I was just reading over this article that A-Spec posted: http://www.fernblatt.com/longhurst/engineoil_bible.html (thanks for that, btw)... and came across "The Bear Trap" which is a magnet that you put around your oil filter that's supposed to help catch metalic pieces that get into your oil. The person who wrote the Engine Oil Bible (the link above) claims that it works.

Anyone ever tried it?

 

hmm.. no, but wouldnt a magnetized oil drain plug be better?

 

I think it works wherever the most oil is circulated. I thought the drain plug was magnetized. It definitely would not hurt to have a manet around the oil filter. The only problem I may see is that the oil filter is really close to the ignition coils. A large magnet near the coils MAY have a bad effect on ignition.

On a side note helicopters have engine and transmission "chip" lights that go on whenever a bits of metal get stuck to magnetic sensors in the engine or the tranny. Pretty neat little gadgets.

 

I figure the oil filter will catch anything a magnet will. Isnt that what an oil filter is for, to remove particulates from the oil?

 

You would be suprised on what a magnet can fetch out of the oil.

James

 

Yes, but I'd hardly call a little ring of magnets overkill. Especially if that ring of magnets collects debris and keeps it inside of the oil filter. That way when you change your oil and filter you will be getting rid of any debris that the magnets collect. Also, when you change your oil you are not be getting rid of all of the old oil since some of it will still be inside of your pump, oil cooler(s), etc. and I wonder if those particles will build up over the years. I'm just saying that a little extra can't hurt.

BTW, that's a quality link, BrianK. Thx for posting it.