Latest On This Debate: What Say You>?

[ULVER]

OK, OK. I've studied the "searches" for a couple hours.

Concerning:

http://www.filtermag.com/

http://www.webinc.com/portfolio/banners1/superplug/

The boys on the Crown Vic site, pretty-much trashed the FilterMag. They were more kin to buy into the logic of the SuperPlug.

Others here, seem friendly to the FilterMag. Same with the SuperPlug, but it would seem as of 11-04, customer service is at question.

I might as well stir it up some more. Have we come to any conclusions on these items>???

Opinions greatly appreciated...
I want to be a SNAKE OIL-Free ZONE!!!

 

[427Z06]

You can achieve the same thing for less money. Do an internet search for neodymium magnets and then epoxy one to your drain plug.

Place some around the perimeter of you oil filter and voilà, cheapo filter-mag.

Whether they trap any ferrous particles that wouldn't of been trapped by your oil filter is open for debate.

 

[Tyson F Nuss]

Good ideas on general principles, but IMHO, overpriced overkill products in particular.

I did an oil change on my transmission recently, and I discovered that either the factory or (more likely) a PO had installed a magnetic gear-oil drain plug. That thing was utterly encrusted with glittery-grey goop, including quite a few discretely-identifiable shavings and tiny metal chips (each maybe only a half-mm, tops).

Suffice to say, I was darn glad that they'd put that magplug in there, and that I'd just bought a similar plug to install in my engine-oil drain.

However, each of these plugs had only a ~5mm silvery (prolly neodymium) button magnet mounted in the center, which seemed to "git'er done" just fine in the case of the gear oil plug, and they only cost $~5 each (try eBay). The advantage of having the magnet in the plug vs. just attaching a magnet to your oilpan is that it keeps all those ferrous (iron/steel) metal particles near the drain where your next oil change can flush out whatever doesn't attach to the magplug itself.

Now, presuming for the sake of discussion that oilflow wouldn't keep particles too stirred-up in the dirty side of an oil filter -- and that alone is highly debatable -- a filter magnet might at least keep some amount of ferrous metal particles out of the media, leaving less raw material in suspension to plug the filter media or wash past the bypass relief valve (esp. for filters without a baseplate-end BPRV!); however, you could get much the same effect by getting a cheap, strong magnet (neodymium or better -- e.g., tear apart any old speaker or hard-drive armature) and attaching that to the filter can. I suspect putting the magnet on the can end might be better than along the side?

BTW, this is also a good idea for your power-steering fluid reservoir. If your P/S reservoir is steel, attach a big ol' neodymium magnet to the outside; if it's plastic, find a magnet you can drop inside that's of a size and/or shape to avoid plugging or getting sucked into any interior ports/passages-- better yet, if the reservoir is secured with a steel bracket or clamp on the outside, you may be able to attach the magnet to the bracket/clamp from inside the reservoir.

-Tye

 

[Chris]

The computer hard drive magnets work equally well where ever you put them on the filter. Have a super plug and these guys are so strong it is hard to get the thing back in, keeps grabbing the pan!! I figure the less junk floating around the better.

 

[TheFuror]

quote:

---

Originally posted by 427Z06:
You can achieve the same thing for less money. Do an internet search for neodymium magnets and then epoxy one to your drain plug.

Place some around the perimeter of you oil filter and voilà, cheapo filter-mag.

Whether they trap any ferrous particles that wouldn't of been trapped by your oil filter is open for debate.

---

Wny not just use a magnetic drain plug?

Bob W.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TheFuror:

quote:

---

Originally posted by 427Z06:
You can achieve the same thing for less money. Do an internet search for neodymium magnets and then epoxy one to your drain plug.

Place some around the perimeter of you oil filter and voilà, cheapo filter-mag.

Whether they trap any ferrous particles that wouldn't of been trapped by your oil filter is open for debate.

---

Wny not just use a magnetic drain plug?

Bob W.

---

Because you can get neodymium magnets for as little as $.20/ea and buy a bunch for several cars and put them in the engine, transmission, diff, ps, etc, for less than one high priced magnetic drain plug. But hey, it's your money, so do what you feel the most comfortable doing.

 

[Leo]

Neodymium magnets like all magnets loose their magnetism as the temperature heats up. Looking at this reference

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/faq.asp

It seems that even as little as 80C will cause a typical neodymium magnet to loose strength!

Anyways from the site a 1/2" x 1" cylinder attached at the end of your sump plug would do well. And its only the cost of a cup of coffee. Forget the filtermags/superplugs for this price.

[ November 24, 2004, 11:59 PM: Message edited by: Leo ]

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Leo:
Neodymium magnets like all magnets loose their magnetism as the temperature heats up. Looking at this reference

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/faq.asp

It seems that even as little as 80C will cause a typical neodymium magnet to loose strength!

---

I looked around the website, some of them are rated for up to 300F ooperating temp. There is a chart that tells what the different varities are good for.

This one looks good.
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D66SH

Thanks for mentioning the temp problems, I wouldn't have know to check on that before.

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by Leo:
[QB]It seems that even as little as 80C will cause a typical neodymium magnet to loose strength!QB]

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Well...none of my cheapo typical neodymium magnets have lost their strength yet do to heat, but it's good to know someone is ready with a product that solved this problem.

 

[Ugly3]

The coating on the magnets is also important because of the corrosive nature of the material.

Magnet Stability

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ugly3:
The coating on the magnets is also important because of the corrosive nature of the material.

Magnet Stability

---

Most of them are nickel plated or epoxyy coated. You'd most likely have to make extra effort to find one that isn't plated or coated.

 

[JohnnyO]

I have Superplugs in my van and pickup. The van is old and decrepit and it gets out a fair bit of junk. The truck is a 2002 and it shows a little but not a lot.