I came accross a widget that you can attach to your oil filter that has very powerful magnets in it that is supposed to capture any metal particles that are floating around in your oil. I would assume that it would trap them in the filter and then when you remove the oil filter they would get thrown out with the filter itself. Similar to the magnet at the end of some oil drain plug screws. Could this hurt the engine in some way if the filter got clogged with so many metal particles it would slow oil circulation?

Just wondering if it would make any difference.

I
Could this hurt the engine in some way if the filter got clogged with so many metal particles it would slow oil circulation?

Just wondering if it would make any difference.
Sound like a good idea, but enough material in the sump to clog the filter would probably mean you have bigger internal problems to worry about or you need to change your oil more often ?

I agree. It is a concept that could be bought into by many people, but at the same time I think the magnets would be more useful stuck onto the bottom of your parts washer!

mmm yeah, gimmick, the magnetic drain plug should be sufficient.

You could epoxy a magnet (or several) to the inside bottom part of your oil pan, no chance of clogging a filter then.

Many trans pans nowadays have them just for this.

Something similar to this?

http://www.filtermag.com/ART/fm_group.jpg

http://www.filtermag.com/

Yes they work. We have one of these on our Chevelle. Drain plug magnets are pretty wimpy as far as magnetic power with only a small amount of oil passing by. If your running with a working filter bypass the filter magnet could contain particles that the filter doesn't catch.

Something similar to this?

http://www.filtermag.com/ART/fm_group.jpg

http://www.filtermag.com/

Yes they work. We have one of these on our Chevelle. Drain plug magnets are pretty wimpy as far as magnetic power with only a small amount of oil passing by. If your running with a working filter bypass the filter magnet could contain particles that the filter doesn't catch.

Was About to say the same thing. Definately.. Filter Mag.. Especially During Cam break in.

filtermags are great...
I like the idea of the magnets in the parts washer...


check out www.wondermagnets.com
some of these magnets can allegedly break your fingers!
epoxy some of them near the drain back holes in the heads. Occasionally check them by removing a valve cover.

I called filter mag and got a price then went to NAPA and saved a few bucks and shipping cost on the same magnet. Won't know if it works good for at least 500 miles when I change my break in oil.

What about these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNET-STRONG-ENOUGH-2-1-2-OIL-FILTER-MAGNETS_W0QQitemZ260028579834QQihZ016QQcategoryZ26 217QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Why couldn't you use the magnet off an old speaker on the bottom of your filter?

What about these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAGNET-STRONG-ENOUGH-2-1-2-OIL-FILTER-MAGNETS_W0QQitemZ260028579834QQihZ016QQcategoryZ26 217QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Why couldn't you use the magnet off an old speaker on the bottom of your filter?

I should get one of those to pick up the nails in my driveway that the roofers and siders left here :D

Was About to say the same thing. Definately.. Filter Mag.. Especially During Cam break in.


no gimmick at all. I have one on each of my daily drivers also:thumbsup:

Not a gimick at all! They work well and you would be surprised what's floating around in there even more in a new engine. I always cut open my old filters to see what it looks like. These magnets will show a row of metal particles along the inside wall of the filter where the magnetic field pulls the suspended particles out of the circulating oil and holds them up against the interior wall of the filter out of harms way.

Epoxying magnets to the other pans and such is not a good idea as when are you going to clean it and throw the collected mess away? At least when you change the oil filter you are starting over with a clean internal filter (don't throw the magnets away with the old filter, don't laugh, it has happened LOL).

My Chevy Diesel truck has a factory external screw on tranny filter (like an oil filter, but smaller) that has an internal recessed magnet that surrounds the screw on hole where the fluid flows to catch any metal that might be suspended. When you change the tranny filter, you just wipe off the magnet and attach it to the new filter and screw it on. This is from GM of all people trying to extend the life of the tranny, well no the tranny is actually an Allison so they should get the credit.

Anyway, magnets are a good idea and cheap add on to extend the life of your engine or tranny. The magnetized oil pan bolt is also good, but not as effective as the oil filter magnet since all the oil passes through the filter at one time or the other and only a small bit of oil passes by the pan bolt at any given moment. The really cool thing is the bigger the metal particle the stronger the magnetic pull to get it out of the oil flow.

To inspect the filter just cut off the top just below the lip with a cut off tool or a hacksaw. You don't cut through the entire filter, just turn it as you cut through the metal until you separate the outside can from the internals still connected at the top. You will be amazed at what you find.

It will also show you why some famous brands are not very good when you inspect the insides and how flimsy they are made. FRAM for one is a filter I will never buy again due to when the "glue" melts the internals all fall part and it's an ineffective filter when that happens. On your next oil change buy an AC/Delco filter and cut it open when used up to compare with a Fram and you will immediately swear off Fram. There are others in same boat, good and bad, but I have not used them so can't say for sure with my own eyes. Fram and AC I know the difference first hand.

Good Luck

I bought some rare earth magnets from Lowes ($3.00) and stick them to the outside of my filter every change. I like the idea but $30 for a filter mag seemed kind of steep.

The material the magnet is made of will make a big difference as well. A large magnet from a speaker may be bigger, but it will still have a weaker magnetic field than a button-sized magnet made of neodynium (sp?) I believe neodynium was developed by GM. Magnets made of that stuff are strong little buggers!