Magnetic Oil Drain Plug

[RoNSX]

As a new NSX owner (car won't arrive for two weeks) I am looking at protecting my new car (new to me). I am familiar with the use of magnetic oil drain plugs in steel engines, but I'm wondering if there is an real benefit in an aluminum block engine. Anyone using a magnetic plug that finds that it is capturing metal shavings?
Dali has one for under $10. I would expect a stock Honda replacement part to cost at least as much.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Ron,

You still have magnetic particles and surfaces regardless fo the block material. So this would be equally beneficial to an engine with an iron block.


HTH,
LarryB

 

[MvM]

Good question. Have been wondering about this too.

Does anyone actually use the magnetic plug from Dali ??

 

[BadCarma]

Good question. Have been wondering about this too.

Does anyone actually use the magnetic plug from Dali ??

I installed both the dali oil and tranny fluid plugs.I change my oil (mobil1) every 3k so I am due for a change in about 2 weeks.if I find nothing on the plug I will not post,if I do I will post a pic

best regards david

 

[Juice]

Just installed mine before taking the car to the shop. Then they dumped all the fluids (which were brand new) to do the belt and pump. I did learn that the transmission has a magnet instide of it already. I saw a CL's transmission torn apart and the magnet had quite a few shavings covering the service.

We'll see in a few months.

 

[burbel]

Just did my first oil change after using the magnetic drain plug, when I pulled it out and looked at it, just the tip had some irregular residue on it - almost looked like fuzz. When I wiped it onto the clean cloth (yeah, right ) that I had, it just left an oily spot, rubbing my finger over the spot I didn't feel any large metal shavings. But the residue wouldn't have been irregular if it wasn't working - I put it back in, it seems to have done something positive.

 

[matteni]

I have done 3 oil changes with the Dali plug and haven't found anything yet but like the piece of mind.

It would be like getting a physical and getting mad that you paid the doctor and he/she didn't find anything wrong with you!

 

[NSXDreamer2]

I guess what the original post mean was that the magnet won't pick up any aluminum / titanium debris, right?

 

[RoNSX]

Yes

I guess what the original post mean was that the magnet won't pick up any aluminum / titanium debris, right?

That's correct.

 

[nsx4fun]

Yep, aluminum & titanium won't give a damn about the magnetic field. Same is true for the lead bearings. But iron rings scraping iron sleeves can produce magnetically attractable debris. But the truth is, if the stuff doesn't get close enough for the magnet to overcome the flow & viscosity of the oil, most of your particles will remain in suspension and will be captured by the good ol' oil filter.

Is the magnetic oil plug effective or just marketing hoohaa? I haven't done a scientific experiment to make a data backed answer, but I think regular oil changes with quality oil and a quality oil filter are far more effective than a magnetic plug and likely make the plug ineffective.

Just my 2 cents worth.

 

[nsx4fun]

as another note, if something magnetic was really going to be a major filtering device, the ideal place to put it would be inside the oil filter where all of the oil was guaranteed to be brought into close proximity with the magnetic field prior to being delivered to those crucial lubricating points in the engine.

Please note that I am only addressing the engine motor oil drain plug. Transmissions operating on an entirely different lubrication method with no filters is another story. Hence the reason why some transmissions as someone else pointed out have a magnet already installed. I can definitely see how how a magnet inside a manual transmission can effectively attract debris caused by those unfortunate instances when a mistimed shift and clutch pedal action create that annoying grinding sound of the transmission synchros.

FWIW, you have MNSHO.

 

[Tantheman]

I had seen an advertisement for magnetic oil filter sleeves. Has anyone used this?

The engine oil cooler project is also nifty at extending engine life.

Tan

 

[Jett]

I had a high-mileage Mustang some years ago and installed a magnetic oil drain plug in the oil pan of the 302 engine. I changed the oil fairly regularly in the Mustang, even before the magnetic drain plug. At the next oil change after installation, when I removed the plug, it had so many metal shavings clinging to it it looked like it had an Afro. I was shocked at how many shavings apparently were floating around. The Mustang had over 150,000 miles at the time, plus the NSX engine probably doesn't shed as much, but I concluded that a magnetic drain plug was useful and was cheap insurance, in addition to regular oil changes.