Magnetic Oil Plug

[pflaming]

I needed a new oil plug for my car. They had this, a plug with an extension which is magnetic. I'm going to put one in my truck also.

Bonus: inexpensive oil funnel.

[MBF]

Pat, its been a long time since I did this, and I hope someone will chime in to set me straight if I'm wrong. If I remember correctly the oil pickup with the screen in it is pivots on the pickup tube. I vaguely remember that the assembly is very near the drain plug-I bring this up because when I reached up through the drain hole, the housing moved and I thought it was broken so I dropped the pan only to find out that it pivots. The only reason I'm mentioning this is because I wouldn't want you to raise that up out of the oil given the length of the magnet portion of the plug. It may cause it to suck air in certain positions. Am I all wet here, or is my memory correct? Mike

[karl head]

Pat, its been a long time since I did this, and I hope someone will chime in to set me straight if I'm wrong. If I remember correctly the oil pickup with the screen in it is pivots on the pickup tube. I vaguely remember that the assembly is very near the drain plug-I bring this up because when I reached up through the drain hole, the housing moved and I thought it was broken so I dropped the pan only to find out that it pivots. The only reason I'm mentioning this is because I wouldn't want you to raise that up out of the oil given the length of the magnet portion of the plug. It may cause it to suck air in certain positions. Am I all wet here, or is my memory correct? Mike

If you measure the length of the plug I can check the measurement for you as I have my engine on a stand right now with the pan off it would only that a few mins and you would have a definitive answer.

Karl

[pflaming]

I find it interesting that that screen pivots. Evidently it wants to be level to the 'surface of the oil on a long up or down grade. Had I known that I would have checked mine a lot closer.

Tim, this is why this forum is read by so many, every day there is usable information. When I drain my oil the next time I'm going to see how much clearance there is.

[Jeff Balazs]

Hi Paul;

VPW sell a low profile magnetic drain plug. I installed one in my truck. You don't (or shouldn't ) need 2" of magnet sticking up. The magnet is just there to snatch up small shavings and errant bits of metal and keep them out of your oil pump, etc...I think they are a great addition to any engine. They ought to be standard equipment. There is a side benefit as well as the obvious one. They are actually much harder to lose or drop into the oil receptacle than the non magnetic ones.

Jeff