I place 8 strong magnets around my oil filter, about halfway down its length so the oil passes through the fields as it moves through the can. I've cut open many filter cans and have found significant piles of metal around each magnet location every time. I think if the magnets were on the end of the can they would miss grabbing particles that go through the filter at the other end of the can. I try to position them where the oil has to pass them close by.
Pre-Filter Magnet for FF
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Thanks sciguy. I thought that perhaps the magnets that were toward the bottom, while on the car, may capture more metal due to gravity while the car is sitting, no? Do you secure them in any way or just stick them on? I guess the ones I have placed on the ends need to go back to the sides.
Chris,
If the magnets were on the bottom of the can and were collecting anything that settled out, they would only be working while the engine was off. On the sides, they work as long as the engine is running, and you have room to use as many as you want.
My magnets, from Edmund Scientific, are strong enough that they don't move at all as I drive. If yours need some support to hang on, I'd suggest either a dab of silicone glue, or a hose clamp gently tightened. Both are easy to install and remove.
I prefer having the magnets on the filter can rather than on the oil pan itself because the metal will be disposed of with each filter change rather than accumulating in the pan. Second, when on the can, the oil has to pass close by the magnets, making metal collection efficient. If they are only on the oil pan or drain plug, they can only grab what comes close to them. Any particles that don't happen to come near enough won't be caught. Remember, the field strength drops off rapidly by the inverse square law. On the other hand, oil flow is probably slower in the pan than in the filter and the slow speed would make collection easier in the thick oil. It's a trade-off.
If the magnets were on the bottom of the can and were collecting anything that settled out, they would only be working while the engine was off. On the sides, they work as long as the engine is running, and you have room to use as many as you want.
My magnets, from Edmund Scientific, are strong enough that they don't move at all as I drive. If yours need some support to hang on, I'd suggest either a dab of silicone glue, or a hose clamp gently tightened. Both are easy to install and remove.
I prefer having the magnets on the filter can rather than on the oil pan itself because the metal will be disposed of with each filter change rather than accumulating in the pan. Second, when on the can, the oil has to pass close by the magnets, making metal collection efficient. If they are only on the oil pan or drain plug, they can only grab what comes close to them. Any particles that don't happen to come near enough won't be caught. Remember, the field strength drops off rapidly by the inverse square law. On the other hand, oil flow is probably slower in the pan than in the filter and the slow speed would make collection easier in the thick oil. It's a trade-off.
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