Magnetic Drain Plugs

[cyberman]

In my past, I've experienced magnetic drain plugs, although on which vehicle I cannot say. I liked them, they worked. But I really liked the old VW bug engines which had a built-in centrifuge of sorts built into an easily removed and cleaned cap.

So, not talking chances and sparing no expense, I ordered one for my tranny from ECS Tuning. It seemed a bit pricey at $22 bucks, so for the fill plug I ordered the non-magnetic type for $12 bucks.

Only after the ordered, I recalled that I have a tool that magnetizes (just a strong magnet) and probably could have done the trick myself. So, what a beautiful experiment: I'll magnetize the plain-jane plug and compare the effects someday. I know the effect wears off over time on plain ferrous and that the effect wears off faster with increasing temperature, so, well see in a few years if the expensive one is still magnetized and if the home-brewed one has any field left.

If I was a true berserker, I'd have a machinist bore a blind hole and press-fit a rare earth magnet, but that would be pretty extreme, even for me.

Oh, and COVID strikes again: I ordered a 5" X 36" piece of Plexiglas to experiment with a deflector idea where it will be mounted to the top of my rollbars (er, stylebars). Now, I come to find the factories are overloaded turning out Plexiglas things like shields for cashiers and clear face mask shields. Ergo, my order will be fulfilled somewhere near the end of time.

[Dakar Ole]

Hmmmm....... My transmission shows, in RealOEM, an internal magnet. Number 18.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...85#27111226798

[Hoyt Clagwell]

I swear by these plugs.
https://drainplugmagnets.com/
They are extremely strong.

[jclausen]

The slash 2 BMW bikes had these found plates the that were round and rounded at the ends attached to the crankshaft and would catch sludge thru centrifical force because the engine didn't have an oil filter

[BimmerBreaker]

I doubt youll ever find anything of interest on a magnetic drain plug, be it trans or engine...

[ThatZ3Guy]

I doubt youll ever find anything of interest on a magnetic drain plug, be it trans or engine...

Hope not!

[Vintage42]

The slash 2 BMW bikes had these found plates the that were round and rounded at the ends attached to the crankshaft and would catch sludge thru centrifical force because the engine didn't have an oil filter

They were called slingers. Here's one whose lip is filled with sludge that is spilling into the hole that feeds the main roller bearings.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roundel/438684021/
And here are solutions for better oil cleaning that did not make it to market - an oil filter on the pickup in the sump.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roundel/3024286113/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roundel/2277181720/

Speaking of magnets, here's a neodymium magnet stuck to one of my /2 sumps, coated with fuzz at 5,000 miles. It was pulling out what the slingers missed, and pulling harder than the magnetic drain plug next to it.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/roundel/2318791/