Guys,
Has anyone seen the little filter magnets that attach to your oil filter? Do these really work? It sounds like a pretty good idea to catch any metal particles that may be floating around in the oil. I used to see ads from this one company F*lt*rM*g, but I don't see them anymore. Where did they go?

Thanks

The Filter Mag does work. I use one and had a chance to cut one of my used filters open with a hacksaw (what a mess that was!) last year. There was a pattern of very fine particles that were 'stuck' to the inside filter housing where the magnet had been attached. Not much there, but you could definitely see that it was capturing some metal and I usually change my oil every 1,000 miles.

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502 Rat Infested 1970 Malibu - Gold Member #39
Keep America Beautiful - Drive A Brute Force Chevelle!
http://pages.about.com/wescolby/personal.html

Thanks Wes, Do you know where you can purchase those magnets. I've checked S*mm*t and J*gs and can't find them anywhere.

Thanks

Well, you've stirred my interest. I'm looking and will post what I find here. So far: http://magnaforce.com/home.htm
http://www.galaxymall.com/auto/oilfilter/awards.html

http://www.truckpartsworld.com/Canada/FilterMaster.htm

Magnetic drain pulgs: http://www.superplug.com/applications.html

http://www.finishlineperformance.com/pages/maintenance/magdrainplug.html

I understand that the magnetic drain plugs are in most parts stores. I'd be stunned if JC Whitney didn't have both.


[This message has been edited by Uncle (edited 06-14-2000).]

Sorry for my cheapness but... couldn't you just use some magnets and duct tape?
-David

or you could just use some coffee cup sleeves and jam some magnets in there, good idea eh? you could have a Dilbert oil filter.
-David

you know... that would also provide a good grip for removal of the filter... I wonder how I could go about reinventing such a thing..
guess nobody likes my ideas.
-David

Onthegas, I actually bought mine about 2 years ago from an ad in Super Chevy or Chevy HiPorformance, not sure which one it was though. I don't have the reciept http://www.chevelles.com/forum/frown.gif any longer either so no help there. I haven't seen any ads for it for some time now. Went out to the car and pulled off the magnet to see if there was any info on it...no info besides the name - sorry. This magnet is probably the best designed for the job because the magnets' surface area is HUGE compared to placing a smaller magnet or magnets within the oil pan or within the block. Not to say that they don't work, but the FilterMag covers about 1/3 of the oil filters' total outer surface area...and talk about strong! It takes some serious effort to remove it from the filter. Maybe someone else has their number.

Liked the way you're thinking David, but header tube heat would kill that duct tape in a heartbeat. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

J.C. Whitney (http://www.jcwhitney.com/home.jhtml) came thru to save the day. They list a product from MagneStrap that uses two magnets for $9.95 or the 'heavy duty' four magnet strap for $14.95. It doesn't look as big (1-1 1/2" wide) as the older magnetic filter covers it the past, but it should work.

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When the engine starts to wail, I can feel the rearend fishtail

Richard Dorrough
Tulsa, Ok
'68 Chevelle
'70 Nomad (CHVELLE)
ACES # 789

Try just a regular magnet, stick it to the oil filter, it will work, it wont fall off.
Know what else works good also, is a magnetic drain plug for the oil pan, I have them on all my cars, you'll be surprized at what sticks to them.
You can buy them from GM, they were originaly used in Corvettes, they are in the GM performance parts catalog.
I think Ground up sells them also.

Jeff Litka
72 Chevelle SS
72 MonteCarlo

Hey guys,
May sound kind a dumb but if you know where there is an old fridge, pull the magnet strips out of the door seals, and wrap it around the filter. The long one is about 5 ft long, the shorter ones are about 2 - 2 1/2 ft long. Don't know, may need to use a little duct tape on the ends if the filter dia. is too tight. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif It should almost cover the whole filter, and its free if you know where there is an old fridge. What do ya think?? Wes O.

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"When the job gets you down, and life's a drag,..........RACE!!"

Hardware stores also sell magnetic tape that has a peel and stick on one side. They come in both 1"x3' ($10) and 1/2" ($4-$5)

You may also be able to use some ultra strong ciramic magnets from an old military radio from an Army/Navy store.

