Magnetic Drain Plug

[VTECSAUCE]

I respectfully disagree...any amount of trapped metal shavings/particles will help extend the life of your oil and your engine. I fly C-130 aircraft and our engines have multiple mag pickups. Without them our gearboxes and moving parts would have seriously degraded operational times. Moving metal creates wear and the byproduct is metal shavings. Your oil filter is designed to remove most of this however the micron limit of the filter has to be large enough to allow oil to flow and it can't catch everything. Having a mag pickup will assist the filter.

It's a small price to pay to extend the life of your motor.

I respectfully disagree with you disagreement. I work on these planes daily and yes the mag plugs are there to catch particulates but not for protection of the engines. They are more so a gauge. We measure the resistance of the plugs using a multi-meter and 99% of the time there is nothing there. It doesn't take much resistance to throw a flag and require a complete engine replacement and the old one is sent out to be rebuilt. You have more than enough filters on that T56 to keep any particles from degrading the motor. This being the case I am 99.9% sure that any magnetic plug is used only to gauge wear, not for any sort of filtration or catching of any particulates. If you are maintaining your engine and drivetrain properly there is no need for one of these gimmicks. I have even heard of the cheaper versions losing their magnets inside the engine. If anyone really wants to keep their engine safe using a magnet. I would highly suggest a good oil filter (do a little research to find one that you think works best) and use a magfilter.

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[VTECSAUCE]

http://www.jegs.com/p/FilterMAG/Fil...-Magnets/813786/10002/-1?itemPerPage=60&pno=1

This will do more than a silly pencil tip magnet. As I stated that magnetic plug is for gauging your wear. Regular oil changes with quality products will be your biggest advantage. I would avoid using a magnetic plug for a couple reasons, one being some are simply glued on and could fall inside the engine, another being that the threads on the plug could strip your oil pan which I have personally experienced. Most oil drain plugs are designed with a softer material than your pan, therefore stripping your plug before the pan. I'd much rather replace a $5 plug and maybe my oil prematurely than, having my pan tapped or replaced.

 

[B-52 Jetman]

http://www.jegs.com/p/FilterMAG/Fil...-Magnets/813786/10002/-1?itemPerPage=60&pno=1

This will do more than a silly pencil tip magnet. As I stated that magnetic plug is for gauging your wear. Regular oil changes with quality products will be your biggest advantage. I would avoid using a magnetic plug for a couple reasons, one being some are simply glued on and could fall inside the engine, another being that the threads on the plug could strip your oil pan which I have personally experienced. Most oil drain plugs are designed with a softer material than your pan, therefore stripping your plug before the pan. I'd much rather replace a $5 plug and maybe my oil prematurely than, having my pan tapped or replaced.

Dude...really? 1. If the magnet comes off (which I doubt) the the only place it's going to go is in the bottom of the oil pan (where the drain plug is. As matter of fact, old school hot rodders use to put magnets in their oil pan specifically for that purpose. 2. If it the plug stripped out...you probably & most likely over torqued it. 3. You want the plug to be of a softer material than the pan. If you strip or tear the threads up on the plug, it's easier to replace the plug rather than drilling & re-tapping the oil pan or worse...changing the oil pan out entirely. Nothing wrong with mag drain plugs....

 

[VTECSAUCE]

Dude...really? 1. If the magnet comes off (which I doubt) the the only place it's going to go is in the bottom of the oil pan (where the drain plug is. As matter of fact, old school hot rodders use to put magnets in their oil pan specifically for that purpose. 2. If it the plug stripped out...you probably & most likely over torqued it. 3. You want the plug to be of a softer material than the pan. If you strip or tear the threads up on the plug, it's easier to replace the plug rather than drilling & re-tapping the oil pan or worse...changing the oil pan out entirely. Nothing wrong with mag drain plugs....

#1. Do you really want anything loose in your engine? Isn't that the entirety of the argument? Old school hot rodders are not the equivalent of having a Degree in mechanical engineering. In other words if Ford R&D felt one was necessary they would have installed one. However, old school hot rodders had engines built of iron and steel, not so much aluminum, so they would capture more on a magnet. That's also not taking into account of the different tolerances and methods of building an engine 30 years ago or however far back you want to go. Again, mag plugs are for gauging engine wear nothing more.

#2. Yes you over torqued the engine plug, most of us have probably done this at some point. I am guilty of this hence my stripped oil pan.

#3. Ummm, pretty sure I stated that. Reading comprehension...work on it.
I would say your last statement is subjective. If you feel like spending the money on one just to look at the build up on one after every oil change feel free. I am simply saying it is normal to have ferrous particulates floating around your oil. The longer you take to change the oil and filter, the more will build up. Not every molecule of oil in your engine is going to pass over your mag plug. Therefore not every particle of ferrous material will be caught by it. Needless to say non-ferrous particles aren't going to be caught by a magnet to begin with.
:cheers:

 

[GT Pony]

I would say your last statement is subjective. If you feel like spending the money on one just to look at the build up on one after every oil change feel free. I am simply saying it is normal to have ferrous particulates floating around your oil. The longer you take to change the oil and filter, the more will build up.

