Every once in a while someone enlightens me on an idea that makes me slap my forehead hard enough to leave a permanent bruise and say, "Now why the F%#K didn't I think of that.This one is a classic case in point:
Oil filters are available in varying degrees of efficiency, from waste-of-money Frams to acceptable Wix and Purolator units. But they all have the oil enter the filter via holes around the perimeter of the filter, pass this dirty oil along the inside of the outer casing, thru the filter element, and then (after being cleaned by the element) back out into the engine via a center hole.
The other thing they all have in common is that the outer casings are made of STEEL, which is MAGNETIC.
Simple stick a strong magnet to the outside of the casing and it will attract metal particles that are too small to be snagged by the filter element! Even the best filters could benefit from this procedure.

 

Good but an old idea. I remember seeing a gadget sold in a magazine that clamped around an oil filter that magnetized the entire case.

Also on the same line of thinking some cars have magnetic drain plugs. It is amazing to see the amount of metal you can collet on them between regular oil changes.

 

Yeah, I've seen the magnetic drain plugs. I'm guessing the reason that gadget didn't become more popular was because it took the average consumer exactly three seconds to realize that he could keep the$20 for the gadget in his pocket and use a fridge magnet instead for mere pennies...

 

When you start putting a magnet on your oil filter you can see what it actually catches. In JC Whitney catalogs you should be able to find a filter opener. It works like a can opener except it cuts the case off the base of an oil filter with out damaging the element inside.

I know that some car dealerships use a device like that when a motor comes back blown under warranty. They can tell by looking at the filter if the car was just run out of oil or if there really was a natural failure.

 

Subarus have magnetic sump plugs. On the Prodrive supplied plug, they drill it out and put an even stronger magnet in.

Just to add some usless information.

Dan

 

alot of auto trannys have magnets in the pan

sounds like an idea worth doing

 

I have always installed small cobalt magnets on the bottom of my oil pans and in the drain plug also. When you drain the oil just pull the magnet off of the btm for the pan and drain the oil when it is HOT. Cobalt magnets are very strong and sometimes difficult to pull off the Btm of the pan. You should install one in the fill and drain plug in your transmission also. My first car in 1978 my father told me to put a old speaker magnet on the btm of the pan. Very big but it worked. FCK I guess I am getting old. Thank GOD my pecker stile works.