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When the engine starts to wail, I can feel the rearend fishtail

Richard Dorrough
Tulsa, Ok
'68 Chevelle
'70 Nomad (CHVELLE)
ACES # 789

I recommend the magnetic drain plugs. YTou can get them almost anywhere and this way everytime you change the oil, you'll be able to check wear by seeing whats sticking to your magnet.

I donnow about you guys, but cutting an oil filter apart every so often is not my idea of fun and frolick in the sun! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

I think the magnetic drain plugs are more effective because the oil collected there is not moving nearly as fast as in the oil filter - just my $0.02.

Look around for some "supermagnets". They're also called "rare earth" or neodymium (or something like that). They're the strongest you can find without going electromagnet and are not expensive at all. Epoxy one to the end of the drain plug and you're in business. It can be a bit tough getting the plug in at times since this unbelievably strong magnet will try to stick to the pan. I've gotten several from a guy who sells all kinds and sizes on ebay. Email me and I'll be glad to put anyone in touch with him and I'll vouch for his products and service. You'll probably want to order some of the other sizes and shapes, too, 'cause fun playing with magnets isn't limited to small boys. I have a couple of round rods that are 3/4" diameter and 3/4" long and it's a lot of fun watching big guys try to pull two of them apart!

You guys really sure that "new age" voodoo stuff works? They claim magnets & copper bracelets work for arthritis too! I don't know, but experience shows if it sounds logical it ain't worth crap! I know metal gets worn off naturally and changing oil on a regular basis helps reduce the wear, so why collect it? Where's the case study that shows any benefit, or any harm, using magnets? We car guys do fall for every gadget that comes along, remember?

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www.heartbeat-chevy-club.freeservers.com (http://www.heartbeat-chevy-club.freeservers.com)

are these particles so small that the filter doesnt capture them??

i guess im asking if the magnets are simply redundant??? would these particles be filtered out anyway??

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Rich
Cocoa Beach, Fla
Team Chevelle #380
46 but feeling like 20 when i'm in my 70 SS 454
wa3men@aol.com
www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70_SS_454.jpg)

[This message has been edited by 70 SS 454 (edited 06-24-2000).]

Onthegas, I found FilterMag's number...it's 1-800-FIL-TERMAG, go figure! Called the number and yes they are still around. Check into 'em. They do what they are supposed to do - capture metal.

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502 Rat Infested 1970 Malibu - Gold Member #39
Keep America Beautiful - Drive A Brute Force Chevelle!
http://pages.about.com/wescolby/personal.html

Go to www.gofastparts.com (http://www.gofastparts.com) they have an oil filter magnet and lots of other stuff too

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WES!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the phone number, I just called and ordered one for my car and one for my truck. According to the rep on the phone these magnets are a totally new design that are 4 time more powerful than the originals. They are totally new design and have only been out on the market for 4 weeks. They can stop particles even smaller than the red blood cells in your body. Thanks again Wes and thanks to everyone else who contributed to this post.

Some of the strongest magnets I have ever seen are actually inside of your computers hard drive. If you have an old drive that doesn't work, take it apart (if you haven't already http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif ) and remove the magnets. Watch out though, I have seen some guys get some serious blood blisters from playing with these, and having them smack together on their finger. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif

All Kawasaki motorcycles used to come from the factory with magnetic drain plugs, until the product cheapening department went money kill.

Power steering pumps on GM cars with pump mounted reservoirs come with a disc magnet in the reservoirs.

Some 3/4 speeds and differentials came with disc magnets in them.

Some older cars used to come with a magnet stuck with cement to the inside of the oil pan.

Oil filter and oil pan magnets make a lot of sense. There's some other places they need to be, like in valley drain-back areas inside engines, cooling systems and such.

Onthegas, glad to hear you were able to get some of those mags. You'll enjoy the re-assurance that metal paticles are being pulled out of your oil and not recirculating around rotating assemblies. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif

Geesh, if they are now 4 times stronger than the one I've got, how in the world do you expect to get it off the filter when it's time for a filter change?! http://www.chevelles.com/forum/eek.gif Thought that the one I've got is strong...don't know about red blood cells http://www.chevelles.com/forum/wink.gif but it will definitely capture what I would call 'powdered metal' and anything larger.

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502 Rat Infested 1970 Malibu - Gold Member #39
Keep America Beautiful - Drive A Brute Force Chevelle!
http://pages.about.com/wescolby/personal.html