Yes, a Filter-Mag will probably catch more ferrous particles, but having a magnetic drain plug can't hurt IMO. I've ran them in every vehicle I've owned in the last 25 years - never had any issues with them coming apart or stripping out (I always use a torque wrench on drain plugs). They do catch quite a bit of stuff over a 5000 mile oil change, as shown by the photo I posted. And yes, if there is anything going wrong with the engine a magnetic drain plug would probably show signs of something going on. I also cut open all my used oil filters to see what's being caught. Cutting open the factory oil filter at the first oil change should be interesting.

 

[gtlaw]

Here's a shot of a magnetic drain plug ran in my 2005 V6 Tacoma for 5,000 miles. The 4.0L V6 is just as much "aluminum" as the Coyote, and as said by many in this thread, there is a lot of ferrous parts rubbing on each other inside these modern engines.

I cleaned off half of the top so you can see the thickness of the "ferrous black goo" it caught. IMO, they help catch small ferrous particles that the oil filter can't catch. It certainly can't hurt to use one.

Thats not particles the filter missed they were snatched by the magnet before they got pumped out of the pan to get caught by the filter. I don't see any benifit to using one on the engine but they would be good for a manual trans or the dif.

 

[GT Pony]

Thats not particles the filter missed they were snatched by the magnet before they got pumped out of the pan to get caught by the filter. I don't see any benifit to using one on the engine but they would be good for a manual trans or the dif.

Some of those large particles caught didn't make it to the oil filter, but most of that "black goo" caught on the magnet is super fine particles that are probably smaller than 20 microns in size, which most filters will let pass through.

 

[VTECSAUCE]

Yes, a Filter-Mag will probably catch more ferrous particles, but having a magnetic drain plug can't hurt IMO. I've ran them in every vehicle I've owned in the last 25 years - never had any issues with them coming apart or stripping out (I always use a torque wrench on drain plugs). They do catch quite a bit of stuff over a 5000 mile oil change, as shown by the photo I posted. And yes, if there is anything going wrong with the engine a magnetic drain plug would probably show signs of something going on. I also cut open all my used oil filters to see what's being caught. Cutting open the factory oil filter at the first oil change should be interesting.

I used them for awhile in my cars as well, that is, until one started to strip my pan. Mine often looked like the picture you posted as well and those were all Hondas. Realistically, as long as you aren't a complete cheap a$$, you shouldn't have a problem. My argument was more for the function of these plugs that they only offer a sample of what's in your oil, not for use as a trap to filter out ferrous particulates. Yes, it will catch some ferrous particles, but that's not everything in your 8 quarts of oil otherwise it wouldn't get so dark every interval.

 

[VTECSAUCE]

Some of those large particles caught didn't make it to the oil filter, but most of that "black goo" caught on the magnet is super fine particles that are probably smaller than 20 microns in size, which most filters will let pass through.

That's where a filer-mag comes into play, again its not a fix, there is no way of catching every particle in the engine. Otherwise we would never have to change the oil.

 

[B-52 Jetman]

#1. Do you really want anything loose in your engine? Isn't that the entirety of the argument? Old school hot rodders are not the equivalent of having a Degree in mechanical engineering. In other words if Ford R&D felt one was necessary they would have installed one. However, old school hot rodders had engines built of iron and steel, not so much aluminum, so they would capture more on a magnet. That's also not taking into account of the different tolerances and methods of building an engine 30 years ago or however far back you want to go. Again, mag plugs are for gauging engine wear nothing more.

#2. Yes you over torqued the engine plug, most of us have probably done this at some point. I am guilty of this hence my stripped oil pan.

#3. Ummm, pretty sure I stated that. Reading comprehension...work on it.
I would say your last statement is subjective. If you feel like spending the money on one just to look at the build up on one after every oil change feel free. I am simply saying it is normal to have ferrous particulates floating around your oil. The longer you take to change the oil and filter, the more will build up. Not every molecule of oil in your engine is going to pass over your mag plug. Therefore not every particle of ferrous material will be caught by it. Needless to say non-ferrous particles aren't going to be caught by a magnet to begin with.
:cheers:

1. If it falls off (which I doubt), it's going to simply going to "fall" with the help of gravity, to the bottom of the oil pan is made of steel, it will stick & stay there. How you think it's going to be "loose" in your engine is beyond me. You think it's going to "float around" in the oil?? Sure, I'd image most Old School Hot Rodders don't have a degree, maybe some do...how do you know? Sure the old engines were made from iron & steel. I'll tell you something the Old School Hot Rodders know that obviously you don't. Yes, just about all modern engines are made from aluminum. But, do you really think the entire engine is? Sorry, to tell you, but at least the crank, rods, rings, cylinder walls (which are a steel liner within the block), cams & all the valve train are made of steel (same as the old engines). Hey, guess what...those are all the parts that are oil lubricated, wear & create metal particles in your oil. Tolerances may change, that's true but there is one constant factor: it will wear. Might take a litlle longer, but it will wear. So, if you say that a magnetic drain plug is just a way for "gauging" engine wear. So, how are you going to "gauge" how much metal particles the magnets on the oil filter trapped? You going to saw the filter in half & see? If you do, all the particles will be stuck to the magnets & not going even get through the filter media material...I don't think there'd be a way to gauge that.

