Magnetic Attraction

[steve28]

Can anyone think of any reasons why i cant put a magnet on the dipstick of my engine with the view to attracting stray metal particles within the oil.
It is NOT a stainless dipstick!





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[ccscott49]

No reason not to, but wouldn't any particles be rubbed off when you pull the stick? Lots of old cars had magnetic sump plugs. The main filter should pick up any metal particles. So don't really see the point.

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[AndrewJ]

I wish I'd thought of that. Then if I get to many particles, I'll know something isn't quite correct. Would that require a recalibration the compass.

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[AndCur]

Theres no reason why you could not attach a magnet to the dip stick as long as you
are sure it wont fall off.Besides the oil filter and the strainer in the oil punp should
pick up any filings.What i would sudjest is that if can get at the sump drain plug
you put the magnet to it where its out of harms way.

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[tripleace]

why not put a magnet somewhere else?

any oil feed pipe could have a magnet put in line?


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[TheBoatman]

Why would you want to put it on an oil feed pipe?
Firstly it would restrict flow and secondly, How do you get the swarf out?
If you can't fit one to the sump plug, why not just slip it in the oil sump (providing you have a pressed steel sump plate). By the time you need to get the swarf out the engine would be knackered anyway.
IMHO if the engine is working OK you definately shouldn't have large bits of swarf running around the system, any small bits will be caught in the oil filter.

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[Coppershield]

Sounds like a great idea

Hi, sounds like a great idea. but if you'r concerned call your local diesal parts supliyers for oil test kit it vill give you better gage of your engine(s) healt.
good luck.
Muzaffer

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[vyv_cox]

Once your engine is run in, there are very few sliding steel-on-steel components that are likely to generate swarf or large particles. Any that are generated will be trapped by the oil filter, unless we are talking large chunks, which will not pass through the strainer.

The usual way that this is done is by fixing a cylindrical magnet into the sump plug. As said above, at one time this kit was fairly common, but modern engine manufacturing techniques and quality control have rendered them obsolete. There just might be a case for doing it for a larger gearbox, where there is considerable steel-on-steel sliding contact. Not much point for anything under 100HP, IMHO.

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[steffen]

I remember from my airforce time that there was a magnetic plug in the turbine engine of the Alouette helicopter. Its main function was not to clean the oil from particles - the filter will take care of that- but to indicate any excessive wear by showing metal particles.
If there was anything stuck to the plug, the engine was came of.

Happy sailing, Steffen

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[ccscott49]

most modern helicopters have "chip detectors" which as the oil passes a proximity/resistance sensor, any metal particles are spotted, a warning is sounded and the heli is grounded, until the oil/component is checked.

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[vyv_cox]

It's gearbox particles that are being monitored. Helicopters can continue to fly (straight down but controlled) without an engine but not without a gearbox. I've been flying in a North Sea Sikorsky when a gearbox chip detector indicator lit, the pilot turned back and landed immediately, no questions asked. Fortunately, a spurious indication.

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[ccscott49]

Same thing happened to me, but in a puma. Landed on first platform we came to.

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