Magnets in drain plugs

[MikeNash]

I assume you all know of this but I'm often surprised by how few actually fit them - perhaps you're unaware of how valuable they are. See below[frame][/frame]
The left hand one is the engine sump drain plug, the middle that of the gearbox and the right hand one the back axle and they've all done about 3000 miles since they were last cleaned and their appearance is typical. I'm very glad the bits are stuck on the magnets and not still churning around in the lubricant! Of course, when you first fit them they come out for the first time looking like Christmas trees with masses of "growth" on their tops.

The magnets you see are old ferrite ones; the current "rare earth" type are far more powerful (and very cheap) and would do a much better job and I intend to replace the plugs with new ones with the modern magnet type a soon as possible.

Finally, note that the right hand plug is a 1/2 inch BSPT plug bought from a plumber's store for under £1 (Woodstock Ltd, Andover). All the plugs were drilled at about a 1/4 inch dia and the ferrite rods were then araldited in.

Regards, MikeN.

[greendefender123]

Good idea, think some on my land rover are magnetic. Still a good idea but i hope my oil filter also catches alot of the swarf tho this should catch bits before they get sucked up. Obviously the axles and gearboxes dont have filters.

[mike.perry]

I have a small magnet in the well of my brass sump plug on my Series MM engine. I have not taken it out yet but I used to own a Mini and the sump plug on that looked like a hedgehog

[bmcecosse]

You can also leave a magnet in the oil; filter casing,

[dawpooldad]

Re last post from bmceccosse,

I have a friend who spends his life trawling around car boot sales for old computer hard drives, just for the magnets in them (he's a magnet freak!). They are usually the rare earth type and very strong and he has taken to dropping one in the filter casing of his eurobox when he changes the oil.

He readily admits that he doesn't know how much swarf they pick up 'cos he just throws the filter away after renewal, but I'm sure that they must be doing some good!

Even Ford Motor Co do this on some of their gearboxes 'cos everyone's favourite TV program "Wheeler Dealers"???? recently showed a circular magnet fitted inside an XR2 gearbox that was about to be "overhauled".

Rgds

Dawpooldad