2. :cheers:

3. Ok, I I'll give you that 1st part...I did read you last statement fast, it happens. Do I feel like spending money on one...absolutely. Five to seven bucks on a plug is far cheaper than the filter magnets, which I think are around $40 or so. At least I can see what's being picked up without cutting the filter apart. Sure ferrous material in your oil is a normal part of the wear process...but do I want more in there if I don't have to?? The ignorance in that statement blows me away! If a $5 plug will get me a few thousand more miles out my motor...it's worth its weight in gold. Non-ferrous particles...not sure where they would come from. The rotating assembly & valve train is steel, only the block & heads are aluminum.

 

[VTECSAUCE]

1. If it falls off (which I doubt), it's going to simply going to "fall" with the help of gravity, to the bottom of the oil pan is made of steel, it will stick & stay there. How you think it's going to be "loose" in your engine is beyond me. You think it's going to "float around" in the oil?? Sure, I'd image most Old School Hot Rodders don't have a degree, maybe some do...how do you know? Sure the old engines were made from iron & steel. I'll tell you something the Old School Hot Rodders know that obviously you don't. Yes, just about all modern engines are made from aluminum. But, do you really think the entire engine is? Sorry, to tell you, but at least the crank, rods, rings, cylinder walls (which are a steel liner within the block), cams & all the valve train are made of steel (same as the old engines). Hey, guess what...those are all the parts that are oil lubricated, wear & create metal particles in your oil. Tolerances may change, that's true but there is one constant factor: it will wear. Might take a litlle longer, but it will wear. So, if you say that a magnetic drain plug is just a way for "gauging" engine wear. So, how are you going to "gauge" how much metal particles the magnets on the oil filter trapped? You going to saw the filter in half & see? If you do, all the particles will be stuck to the magnets & not going even get through the filter media material...I don't think there'd be a way to gauge that.

2. :cheers:

3. Ok, I I'll give you that 1st part...I did read you last statement fast, it happens. Do I feel like spending money on one...absolutely. Five to seven bucks on a plug is far cheaper than the filter magnets, which I think are around $40 or so. At least I can see what's being picked up without cutting the filter apart. Sure ferrous material in your oil is a normal part of the wear process...but do I want more in there if I don't have to?? The ignorance in that statement blows me away! If a $5 plug will get me a few thousand more miles out my motor...it's worth its weight in gold. Non-ferrous particles...not sure where they would come from. The rotating assembly & valve train is steel, only the block & heads are aluminum.

#1. Loose-meaning not welded nor bolted down. If you are ok with a piece of metal sitting in your oil pan for however long with pressurized oil flowing around it, then so be it. I for one would want it out immediately. This is a subjective argument and simply just a risk, while very small, unwanted by myself as I am sure there are others. The rest of this paragraph is very unclear what it is you are trying to argue. I can tell you yes, the plug is a way to gauge. Frankly, its up to you if you want to use one for this purpose. I do not race my car or put enough abuse on it to warrant one of these. Nor would it really be of any use to me if I did have one as it will always come out with metal particles that the filter doesn't catch. The particles on the mag plug is not all the ferrous material in your oil. Just the ones that happen to pass by. It is extremely hard to gauge what is normal on these simply by looking at it. If it gives you piece of mind that somehow one magnet the size of pencil eraser is clearing out your 8 quarts of oil then that is on you. I really don't know how much simpler I can put it.

#2. Cheers mate lets keep this civil and on point. Your wording is starting to come off abrasive and condescending. :cheers:

#3. This plug is not going to save you any wear and tear. It is an inspection tool, that is it. If you are maintaining the car properly you are going to remove pretty much all of these particulates after every oil change.

So to sum up my argument to save any misunderstandings...A mag-plug is an inspection tool or gauge to see if you have any excessive wear, that is it! That being as long as you continue normal oil change intervals with the same products you shouldn't see a change. I simply cannot and will not continue this argument from this point. It shouldn't be so hard of a concept to understand that a tiny magnet placed on the far bottom end of the motor cannot collect every ferrous particle the filter cannot. For every one of these magnets full of iron/steel gunk there is probably 10x that floating around your dirty oil. <This is a speculation, I will not take the time to research but I am sure its probably even more than that hence the dark color after 5000 miles.

Here is a link to just one other forum with the same argument...
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...-Oil-Drain-Plugs-Helpful-for-Long-Engine-Life

On that note, believe what you want and do what you want. I simply put the facts.

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