Oil Filter Parts, Disection and Advice Needed

[LargeCarMan]

I have never cut apart and disected a oil filter before. I just bought some very strong magnets. If fact so strong they will pull a 1/2 inchX 2 inch bolt across the table with the magnet about 4 inchs away. Anyway...my thought pattern and questions below.

I want to place the magnets on the oilfilter, but am concerned they might pull the spring out from the bottom of the filter dislodging the filter cartridge. I don't want to interfear with the flow of oil if I place them near the top of the filter. So...

Q.#1 Could the spring be knocked over by a strong magnet or pull the filter out of wack?

Q.#2 How much room in between the filter housing on the side and the filter?

Q.#3 Where would be the best place to place a few strong magnets?

 

[Gary Allan]

Good question. I think a better question is where not to put them. If it has a clicker bypass, I don't think (if you think it has any effect at all) that it should be put on the closed end cap.

I don't see a big deal with it being on the sides.

 

[ekpolk]

From my dozen-plus dissections of various sizes (using the pipe cutter method):

1. I doubt it seriously.

2. Very little, maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch in the sizes I've looked at.

3. Anywhere on the side, but not the top (not much flow there unless bypass is open. You can actually buy kits from places like JC Whitney for strapping magnets to your filter.

 

[LargeCarMan]

I have considered a magnetic drain plug...they work great. Looking at some of the material that is on the magnetic drain plug, I thought it might be better to keep it in the filter and toss all the gook with the used filter. I think it would prolong the filter life also.

Thanks for the advice, I am going to try 4 of these criss-cross from each other in the middle of the filter. Seems like this will be the best place on the fullflow filter. I will have to do a search of JC Whitney for there straps, I was thinking about a fire resistant nylon/velcro strap. Or could just place them on the can...think they would stick good. I will cut the filter open in 6 months and see what it looks like.

 

[Blue99]

quote:

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The question is..what do you expect to find using magnets?

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Kinda my thoughts, also.

Typical wear metals are:

Aluminum
Chromium
Copper
Tin
Lead
Nickel
And Iron.

Note: My GM 5.3L V8 has a magnetic drain plug and I typically wipe it off with a clean paper towel at each oil change & find a black smudge from the material picked-up by the magnetic.
The particles generating the "smudge" must be a sub-micron size.

 

[LargeCarMan]

Well, I guess I am wondering if the Iron smudge/gook in sub-micron size (that won't be picked up by the fullflow or transmission filter has any sanding or grinding effect on engine, transmission, or reargear internal parts?

Alway's Wondering how to improve on engine, transmission, and reargear wear. It seems that all three components are using magnets now a day's.

 

[alreadygone]

Have you considered a magnetic drain plug?

 

[Filter guy]

Magnets won't move the tension spring in the bottom of the filter. If it does..the spring was misalligned.

The can is compressed when it is sealed. Hence the rolled or locked seam on the filter.

When you cut the filter open, you release the tension.

The question is..what do you expect to find using magnets?