Oil Filter Magnets

[flintstone]

I was wondering about these magnets that wrap around the oil filter and supposedly trap metal particles that would otherwise travel around the engine.

Any good?

[johno]

Speak to Tower View ... they're doing sump nuts with magnets fitted into them to do the same thing ... I know which I use !

[parrot of doom]

If they were any use, everybody would be using them.

[GreenV8S]

Sump plugs always are magnetic - aren't they?

[steve1c]

I remember when I had a mini 20 yrs ago, the sump plug was magnetic. Upon an oil change, a great load of filing type metal was always surrounding the sump plug. It does make you wonder......well it did me. I'll get my coat......

[flintstone]

parrot of doom said:

If they were any use, everybody would be using them.

Well Rain.X is undoubtedly good but not everybody uses it.

Water Wetter keeps running temps down yet I still see threads from people how to run their engines cooler.

Optimax is generally considered the best fuel for our engines yet some people use other stuff.

So I thought I'd ask.

[slikk]

Cant vouch for their effectiveness, but they arent going to harm anything, and the anodised ones do brighten up the filter a bit

[parrot of doom]

Yes, but the products you mentioned are all aftermarket.

If there were 'miracle solutions' that could be installed during manufacture, every manufacturer would install them and improve the saleability of their vehicles?

*eats another grapefruit to burn fat*

[joospeed]

I tend to think they're a great idea .. anythig that stops abrasive particle circulating he engine is a good thing. like has been said, can't harm anything so go for it. it's one of those *gimmiks* that probably does some good too

[350matt]

quote: If there were 'miracle solutions' that could be installed during manufacture, every manufacturer would install them and improve the saleability of their vehicles?

Not entirely true as most manufacturers main concern is maximising profit, not making your purchase last forever, if it didn't wear out they couldn't sell you spares / new car etc.


This looks like a good idea to me, just a trifle expensive for what it is.

Matt

[flintstone]

Well jools certainly knows his stuff (sure you do too Matt) so that's good enough for me.

I've seen filters cut open. One had the magnet, one didn't and there was half a teaspoon of swarf that otherwise would have been in the engine stuck to the magnetised one.

How can that not be a good thing?

[GreenV8S]

Do you think the swarf would have passed through the filter anyway, if the magnet hadn't been there?

[Vesuvius996]

I had a G reg (old G reg) 1275GT and that had a magnetic sump plug too.

It was always covered in metal grit when I dropped the oil out.

The previous poster has it - if washing machine manufactureres made a washing machine which lasted for life then they'd put themselves out of business.

In fact, where can I buy one of these things.

[pdV6]

Bear in mind that the Mini gearbox shared the engine oil, so that magnetic plug saves your engine from every botched gearchange!

[flintstone]

GreenV8S said:

Do you think the swarf would have passed through the filter anyway, if the magnet hadn't been there?

Possibly. Some of it was very fine.

Given the expensive alternative I'll err on the side of caution I think.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Flintstone,
Any details on supplier and cost?
FFG

[GI]

The old Dennis mower company effectively put themselves out of business by making a product that was too good. Eventually, everyone who wanted one had one and they never needed a new one because the old one never broke.

That's why everything is crap nowadays. *grumble*

[Flintstone]

FlipFlopGriff said:

Flintstone, Any details on supplier and cost?FFG

Not yet. Working away at the moment but I'll trawl all my magazines when I get home. I'm sure there'll be an ad in there somewhere.

[ntel]

Couldn't you just strap an ordinary magnet to the oil filter with a jubilee clip?