Oil filter magnets

SyntheticShield · Jan 9, 2005

Looking for some opinions and input on oil filter magnets. Do you think they help or hinder? What are the pros and cons? So on and so forth.

One thing I get concerned about each time I look at these things is if the magnet does start trapping material (I know if it does catch a lot then it would be an indication of something worse going on) that it would cause the filter to clog and go into bypass mode which would compound the issue overall.

So is anyone using these things, if so, what have been your experiences so far. If you arent using them, then why?

As always, thanks in advance for all the indepth advice and input that I have found on this board so far.

2K2AcuraTL · Jan 9, 2005

I prefer to use a rare earth magnet simply stuck to the oil drain plug. I use them on my Acura and my GM minivan.
J

SyntheticShield · Jan 9, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by 2K2AcuraTL:
I prefer to use a rare earth magnet simply stuck to the oil drain plug. I use them on my Acura and my GM minivan.
J

Ive got a magnetic drain plug for the oil pan, but I have read that because the particles stay in suspension (for the most part) that a magnetic oil drain plug may not be the best use of the magnet. It makes sense, how true it is I cant say. And it also makes sense to put the magnets on the oil filter so as the oil is moving by it can be captured. I understand that it would only capture only ferrous material, but every little bit out of the oil to me is an improvement.

Big Jim · Jan 9, 2005

I soubt that a healthy engine would ever have enough iron particles in it to make much difference. A filter magnet would probably be sone of those things that wouldn't really do much but wouldn't do any damage either. If there were enough iron particles to clog the filter you would have such severe damage that it wouldn't much matter either. At least that's my $.02

Bio-T · Jan 9, 2005

We have a Site Sponsor who sells the Forcefield. I have one on my wifes Mazda. It is easy to change the Full Flow and no leaks. I am extremely pleased with it.

http://www.emergingent.com/

SyntheticShield · Jan 9, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by 59 Vetteman:
We have a Site Sponsor who sells the Forcefield. I have one on my wifes Mazda. It is easy to change the Full Flow and no leaks. I am extremely pleased with it.

http://www.emergingent.com/

Have you seen anything on a UOA that would suggest that it is helping out in anyway?

Bio-T · Jan 9, 2005

The run with the Synergyn is the one that I installed it on, and also have it on with the present oil:

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=002174

SyntheticShield · Jan 9, 2005

Well thats not too shabby. I was even encouraged a little you might say by another article that I read that even the non-ferrous material in the oil will have a tendency to clump around the magnet if any ferrous material is trapped there. Which that would be good if true.

I guess if I really wanted to satisfy the curiosity I could just find someone that has a decent vehicle and pay for an oil change, then do a UOA. Then change the oil and put some magnets on the filter and then do another UOA at the end of the run just to see in stark comparison any differences. Might be a wee bit pricey experiment, but hey, Ive always been the type to experiment.

Thank you Vetteman for posting the link to the UOA.

SyntheticShield · Jan 9, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by 3000GT VR-4:
Isn't the filter media going to trap the particles that would be attracted to the magnet anyway? Seems like the magnet is superfluous to me.

I would agree except that I have seen articles that say that since the flow of the oil is from the center out the magnets would trap anything the filter didnt catch. How true that is across the board Im not sure of. If it is true, then it would seem that it would be just a little added protection to be able to clean the already filtered oil a bit better.

I agree about the contaminants settling out. However, when the flow starts again, are the drain plug magnets going to be of sufficient strenght to hold the trapped particles in place or is the fluid turbulence just going to put them back in circulation again. Also, with the relatively small surface area that a magnetic drain plug presents in comparison to the total sump, how effective will it be? Whereas a magnet on the filter where you could concieveably place as many as you like would present a greater area of magnetic force and would seem to present a better opportunity to trap any contaminants.

Just thoughts and ramblings Ive had since looking at these devices. To me, so far, it seems it wouldnt hurt anything to try. But as I mentioned I think the real proof would be in a UOA on a vehicle in good shape to see if they really help, one on a normal OCI without the magnets and one with.

slalom44 · Jan 10, 2005

A few comments in favor of using magnets:

If you take a rare earth magnet, load it up with magnetic fines and try rinsing it off under a faucet, you will find that it takes a massive amount of turbulent force to get any fines off the magnet. Oil in your oilpan is not even turbulent.

Most UOAs don't even recognize large metal particles due to their size. This has been discussed in other threads.

The finer the particle, the longer it stays in suspension regardless of its density. Most particles less than 10 microns will not get filtered out and will stay in suspension for a long time (consider that your oil stays black because of suspended solids).

A few comments against magnets:

Except with a new engine, regular operation produces limited amounts of steel or iron particles.

The hardness of any potential iron particles is relatively soft compared to silicon particles pulled in past your air filter. That means that even if a particle does get past your oil filter, it will do less damage than the dirt you sucked past your air filter. Steel particulates are different. The rings, cam lobes, etc. are hardened and approach the hardness of silicon particles. But it is unlikely you will generate much significant wear particles from these surfaces.

IMO, Metal wear in a UOA is an indicator of how much wear has taken place, not how much particulate matter is available to do damage - unlike Silicon.

3000GT VR-4 · Jan 10, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by SyntheticShield:

quote:

Originally posted by 3000GT VR-4:
Isn't the filter media going to trap the particles that would be attracted to the magnet anyway? Seems like the magnet is superfluous to me.

Click to expand...

I would agree except that I have seen articles that say that since the flow of the oil is from the center out the magnets would trap anything the filter didnt catch.

I thought the flow of oil was from the outside in, in most if not all cases. I know it is in my car.

XS650 · Jan 10, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by 3000GT VR-4:

I thought the flow of oil was from the outside in, in most if not all cases. I know it is in my car.

It is, unless you engine is running backwards

I agree with you that they don't do much if anything a good filter does as far as catching crap goes.

The value in magnets on your oil filter is that you get to see how much metalic fuzz they catch each time. It the amount is excessive or changes, then you have something to think about.

3000GT VR-4 · Jan 10, 2005

Isn't the filter media going to trap the particles that would be attracted to the magnet anyway? Seems like the magnet is superfluous to me.

3000GT VR-4 · Jan 10, 2005

quote:

Originally posted by SyntheticShield:

quote:

Originally posted by 2K2AcuraTL:
I prefer to use a rare earth magnet simply stuck to the oil drain plug. I use them on my Acura and my GM minivan.
J

Click to expand...

Ive got a magnetic drain plug for the oil pan, but I have read that because the particles stay in suspension (for the most part) that a magnetic oil drain plug may not be the best use of the magnet. It makes sense, how true it is I cant say. And it also makes sense to put the magnets on the oil filter so as the oil is moving by it can be captured. I understand that it would only capture only ferrous material, but every little bit out of the oil to me is an improvement.

Wouldn't the particles settle out when the engine is turned off and setting for a while? It seems to me that something with the density of the metals used in the engines would settle out pretty quickly, at least if the particles are of a visible size. My car has magnets on the drain plugs of the engine, transaxle, transfer case, and rearend. All of the magnetic drain plugs were installed by the factory. The factory did not use a magnet on the oil filter.

SyntheticShield · Jan 11, 2005

My bad, I looked at the article I printed out and I did indeed have the oil flow in the filter backwards.

Oil filter magnets

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