The engine is the heart of your vehicle and generates the power to move it. Therefore, you want to protect it. Magnetic drain plugs can help protect the engine by pulling harmful particles from the oil. However, many still doubt whether magnetic drain plugs are worth it.
Magnetic drain plugs are worth it as they can protect your car or motorcycle’s engine. They are used to filter out magnetic particles from the oil before they can cause damage. Some engines use oil filters with a magnet attachment instead, as they can remove both magnetic and non-magnetic particles.
A magnetic drain plug is small and cheap, yet it makes a major difference. Many are still unsure as to whether they are worth it. Below we look at how magnetic drain plugs work and what alternatives are available, to help you decide if they’re worth it for you.
What Are Magnetic Oil Drain Plugs?
A magnetic oil drain plug is a small, 13.5 millimeter (0.53 inch) bolt with magnetic material attached that fits into the rear crankcase. They are commonly found on crankshaft-driven bikes and some cars and they filter ferrous metal particles in the oil by pulling them to the plug magnetically.
Magnetic oil drain plugs can be more expensive compared to regular drain plugs but are worth it for the amount of metal debris they filter out of the oil. The more expensive plugs use neodymium magnets, the most powerful magnets available on the market.
A regular oil filter can be installed in your motorcycle or car very cheaply but likely won’t provide the same protection as a magnetic drain plug. Alternatively, an oil filter magnet can be fitted directly on the oil filter to get the same benefits as a magnetic drain plug.
The Oil Filter Magnet
The oil filter magnet is a safer option than the magnetic drain plug and provides the same benefits plus more. A ceramic oil filter magnet can have a pull rating of over 50 pounds / 22.7 kilograms, which can extract even the tiniest particles from the oil. High pull strength is a measure of how much force the magnet can exert.
Due to the high pull strength, oil filter magnets can pull the tiniest metal particles that would pass right through a normal oil filter. When changing the oil after one use, you can verify how effective the filter has been. Some are reusable and can be removed from one oil filter and inserted into another when the oil is changed.
The effectiveness of these magnets makes them ideal for use in filtering out the smallest of ferrous particles, which can do the most damage. With their doughnut shape, they can be fitted with double-sided tape to sit directly on top of an oil filter. However, oil filter magnets are more expensive than a magnetic drain plug.
Where Does Oil Sludge Come From?
Oil sludge is a buildup of all the dirt, grime, and tiny metal particles that are carried by the oil and passed through your car or motorcycle’s engine. The non-magnetic particles that don’t get pulled in by the magnet slip through to contribute to the sludge.
During the normal running of a bike or car, there is a lot of stress on the engine and the moving parts that transfer the power from it to the wheels. The friction inside results in small metal particles being worn off the moving parts. The size of these particles ranges from 5 to 50 microns. To give you an idea of size, a human hair ranges from 20 microns to 50 microns in thickness.
Particles are worn off from the piston, crankshaft, clutch, and gears along with other smaller moving parts. Some of them are non-metallic, while others are metallic but non-magnetic as they are worn from the piston and crankcase, which are aluminum.
All non-magnetic particles, such as the aluminum and fiber particles, will pass by the magnetic drain plug without getting caught. This makes oil filters the more efficient solution to oil sludge, as they can capture all types of particles whether they are magnetic or not.
Do Magnetic Drain Plugs Make A Difference?
Magnetic drain plugs do make a difference. Magnetic drain plugs work by attracting the ferrous particles as the oil swirls around the plug. However, many car and motorcycle manufacturers have chosen to use magnetic oil filters instead, claiming they are more efficient.
Oil flows easily after metal particles are removed, which increases the engine lifespan and efficiency. The sludge on the drain plug also functions as an indicator of how much metal is being worn off inside the engine. A magnetic drain plug adds to your engine protection at a cheap price, making it well worth the money.
