Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

[erikgreen]

Since installing my rebuilt engine, I've been keeping a couple neodymium super strong magnets on the oil pan to catch bits of loose metal in the oil. Today I saw an ad for a round magnet that mounts on the oil filter, and would seem to be a lot easier to change (and get rid of the metal).

Does anyone use these sort of things, or am I just being paranoid and silly?

Erik

 

[G1K]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

Couldn't you just use one of the neodymium super strong magnets on the oil filter? Or on the drain plug? Then you don't have to purchase anything new...


Ryan

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

am I just being paranoid and silly?

Erik

Well.... I don't know if I would call you silly.

While a magnet might help collect any metal that may happen to be in the oil, it would really be a moot point. Anything that is damaged in the engine enough to spit out pieces of metal large enough to float around in the oil is well on its way to destroying the engine anyway. Your filter will do a good enough job on its own of keeping the oil clean.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

Allison transmissions come from the factory with a circular magnet that installs on the top of the filter. Not sure why the same wouldn't be a good idea on an engine too. The reason it is probably more important on a transmission is that fime metal particles are more critical to catch.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

Does anyone use these sort of things, or am I just being paranoid and silly?

Ayuh,....... I guess ya can call Me Silly,..... Been doing it for Years.....

Great Big Junk Speaker Magnets work Great.......Usually Free too.........

I have 1 around the Drain Plug on the base of my boat,+ truck,...Remove it Just before the plug is pulled,+ any Stuff is the 1st thing into the drainpan....
And another is stuck to the bottom of the Oil Filters....

I see it as Free Insurance,......Or a Diagnostic Tool........

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

I've done it too, can't hurt anything by attracting the floating metal particles to the filter side wall or tip of the drain plug. I think some of the metal "slime" I've seen come off the magnets would pass through the filter.

NOW, if you hang a whole handful of those little gems onto the fuel line going up to the carb I bet you would really see some real improvements in fuel consumption (joking)

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

I know what you mean, fishrdan... every time I stop at harbor freight I see one of those clip-on fuel line magnets for $11 or so that's supposed to help fuel economy (or power, depending on who they're selling to). I can't quite believe they can legally sell that.

Anyway, sounds like I'll just leave the magnet on the oil pan and maybe stick one on the oil filter too, since I have spares. Can't hurt except to maybe throw off my compass, and until my engine gets to 100 hours I can still see some little bits coming off it as it wears...

Erik

 

[mcleaves]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

Volvo puts them on their drives. It's better to collect the shavings and know if you need to have the drive torn down before it gets really expensive. I would think the same idea has merit on an engine

M

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

Volvo puts them on their drives. It's better to collect the shavings and know if you need to have the drive torn down before it gets really expensive. I would think the same idea has merit on an engine

M

Problem here is that stuff that gets toasted..in a motor...is Aluminum pistons, and bronze bearings...sorry..not magnetic...(ya crack a steel piston ring, you will know it...anything else "steel"..call Seatow..)..just a "thought"...magnets ..good for "legs"...no problem there...

 

[getinmerry]

Re: Anyone keep a magnet on their filter/pan?

They actually sell magnetic oil plugs. I use them in my vehicles and boat. I frequently see little shavings stuck to it. I look at it as good insurance too. They cost as much as a a regular drain plug and seem to work well.

Chuck