LOS-323

What about having magnets on other parts that also have fluid in them?... like transmission and stuff. Where there are gears touching... with the accidental gear grinding once a year or so.

Could we do something similar?

kcbhiw

Some transmissions already have several small magnets located in the bottom. I'm not sure about the Pro's trannys tho.

Orange Crush

Because some debris is so small it passes through the filter element. That's why there are high filtration filters. I mean by your logic of something more being wrong with the car because you catch small particulate with a magnet would imply that you didn't need a filter in the first place. If there are chunks of metal large enough to be filtered out by the filter, I am sure there is stuff small enough to pass through the filter.

kcbhiw

I've never seen any magnets in an engine's oil pan. I would assume that they don't place them there due to the frequency that the oil pan is actually removed (almost never in most cars). Automatics, like you mentioned, typically require the bottom pan to be removed to replace the filter, thus, providing more frequent intervals to clean the magnets. However, that's just my assumption.

frankd

You guys might be interested in a detailed discusion on this subject here

While oil filter magnets certainly can't hurt, I wonder if there has been any semi-scientific study done to determine whether they improve engine longevity or reduce engine failure in real life. We are talking about stuff less than 15 microns in size, which is pretty much invisible. Anything larger is trapped in the filter anyways. And there is also lots of non-magnetic crap swimming around in the oil.

Mach 1

Just get a magnetic drain plug and wipe it off when you change your oil. they cost around $1.50

I have also bought regular magnets and stuck them to the bottom of my oil pan, then removed them as I was draining the oil, then reinstall.

The magnetic drain plug is the best, because then you can actually see what kind of crap your magnet is catching. If there are Large particles on it, you know you have some problems coming up..

Oh, and you will see stuff on it, so it is not invisible.

misbehave

Where did you buy the magnetic drain plug for your car?
I suppose they are different for each cars, right?

Mach 1

They have them at most Auto parts stores. they are usually on one of those "spin displays" where they have like PCV valves, grommets, odds and ends..

The guy at the counter should be able to tell you which size you need...they come in different thread size and pitch.

I just bought one for my Mazda, it was M14-1.50

Im sure yours will be the same.

njaremka

if the filter is doing it's job, and the partical is small enough to pass through the filter, then it is small enough not to do anything to your engine.

Mach 1

In theory thats wonderful. It doesnt hurt to pick up any thing you can on a simple magnet though. And you will pick stuff up (in case you never used one).

Would you rather use the magnet to grab some small particles, or let them float around?

Really doesnt matter, as I never saw anyone lose their engine from not using a magnet, but again, it can be a good early warning idicator of a problem with your engine that you wouldnt aotherwise know about. Thats the real benefit of the magnet.

Orange Crush

....or so you hope. I mean, maybe we are talking the difference between a life of 200,000 miles and 210,000 miles, there are moving parts and parts always wear out, if they didn't, engines would last forever. The one thing for sure is.....it can't hurt.

Sir Nuke

THAT IS THE KEY! it certainly can not hurt....granted that if the particle size is smaller than what the filter is stopping and captureing ....what harm could it do....well.....if they are metalic particles...and they start to collect....and say some get stuck toghter by some other GLOB...then you all of a sudden have a BIG metalic particle..and it COULD do some damage....unlikely? sure....IMPOSIBLE? NO.....

you can get a magnet for a buck or two....a hose clamp for 50 cents.....and you have POTENTIALLY saved yourself some heart ache down the road for the whopping sum of a buck and a half....AND kept your oil cleaner than it would have been otherwise.....for the investment....you can NOT go wrong.

proman

Yup in theory it is a great idea and definitley would not hurt. I feel the magnet would probably be most benificial during the breaking in period of the car but after that most of metal particles would be filtered out by then. thanks for the idea of the magnetic drain plug, i might try it out.

enormiss

Funny, changed the oil in the jeep yesterday.
The drain plug was getting beat up so I took a ride to pep-boys.
New drain plug was $2.49, new drain plug w/ magnet $2.49.
I thought what the hell, sounds like a good idea.
Then today i read this thread........
I'll let you know what I pull off it the next time I change the oil.

Sir Nuke

there is no doubt what you will find next oil change...the end of the plug will be totally covered with little metal filings.....so much so...that it most likely won't be able to pick up any more.