Recommend me a magnetic oil plug.

I made a bunch a few years, ago, but few people wanted them.

Mine were USA made steel like the OEM ones, with Toyota gaskets and have used a 14mm hex head just like the OEM ones. I center bored them out on a machinist lathe and used Loctite 640 permanent cylinder sleeve retaining compound and neodymium "rare earth" magnets.

I even bored out the plug that came with my car and affixed a neodymium magnet to it. Both the OEM plug and the ones that I made essentially worked the same.

If there was a call for them, I'd order OEM plugs and affix magnets to them.

Most all sold, today, are aluminum ones imported from China. People evidently wanted CHEAP.

The OEM plug and gasket retails for about $6. I just wonder how many people would pay the $20-25 that a really high grade OEM quality drain plug custom machined fitted with a "rare earth" magnet. A good Porsche magnetic oil drain plug sells for about $38. I sourced and make them for $20 delivered. I've sold 15 in the last month.

I still have 12 of them somewhere but don't know where I put them. NOT allowed to sell them here, anyway.

 

I'm not sure about the Prius's plug, since mine is a work car and I don't pull the plug, but is the OEM drain plug made from a ferrous material?

If so, why not place a rare earth magnet on the drain plug?
They're about 10 bucks and you can get them with adhesive backs (not that I think that it would be needed.) That way you retain the OEM plug's sure-to-fit properties.

I've never bothered with magnets myself since all of my vehicles have oil filters, but if you get one for the oil pan, you may want to consider one for the CVT as well. It lacks the aforementioned filter.

 

Did gen II have magnetic plug? Available from dealership parts department? First and foremost: same size??

 

Just gluing a magnet to the OEM plug WON'T work.

Since the oil pan is also steel, the magnet will attract it and "pull off" the plug. You may be left with the magnet inside the oil pan.

 

NOPE!

Toyota NEVER made an OEM magnetic oil drain plug. Not on the 2003 Corolla, NOT on the 2002 4Runner and NOT on the 2012 Prius"v" that I've seen personally.

Again, I can make them, but people won't pay for them.

If anyone watches the CUSTOM car shows on the cable channels, they'd find out how much custom work cost. I do it as a hobby, but people still don't understand.

 

Sounds logical.
Like I said. I don't bother.
They still pay people to make buggy-whips, and those items are still much more expensive that they were back in the day when people whipped horses to accelerate instead of mashing a little rubber pedal.

 

Toyota got away with placing a two cent ceramic magnet on the Gen II transaxle drain plug, because the drain plug is made of steel, and the transaxle housing is made of non-magnetic aluminum.

The ceramic magnet is weak, and the neodymium magnet is extraordinarily strong; so strong that it snaps out of one's hand and violently shoots onto a steel or iron object.

That's why a "rare earth" neodymium magnet requires special handling and secure retention to tee drain plug.

Getting things done "right and proper" is a lot more than the casual individual can imagine.

I only make this stuff, because I want them and can't get them. I'd make a few more, since it does not take that much more time and set up labor to make a small number. Once they're gone, I won't make any more, unless there is a wide demand. It also gives me the satisfaction of helping others who have the same interest that I do.