Magnetic Oil Plug

[michael816]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180147151635

Do these things actually help? I suppose in theory the idea of removing metal that has become suspended in the oil will help reduce engine wear but would this little magnet do it? Thanks!

[jimcor]

Cost you $9 plus shipping to find out. 650 Yamaha XS2 engines came with two massive oil plugs and big magnets that really caught the chips. Theory, excellent idea. Reality, 'ya pays yer money and takes yer chance'.

[Zooks]

Of course they work. A huge amount of vehicles are fitted with them as standard in gearboxes, diffs, sumps etc. They catch an enormous amount of metal filings so they must be doing some good.

[mf70]

Plus, if you find a chip on it, you can decide whether or not to investigate further. Helicopters have "chip detectors" which use a magnet to pull chips across electrical contacts. If you see the "chip detect" light come on, you set it down.

[rkubik]

check first

your stock plug may already have a magnetic insert. Mine does, nice surprise at oil change time.

[Mark whiz]

Heck, my GS700ES came from the factory with a magnet in the drain plug. That is pretty typical of any use where gears are involved. I know a lot of Fords come with a big donut magnet in their transmission drain pans and every pan I've dropped like that had at least a 1/4" coating of metallic Crud clinging to the magnet.

If your current plug doesn't have a magnet in it, the cheapest thing to do is just magnetize it. I keep a big ol' speaker magnet around and rub the magnet back and force across top face of the bolt for about 30 seconds before installing the bolt in your pan. Do this at every oil change. Also as a cheap fix, just epoxy a bit of a magnet on the bolt face - just make sure the surfaces are clean first so that the magnet won't ever come loose in your crankcase.

[bwringer]

Stock GS oil plugs have magnetic inserts, and certainly don't cost anywhere near $9.

I've also found that the threads on aftermarket oil plugs are usually very crudely made compared with the precisely made OEM plug.

[chef1366]

I have one of those and I bought it from that seller. The magnet is MUCH stronger than stock. I'm glad I bought it after my rebuild there was a bit of metal globs atached to it after each oil change. Make sure you get extra copper crush washers because you need to change them after each oil change and the local auto store crush washers are too thick and don't bent to fit like the ones he sells.

[chuckycheese]

No worries!

I never change the washer and it never leaks. I just change the oil and filter and go about my merry way. I guess I'm lucky.....I should also add...and this is important... I don't ever over tighten anything.\\/

I used to do it all the time....

[chef1366]

I never change the washer and it never leaks. I just change the oil and filter and go about my merry way. I guess I'm lucky.....I should also add...and this is important... I don't ever over tighten anything.\\/

I used to do it all the time....

Mine lasted a few but I got a piece of debris in it the last time and it dripped. Put back in the old one but got 10 washers from the Ebay seller.

[michael816]

Alright well I'm sold. Cant wait for my next oil change.

[vic214]

Like Mark says, easier to make your own plug magnetic. How I did mine was (along with all my screwdrivers) wrap several coils of wire around it and touch each end of the wire to a 12V battery. Watch for the sparks! Works everytime!