Magnetic maintenance

[LNM]

All

I reckon this post has a wide audience for those who are into preventative maintenance.

I had a lack-of-top-gear prob on my Volvo. There is an overdrive inhibitor setup that I suspected, so disconnected it. No joy. then I got underneath + took the solenoid off the box (I realise there may be no such item on Mercs but bear with me, there is a point).

Couldn't see anything wrong with this sealed unit so after much grit in the eye, managed to see inside the place where the solienoid fitted (infra-red on a camcorder + a mirror; you can "see" into dark nooks and crannies like this)+ spotted a bit of metal about the size of the leg on the M of Mercedes on this page lying in the hole.

I hoyed this out + I suddenly had 4 gears and non-Cadillac fuel consumption !!

I work in IT and long ago discovered that there are _SERIOUSLY_ powerful magnets inside hard disk drives. These make excellent swarf collectors and can be used in all sorts of places; transmission and power steering predominantly, but could also be used on engine sumps.

As I said, these are blood blister strong magnets (you can stick a Car magazine to a fridge; they have many uses !!). Any detritius they collect will be stuck permanently to the inside of the sump for ever more.

My power steering has been noticeably smoother since I dropped one into the resevoir. I _think_ I saw reference somewhere to a Volvo maintenance notice instructing magnets to be zip tied to the side of all power steering resevoirs too...

Hope this helps

 

[grasmere]

good point LNM, I have 2 very powerful magnets from an ecoflow bracelet I dont use and next week when I do my ATF and engine oil change I will utilize them in an appropriate spot

 

[mike65]

Do magnets really work? No matter how powerful the grip, the "field of influence" is still tiny....

Mike.

 

[grasmere]

yes, without doubt. Cars have for years has a very small magnet attached to the engine oil drain plug. On an oil change there is an amazing little clump of iron filings attached. Now that magnet is tiny.You mention a field of influence being 'tiny', well the field size is totally related to the power. Get a couple and try it with paperclips or something.

Anyway, the idea of a powerful magnet is not (in case this is what you thought) about having some super effect on the oil, its about removing all tiny bits of metalic particles from continuous circulating and minimizing wear and tear etc. The best place is in the area of filters and drain plugs because most oil will pass that way at one time or another.

Hers a web link with some interesting info on "An alternative to custom magnetised oil traps."
from http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/

Thanks to John Nightingale who read my pages and then felt he should contribute something. For those of you who do more than just change your filter - ie. take off the oil pan completely, John writes:
" Next time you are in the mall or high street, drop into the Radio Shack or a hardware store and purchase a package of modern, powerful ceramic magnets. These are available in various shapes and they are cheap. Radio Shack sells a package of two wafer shaped magnets, for instance. Stroll out to your car at the end of your shopping trip, bend down and stick these magnets onto convenient flat surfaces the bottom of your oil pan either side of the drain hole or as convenient. Now the magnets will magnetize the steel of the oil pan in their area. On the inside, particles coming through the field established by a magnet will be sequestered by being stuck to the bottom of the oil pan. Next time you take off the oil pan, clean it out in the usual way, pull off the magnets from the outside, clean them up and then stick them onto the inside of the oil pan at the bottom but clear of the drain hole. This will give an even better result since now the oil is exposed to the naked magnets themselves. The bottom of the oil pan in the area of each of the magnets is also magnetized, of course, and contributing to the effect. Resist the temptation to stand the magnets on edge to expose more of their surface to the oil. Placing the magnets flat on the oil pan uses the oil pan's steel as a keeper for the magnets and will ensure that they stay powerful. Placing the magnets flat will increase the area of the oil pan that is part of the magnetic circuit so you will loose no particle pick up area by having the magnets lying flat. "

Also have a look at http://www.thebeartrap.com/
Recently, magnetic filter additions have started to surface. The product in question was called the Bear Trap BT500. It's basically a sleeve made of foam rubber and plastic with some magnets in it. It bends to clamp around the outside of your regular spin-on oil filter.

enjoy . . .
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[mike65]

I checked out the maintenance site and I'll take his word that he thinks magnets work as he does seem to be sceptical by nature re:additives.

Presumbly I could make my own with some magnets....

Mike.

 

[grasmere]

Mike, I think the 'additive' discussion is not the same as magnets for oil.
Whether additives make any difference is subjective, magnets is not.

There is nothing to be sceptical about with this, what I mean is that the use of magnets is a physical and measurable action. ie by putting a powerful magnet in an appropriate place you WILL attract and hold the tiny peices of metal that ends up in the oil due to friction etc. Of that there is no doubt.

It is NOT about a magnet having an influence on the properties of oil etc like there is some discussion about using magnets to influence and improve the burn performance of petrol and gas.

Why not try something yourself, best place is probably at the oil filter where you can take it apart and see what is 'stuck' to the magnetic point on the side of the filter.

 

[mike65]

Oh I know what he's on about (my phasing could have been better) you can't use magnets to change the properties of oil/petrol. I may indeed see if I can find some magnets which can be fashioned into a wrap-a-round strip.

Mike.

 

[LNM]

magnets

didnt realise this place got so busy !! Need a caveat about putting anything into the power steering fluid, if it rusts, then I might have a problem; better to stick all magnets on the outsides of everything.

Old hard disk drives are the best source, believe me. They are very directional, having little or no field away from the face, but boyo do they pull when you're near the face.

 

[webby]

HI Everyone,

An intresting subject.

Just to add magnets do work on sump plugs, oil filters etc.
I'm an aircraft inspector and all gearboxes fitted to aircraft are equiped with Magnetic Plugs.
Not only will they attract the little bits of debris in the engine/gearbox etc but by analysing the particles attracted to the plug you can determine what if any part of you engine/gearbox is wearing the fastest......I know it's a bit over the top for a car but just to show they have their uses.

Keep it up

Webby