DIY Magnetic Oil Filtering

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by jb92563

I don't really understand why all expensive engines would NOT have magnetic oil filtering as its cheap to install, easy to maintain and can only improve the internal situation in the engine, increasing its longevity and allowing monitoring of any developments.

I suppose it could be that engines lasting too long would effect the companies bottom line, or that the benefit has never been measured, or found to be insignificant in effecting the engines health.

Considering how anal German engineers can be, it seems like a deliberate omission.

What engineer or customer would be ok with hard ferrous grit circulating through their engine?

I'd be curious to know what Jake Raby or the other engine gurus think about it.
Perhaps they know the answers to the above questions.

JFP, I think your one of the gurus, what is your opinion on this?

I can't prognosticate what was on the designer's mind at the time, but I know the accountants would have had a heart attack at the thought of adding more costs.

We use FilterMag units on most of our spin on filter conversions. Personally, I use them on all my own internal combustion engines, from my John Deere tractor to the standby generator at the shop.

I believe that both Jake and LN recommend them as well.

[78F350]

Great simple "bang for the buck" DIY. Thanks for posting it all.
Just to bump your source of Magnets:

K&J Magnetics: BY042SH

and because I knew nothing about magnets, I thought this chart was very informative:
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/specs.asp

[oldskool73]

I also found these on AliExpress, slightly cheaper, similar size and high heat specs...

NdFeB magnet 50 * 10 * 5 N52 high temperature of 200 degrees-in Magnetic Materials from Home Improvement on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

[jb92563]

Originally Posted by lkchris

This is pretty much mostly hype. Oil filter will trap most--surely >95%--of the dangerous stuff.
Lots of engines go hundreds of thousands of miles without magnets in their oil.

Originally Posted by jc986

I think I have to agree with lkchris, don't really need the magnets when the filter is there already doing the same thing - stopping metal flakes AND other non-magnetic debris, like aluminum, dirt, etc from getting into the engine.

I'm sorry to refute your beliefs but the factual evidence is in.

A lot of very fine ferrous (Hard) metal does indeed get past the stock filter.

I did NOT see any metalic sludge or particles trapped in the filter element, and I looked at it very carefully under magnification.

The evidence is stuck to the filter magnets, a very fine metallic sludge/grit.

Perhaps I can find a way to greatly magnify the evidence and take pictures on the next oil change.

I am hoping that the quantity of these particles will decrease on each oil change.

In any case I am reducing the abrasive grit in my engine and for less than $30, as I only used 7 magnets and a pipe clamp, it is both cheap and extremely easy DIY to position them and tighten down the clamp, plus it will last the life of your car and many others after that one.
Plus there is Zero risk of messing something up as the magnets are externally mounted on the filter.

True the engines could last several hundred thousand miles without it, but what if that $30 investment got you another 50,000 - 100,000 miles or more before a failure or needing an overhaul. Is that worth $30 to you?

Probably the best $30 worth of engine protection I have ever bought.

No upside to parts sellers as the magnets don't wear out, ever, and car manufacturers want their products to fail sooner rather than later to increase sales.

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by 78F350

Great simple "bang for the buck" DIY. Thanks for posting it all.
Just to bump your source of Magnets:

K&J Magnetics: BY042SH

and because I knew nothing about magnets, I thought this chart was very informative:
https://www.kjmagnetics.com/specs.asp

Magnet price is great. Shipping is a ripoff!

J

[Niche]

Originally Posted by lkchris View Post
This is pretty much mostly hype. Oil filter will trap most--surely >95%--of the dangerous stuff.
Lots of engines go hundreds of thousands of miles without magnets in their oil.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jc986 View Post
I think I have to agree with lkchris, don't really need the magnets when the filter is there already doing the same thing - stopping metal flakes AND other non-magnetic debris, like aluminum, dirt, etc from getting into the engine.

Bought a boxster last year... had regular drain plug. Look what the magnetic drain plug caught that the oil filter did not.

[rick3000]

^ To be fair, I think the oil filter would have caught that too.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by Niche

Bought a boxster last year... had regular drain plug. Look what the magnetic drain plug caught that the oil filter did not.

you are not shyting us are you Javier?

[78F350]

Originally Posted by jpc763

Magnet price is great. Shipping is a ripoff!

J

Did you look at ALL the shipping options? UPS looked high, I clicked on USPS, shipped 28 pieces (4 Boxsters) for $7 Priority mail.

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by 78F350

Did you look at ALL the shipping options? UPS looked high, I clicked on USPS, shipped 28 pieces (4 Boxsters) for $7 Priority mail.

My Bad. I did not see the USPS option. I have ordered!

[Niche]

you are not shyting us are you Javier?

Nope. Adam Gill does all my work now and he sent me that picture when he put in the deep sump. You can see the scratches at the bottom of the sump from where it was... apparently for a long time!

[Xpit77]

What about a big ass magnet in the oil pan ?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by Xpit77

What about a big ass magnet in the oil pan ?

Nice concept, but how would you observe and remove the collected ferrous grit? It would require pulling the sump cover, which is a lot more effort than changing the oil filter during normal maintenance cycles.

[jb92563]

Originally Posted by Niche

Nope. Adam Gill does all my work now and he sent me that picture when he put in the deep sump. You can see the scratches at the bottom of the sump from where it was... apparently for a long time!

The burning question is did he discover where it came from and put it back?


Note: Mandatory Precautions for Samarium-Cobalt magnets: Be careful with those magnets because they are so strong that if you let them adhere to each other it takes a lot of force to separate them, and if you get some skin between them its going to hurt. These are not your weak little horseshoe magnets you played with as a child. You've been warned!

[JayG]

Originally Posted by jb92563

The burning question is did he discover where it came from and put it back?


Note: Mandatory Precautions for Samarium-Cobalt magnets: Be careful with those magnets because they are so strong that if you let them adhere to each other it takes a lot of force to separate them, and if you get some skin between them its going to hurt. These are not your weak little horseshoe magnets you played with as a child. You've been warned!

I take it you know that from experience (ouch!)

[Niche]

The burning question is did he discover where it came from and put it back?

Nope! Running great though.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by Niche

Nope! Running great though.

I thought it was a joke too. Looks like one of the bolts that holds on the oil pickup tube, or the two swirl pots - each of these has two bolts. The most worrisome would be the oil pickup, if that gets loose at all at the top where it joins the engine with the o-ring, it could suck air instead of oil which could be catastrophic.

[Niche]

Pick up tube bolts were. There were other possibilities, but in the end we couldn't figure it out. That's what happens when you buy a car from a hot rodder who doesn't care much for german cars.

[jb92563]

Originally Posted by JayG

I take it you know that from experience (ouch!)

Yaa, got pinched and then gave these little guys a lot more respect.

guy_loses_finger_to_neodymium

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by jb92563

Yaa, got pinched and then gave these little guys a lot more respect.

guy_loses_finger_to_neodymium

Yikes! That is scary.