

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted by RayCJ

Some folks will say yes and some will say no. I'm solidly in the "yes" camp. I've used them in industrial machinery crankcases (Mills, Lathes, CNC machines) for many years.


I'd agree with that.

I disagree they do much in a car engine with an oil pump and filter.

On a differential or MT sure good idea.

 

[StevieC]

The filter does enough of a job that a magnet on the pan is not necessary. If you want a magnetic plug or magnets around your filter that is fine but I wouldn't put one on the pan because this can create problems down the road if it's removed or falls off and all the particles it has caught are all released at once.

That said I used filter magnets and while it did catch some stuff it wasn't substantial and the filter most likely would have caught it instead.

 

[ZZman]

I would say the drain plug would not have nearly as strong a field as a pan magnet would. But I would use a Filter Mag on the oil filter and I do. They work!

 

[zorobabel]

Originally Posted by JC1
I think the filter will do most of the work to catch the metal. If you sleep better at night, then do it.

I've never wanted a magnetic plug. The most I've done is put magnets on side of the filter.

Any of the pics that I've seen of magnetic plugs never seem to have a significant amount of metal attached to the plug. Maybe those are on well maintained engines.

My Maxima gets hardly anything on the magnetic plug, while the Corolla plug catches quite a bit. It's been referred to as the "poor man's UOA".

 

[oil_film_movies]

An oil filter gets particles out down to between 30 microns (average oil filter) to 10 microns (Fram Ultra). That leaves iron particles between 0.1 microns to 10 microns in your oil, unless a magnet snags it.
The oil filter magnets shown below are Magnets are 8mm N50 neodymium (from linctex poster name).
Notice iron fuzz does get on them, which is better than scraping bearing surfaces.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4629225/Magnetic_drain_plugs_and_UOA_s

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/4629225/Magnetic_drain_plugs_and_UOA_s

 

[racin4ds]

I too am a fan of magnetic drain plugs. I've always used them and even found them to be factory issued in many vehicles proving their worth.

I just bought a few rare earth super strength disc magnets to play around with. I'm thinking I'll out one on my oil pan and one on my filter, I mean what can it hurt?!

 

[Ablebody]

That little bit of metal sludge on the magnetic oil plugs would otherwise be going back through the engine until it either got caught by the filter(if its large enough to be caught) or until it drained out with an oil change. Whatever is in the gallies and all that doesn't drain out would continue to cycle through after oil change. So I think magnets are certainly use full.

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by bonjo
is there any real world gain........... attaching a strong magnet ?


Do magnets catch ferrous debris in the oil? YES
Is there any real world gain? WHO KNOWS

Like in my photo above, I am glad to have the magnets yank the stuff out.

Less debris in the oil (theoretically) means a longer engine life, regardless of how you look at it.

 

[Malo83]

for magnetic drain plugs, use GOLD PLUG brand.

 

[Ablebody]

Originally Posted by Malo83

for magnetic drain plugs, use GOLD PLUG brand.

How strong are those gold plugs? Like what's the pull force?

 

[UncleDave]

Originally Posted by Linctex
Originally Posted by bonjo
is there any real world gain........... attaching a strong magnet ?


Do magnets catch ferrous debris in the oil? YES
Is there any real world gain? WHO KNOWS

Like in my photo above, I am glad to have the magnets yank the stuff out.

Less debris in the oil (theoretically) means a longer engine life, regardless of how you look at it.


filtermag claims 1-3 ISO code drops.

If true- thats meaningful reduction in particles.

either way as you say - cleaner oil is better.


UD

 

[Linctex]

Originally Posted by UncleDave
Originally Posted by Linctex
Less debris in the oil (theoretically) means a longer engine life, regardless of how you look at it.


filtermag claims 1-3 ISO code drops.... If true- thats meaningful reduction in particles.


That can be a substantial difference

 

[bonjo]

Since posting the thread, I found round magnets (30mm) with a central hole which you can use to fix scurely on hte car/ bike.

The need has come about after I read about using a magnet on a bike to trigger sensores on the road that control traffic lights at junctions. True or false??

One of my bikes which is tall and lightweight doesn't always get noticed and I end up waiting ages until a car comes by me to trigger the sensor. If it works and in the process benefints the oil filter then even better.

Now the knermi's comment about MT and rear diff is very interesting

 

[Malo83]

Originally Posted by Ablebody
Originally Posted by Malo83

for magnetic drain plugs, use GOLD PLUG brand.

How strong are those gold plugs? Like what's the pull force?

Don't know the pull force but it's strong, hard to get the plug back in the oil pan as the magnetic tip sticks to the threads and you have to pull it back out and start again.

 

[UncleDave]

Originally Posted by Ablebody
Originally Posted by Malo83

for magnetic drain plugs, use GOLD PLUG brand.

How strong are those gold plugs? Like what's the pull force?



Agreed on that brand " gold plug" seem very strong and high quality.

They use a coated mag - it's important to note you can break the coating or any mag by aggressively snapping thing to and from it- especially neodymiums.

How strong? it easily held this 1.5 pound hammer.

UD

 

[miden851]

I used them both of my cars and they do their job; I am a firm believer