Oil Filter Magnets and Effectiveness

[J-P]

Has anyone used one of those magnetic bands that fit over your oil filter or the screw-on bypass type with the real powerful magnets?

Just wondering if you believe them to be effective or have cut open an old filter to check what has been pulled out of the oil.

Also, anyone have recommendations on where to purchase these?

I think Griot's Garage sells them for their typical inflated prices, but looking for other sources. Thanks.

[911pcars]

A lot of Porsche pieces are non-ferrous (aluminum, copper, brass, etc.) and thus will ignore the presence of a magnet. Other parts are ferrous (camshaft, sprocket wheels, chains, bearing shells, piston rings, etc.), and bits of these will be trapped by anything magnetic in the lube system. The factory drain plug is useful for this purpose, but iron and steel bits floating through the oil filter and system isn't recommended or good. It could also be a sign of abnormal wear and/or imminent breakage.

Why purchase a fancy Griot magnet? How much, btw? Just Google, "Magnet", then purchase any size and strength magnet you wish to hang from your filter housing. Registry friend, H. Wong, gifted me a magnet from a dead hard drive. They use neodymium magnets, currently the most powerful type. They're not expensive unless you purchase large hunks. Perhaps overkill for the application. Lesser magnets are pennies. Shape is open, but button-size ones work well. Installation takes about .5 Ms. Forget the stick-on-the-frige calendar. Those are dated (and weak).

Since a magnetized oil filter is a repository for anything magnetic, cut open a replaced filter on occasion and see what's accumulated.

Sherwood