Cheap magnetic drain plugs are made from aluminum with a magnet glued on. The steel magnetic drain plugs with high-power magnets fixed to them are inherently magnetic and are superior but are much more expensive. It is advisable to buy a steel drain plug made by a reputed manufacturer instead of buying an un-branded aluminum drain plug to save a few bucks.
Auto Parts Are Manufactured With Precise Tolerance
Most auto parts are made to an extremely precise tolerance, usually within 5 microns. The piston rings, cylinder, and many other parts lose their efficiency as they wear out because they are out of tolerance. The smallest ferrous particles in the oil that can cause damage are those that can slip between 2 parts moving together.
The magnetic drain plug is an efficient way to prevent excessive wear inside the engine. By pulling the small particles out of the oil, it stops the particles from getting in between the moving parts and causing friction that would wear down the engine.
Manufacturers Don’t Use Magnetic Drain Plugs
Magnetic drain plugs have proved that they can make a major difference in the amount of sludge that they extract from the oil. Despite this evidence, most manufacturers do not put magnetic drain plugs on their cars or motorcycles. Instead, manufacturers opt for different methods of removing some of the particles.
Considering how small most of these metal particles are it begs the question of whether they need to be removed. Many manufacturers don’t seem to think so. However, some manufacturers do install oil filters that remove particles larger than 35 microns. Of course, this means all metallic and non-metallic particles smaller than 35 microns remain in the oil.
The Particles That Do The Most Damage
Of all the particles that are in the oil, the most damaging ones are the biggest and the hardest. Steel particles are hard particles that can cause a lot of damage. However, they are magnetic so you can extract them using a magnetic drain plug. Having a magnetic drain plug is worth it if you have steel particles in your oil.
The non-magnetic particles like aluminum and fiber are not as hard so cannot cause as much damage, although it is desirable to filter them out as well. These particles can be extracted with a relatively cheap oil filter. Street bikes and high-performance bikes can benefit from having an oil filter fitted at any repair shop. Oil filters are simply steel canisters with a paper element inside.
KEY POINTS
• Magnetic drain plugs can be worth it to prolong the life of your vehicle’s engine
• They help filter out small, magnetic particles within your engine oil
• They aren’t a perfect solution, but for their often cheap price they’re usually worth trying
Pros And Cons Of Magnetic Oil Drain Plugs
Pros Of Using Magnetic Oil Drain Plugs
Magnetic drain plugs are useful in that they remove any ferrous metal particles that are in the oil. They are quite inexpensive and are very easy to fit as they replace the regular drain plug. The cheaper ones are made of aluminum with magnetic material attached. A stainless-steel drain plug with a high-quality neodymium magnet would cost additional money.
Samples of the metal particles stuck to the plug can help identify potential issues in the engine. The amount of metal that sticks to the plug can be an early warning that the engine has developed a problem and needs a checkup from a qualified company mechanic. The cheaper aluminum plugs are reusable as they are easy to clean.
If the engine’s oil is not changed regularly, a magnetic oil drain plug could save the engine from damage by extracting some of the harmful metal debris. Preventing this damage could save you a lot of trouble and money from engine repairs in the long run.
Cons Of Using Magnetic Oil Drain Plugs
Despite their advantages, magnetic drain plugs are lacking in many areas. They cannot filter out non-ferrous metal particles or other larger particles that are not metallic. Weak magnetic fields are unable to catch smaller ferrous particles. Magnets with strong magnetic fields, such as neodymium and rare earth, are expensive compared to an oil filter.
When changing the oil, the plug typically comes out with a fur attached to it that sticks to the magnetic portion of the plug. It is not easy to clean the expensive neodymium plugs, so be prepared to purchase a new plug if it is too difficult to clean during changes.
Final Thoughts
Most motorcycle manufacturers do not use magnetic drain plugs though they remove ferrous metal particles from the oil. Although there is a debate on whether removing tiny metal particles makes any difference, magnetic drain plugs are worth it solely because of the metallic sludge they remove.