anyone using Magnetic Oil pan plugs?

[windstrings]

Anybody else using magnetic oil plugs on the oil pan?.. and if so, what are your findings when you change your oil?

After I had already ordered mine.. I read some folks out here say its bunk and no need, but I have about 20K on both of my Prius's now and everytime I change the oil, there is a fine grey material on the magnet that only comes off with rubbing with my finger.. sometimes there is heavier matter around the edges I get with a rag... possibly just accumilations rather then bigger particles.

It has the color of "gun grey" and is so fine, its almost like paint........
I figure if they are doing anything at all, its worth it.

[tochatihu]

I have a magnet stuck to the bottom of the engine oil sump, and pull it off for oil draining. Thus unknown if it is actually collecting anything, but the UOA analyses have been clean. Also two stuck to the outside of the oil filter. Those are from a computer hard drive, which I 'disassembled in anger'. Pretty darn strong magnets...

[windstrings]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Feb 9 2007, 10:57 AM) [snapback]387515[/snapback]</div>

I have a magnet stuck to the bottom of the engine oil sump, and pull it off for oil draining. Thus unknown if it is actually collecting anything, but the UOA analyses have been clean. Also two stuck to the outside of the oil filter. Those are from a computer hard drive, which I 'disassembled in anger'. Pretty darn strong magnets... [/b]

Wow.. excellent idea!... I really like the bottom of the oil filter idea!.. I'm sure it works!.....



Humm.. how I have to steal a magnet!....

[Paul R. Haller]

Why not buy or beg some magnetic vinyl,, you know the ones they make signs that stick to cars with. I go to a restraunt next door to a sign place and asked if they had any scrap magnetic vinyl. I told them it didn't matter if it was already printed. He gave a 3 foot piece that said Neds Paining. NOT Painting... that's why he gave it to me. I took it home and cut it into 3 inch strips which I wrap around my oil filter. The filter can is steel so it can't come off and in a prius the filter is upside down holding the iron particulates stuck to the side of the filter even when removing. When you change the filter just swap it to the new one.
Do yourself a favor and take your significant other to lunch with the money saved. Life is so much better, in my case, with a happy wife and your Prius will be iron filing free too.
-Paul R. Haller-

[tochatihu]

Fair enough Paul, but those magnetic signs are not very strong. The magnets in hard drives will pinch you pretty bad if you put a finger between them.

[windstrings]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Feb 10 2007, 10:52 AM) [snapback]388041[/snapback]</div>

Fair enough Paul, but those magnetic signs are not very strong. The magnets in hard drives will pinch you pretty bad if you put a finger between them. [/b]

I finally found a use for POC hardrives!

[snowcrash74]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(windstrings @ Feb 10 2007, 12:20 PM) [snapback]388054[/snapback]</div>

I finally found a use for POC hardrives!
[/b]

Or you could use something like the mini mag-float, it's an extremely strong small pair of magnets used for cleaning the algae off the glass of a fish tank. These are also strong enough to pinch a finger if you aren't careful.

[freshspeedo]

I have an electronic shop near me that is selling some really strong earth magnets.

They are size of a dime and sell about $0.50 each

Do you think if I put around 6 of them around the oil filter that should do the job?

I use regular 5W-30 oil and change the oil every 8000km or 5000miles.