Have you seen this on e-bay?

[louiegz]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...46098

MAGNETIC OIL DRAIN PLUG

I can see how it might be nice that the magnet atracts metal chips in your motor to the plug, like the magent in the transmission pan, but is there any real benifits in using this?

[Jesda]

I was talking to a few guys about those. They say it attracts a small amount of crud and gets the job done. I believe he installed his on a Lincoln Mark VIII.

-Jesda

[carlos_knology]

I'm always skeptical about items such as this. I'm not saying it doesn't work. I just don't know that it's necessary.

Let's assume you use it and find some particles on it, hasn't the damage already taken place? It would just keep me from sleeping!!

[MiniMan]

I'm always skeptical about items such as this. I'm not saying it doesn't work. I just don't know that it's necessary.

Let's assume you use it and find some particles on it, hasn't the damage already taken place? It would just keep me from sleeping!!

Over time parts wear and there will be metal shavings, especially when new. This is normal. However leaving metal shavings in your oil will cause an extensive amount of damage/wear to your engine/transmission/etc if you don't replace it or collect the metal shavings. This is why when you buy a new car you must replace the oil within 500-1000miles. Thereafter 3500+ miles.

Note, I don't mean to say this is a replacement for changing your oil. It's not in the least. It may however pickup those metal shavings which would have previously caused excess wear/damage to your engine.

Corey

[elwesso]

You have to think to yourself, if this is this cheap and does that much, why didnt the factory use it...?

[AZ94Q]

Wes,

I could say that about countless features that our missing on the G50 that other cheaper cars have.

Just because the factory didn't include it, doesn't mean it's worthless.

[elwesso]

Thats true, but if its something that was that critical, why wouldnt the factory use it.

Im not saying its bad, Im just thinking out loud!

[rsiwicki]

If the car industry provided the best of everything out there...including the very small less costly items such as this one...then the after market industry would be very limited.

Besides....for people who continue to only lease cars...this item probably does not real benefit to them since the turn in the car within 3 or 4 years. It is probably more beneficial for people like us to have this item...but at what point is damage already done?

I am sure Q45tech will enlighten us on the true usefulness of this item as it seems like something right up his alley.

[elwesso]

To me this seems like a good/bad. One side of me says its good because the differential uses a magnet and so does the transmission. The other side of me says its not necessary if you do your 90 day oil changes...

[rsiwicki]

I don't think that this item is this critical during the manufacturer's warranty periods....probably more like after the manufacturer's warranties expire (after 70K) is when the long term use of this item shows its true value like at my car now @ 138K.

[AZ94Q]

I think it all comes down to this

Is there any potential harm in using this product?

If there is no potential harm, and ANY possibility of the product working, then it's worth it..

[AZhitman]

There's one *teeny-tiny* fact that appears to be overlooked here - The Q (at least mine) HAS a magnetic drain plug.

However, we've all seen that it's overkill, as even my 100K mile Q has literally ZERO wear (as measured by digital micrometer) on any of the commonly-seen wear surfaces in the engine.

Perhaps they were added later?

Really not necessary, but it's also IMPOSSIBLE for it to be harmful. Makes FAR more sense on an old pushrod domestic engine.

[HeavyDuty]

IIRC, even the lowly 97-03 Ford F150 4.2 V6 comes with one installed in the oil pan.

Think about it this way, it's cheap, can cause no harm, it prevents the oil pump pickup from sucking it up & sending it (a metal particle) through the oiling sytem, wreaking havoc on its journey.

Why not from the factory?

Planned obsolesence?

[Nathan]

My Blazer came with a factory magnetic plug as well. On the first 1000 mile oil change I found quite a few shavings, on subsequent ones there were hardly any. Still though, I think its definitely a good thing and wish I had one for my 240 since I'm doing break in mileage right now. I think they are well worth a couple bucks to know that those filings arent getting pulled all through your engine!

[AZ94Q]

Well apparently the Q has it anyway, so I guess this all for nada.

[AZhitman]

It may not - I'd encourage you to check.

Although, the VH45DE doesn't exactly generate "metal shavings". Our Suburban sure did!