Metal Chunks in Oil Pan - How much is too much?

cronapress · Post by **cronapress** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:12 pm

There are always useful hints & tips to be found on this excellent site. The magnet on the oil filter sketch must be one of the best - and simplest yet !

I had a rummage in the shed and emerged (eventually) with a large, powerful ceramic magnet from an old permanent magnet motor. (Ex-industrial ride-on floor scrubber)

It's curved to match the rotor diameter which just happens to be the same (plus or minus a gnat's crotchet) as the outside diameter of the filter.

Tyraps ensure it doesn't vibrate around. OK, I presume it won't grab any bearing (white metal ?) material that may float around, but I think the greater risk is from ferrous crud as in the previous post.

Thanks and keep the ideas flowing folks.

Mike. 712M
Ayrshire,
Scotland.

AZ_Dave · Post by **AZ_Dave** » Sat Sep 06, 2008 1:44 am

they also make jackets with several magnets on them that surround the oil filter if any one is interested.

Also, for people with newer cars, a warning before putting a magnet on your oil filter:

I put one on my 02 truck a few years back and it turns out there is a sensor module of some sort in the area. When I would hit bumps, it was enough to reposition a very strong magnet from the bottom of the oil filter to the top. This put it in a location that was close enough to destroy whatever kind of sensor it was -its been a few years. So if you use this trick on a newer vehicle with all the sensor gizmos, be careful about where you put it and what is in the vicinity.

ablank · Post by **ablank** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:13 pm

I changed my oil for the first time, and found some metal debris on the magnet, it's mainly fine bits. Took some pics of it for reference. Is this amount/size normal?

MASSIVE PINZ · Post by **MASSIVE PINZ** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:42 pm

Keep in mind that bearing material isn't magnetic... What ends up on the magnet is usually cam, lifter and cylinder material...

Cut the oil filter open carefully and inspect it's contents. The real story is told there.

LibTimothy · Post by **LibTimothy** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:21 pm

Ablank,

This is almost exactly what I had in mine, except I had one slightly larger chunk (which was sadly lost before I could take a photo of it).

Massive Pinz,

If I cut open my filter, what would I be looking for? Small shards of metal? Big Chunks? What size is normal? What is cause for alarm?

Timothy