<all> Magnetic Drain Plugs

[Pearson-Franks Family <pearsonf@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kendrick wrote:

>Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 20:04:42 -0700
>From: "-o=[KeNdRiCk=o-" <levoc@domain.elided>
>Subject: magnetic drain plug
>
>I remember reading someone's  posting a month or so ago about making his
>own magnetic drain plug. I wish that person would explain what he did again
>if he sees this posting.
>
>Is a magnetic drain plug really that effective and worthwhile?
>
>Kendrick
>98 328iS

Larry F. replies:

I have run magnetic drain plugs for 400,000ish miles in my Volvos,
and about 200,000 in my BMW's.  The results to-date:  almost no fuzz
(meaning magnetic material captured by the magnet and missed by the
filter).  On the other hand, the oil from my 3000 mile periodic
removals goes into 5 gallon containers until I get them to the
recycler, and it is not uncommon to see a faint silver glint in the
bottom of the bucket, expecially if it has sat still for a long time.

My highly scientific conclusion is that in a healthy engine there is
not a lot of magnetic material to snag out of the passing oil, while
there _is_ a visible amount of non-magnetic material, that the magnet
is not  interested in.  Not surprising, given that you generally have
soft metal (babitt) to hard metal (crankshaft, etc.) contact generally
sacrificing the soft metal.

Totally different results in trannies, but that is another story!

Just my experience, Larry F.


Larry Franks
Issaquah, Washington
'86 535i - Shark-infested (Authentic chip!)
'86 535i - Sharked (recently)
'83 245 GLT (Swedish iron)

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