Magnetic Drain Plugs - Really Worth it?
11-01-2009, 09:54 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Magnetic Drain Plugs - Really Worth it?
I was reflecting on this as I was driving my C6Z on a road trip this weekend and was stumped:
Aren't most, if not all, of the moving parts that would wear in the LS3, and LS7, aluminum or other non-ferrous metal? If so, what's the advantage of magnetic drain plugs?
What is in these motors that would wear and IS something a magnet would attract? Cylinder sleeves? Camshaft? Rocker arms? Is it a significant percentage of the motor?
It's cheap insurance to have one, I understand, but really necessary?
Aren't most, if not all, of the moving parts that would wear in the LS3, and LS7, aluminum or other non-ferrous metal? If so, what's the advantage of magnetic drain plugs?
What is in these motors that would wear and IS something a magnet would attract? Cylinder sleeves? Camshaft? Rocker arms? Is it a significant percentage of the motor?
It's cheap insurance to have one, I understand, but really necessary?
11-01-2009, 10:07 PM
#2
Safety Car
if you got metal on the drain plug its probably too lated. The oil pump pumps oil thru the filter then thru the motor (mains first) so any crap that is in the pan will get filtered out by the filter and wont damage anything. I suppose it might give a guy some heads up if there was anything on the magnet but if there is what are you gonna do?
11-01-2009, 10:27 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
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I'll offer a different opinion. When I changed my oil the first time, the end of my magnetic drain plug looked like a magnet that had been stuck into iron filings. There was a good 3/8 of an inch of "stuff" stuck there. What was on the end of the plug literally turned a paper towel black. After that, I bought a magnet for the oil filter too in addition to the magnetic drain plug. Oil filters do a good job, but I think that there is stuff in the oil that has not gone through the filter yet that sticks to the magnets.....JMHO..........
11-01-2009, 10:46 PM
#4
Safety Car
That sounds about right. Anything you can trap with the magnet is a good thing. I've got one of these plugs in the tool box. I've got an oil change coming up soon. 
11-01-2009, 11:45 PM
#5
Melting Slicks
Why not? It can't hurt.
I put one in and found a little bit of greyish gunk on it after my 2nd oil change at 1500 miles.
Found some at 3rd change at 2,500 too.
I didn't put it under a microscope, but I bet it was metallic micro particles.
I put one in and found a little bit of greyish gunk on it after my 2nd oil change at 1500 miles.
Found some at 3rd change at 2,500 too.
I didn't put it under a microscope, but I bet it was metallic micro particles.
11-02-2009, 12:30 AM
#6
There was a post a couple of months back about a Z06 owner that caught an LS7 getting ready to eat itself..He noticed an increased amount of metal shavings on the oil drain plug. Took the car to Katech
where they tore the motor down. Main bearings where shot, (this guy tracks his car and was probably experiencing the oil starvation issue). Moral of the story was, If he did not have the plug, chances are he would have trashed the motor and its internal parts resulting in a much more expensive rebuild..Cheap insurance..
where they tore the motor down. Main bearings where shot, (this guy tracks his car and was probably experiencing the oil starvation issue). Moral of the story was, If he did not have the plug, chances are he would have trashed the motor and its internal parts resulting in a much more expensive rebuild..Cheap insurance..
11-02-2009, 12:36 AM
#7
Safety Car
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St. Jude Donor '09
I'll offer a different opinion. When I changed my oil the first time, the end of my magnetic drain plug looked like a magnet that had been stuck into iron filings. There was a good 3/8 of an inch of "stuff" stuck there. What was on the end of the plug literally turned a paper towel black. After that, I bought a magnet for the oil filter too in addition to the magnetic drain plug. Oil filters do a good job, but I think that there is stuff in the oil that has not gone through the filter yet that sticks to the magnets.....JMHO..........
San
11-02-2009, 12:53 AM
#8
CF Senior Member
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"Magnetic Drain Plugs - Really Worth it?"
IMO having a magnetic drain plug is preferable to not having one. For what...less than $10? I'd think it's really worth it.
IMO having a magnetic drain plug is preferable to not having one. For what...less than $10? I'd think it's really worth it.
11-02-2009, 01:25 AM
#10
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I had one on the car when I picked it up. When I did my first oil change since owning the car (12K), I was shocked at how much metal was attached to the magnetic plug. On my most recent change (24K), I didn't really notice much metal attached to the drain plug. WAY less than I noticed in previous oil changes. I'd hate to see how much metal would be attached to a magnetic drain plug on the cars first oil change......
11-02-2009, 08:27 AM
#12
Melting Slicks
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Interesting point: The original V-W beetles didn't even have an oil filter- just a screen in the sump. But they did have a magnetic drain plug in the trans-axle.
I think Dr. Porsche knew his priorities.
I think Dr. Porsche knew his priorities.
11-02-2009, 12:09 PM
#15
Tech Contributor
I was inquiring about the MAGDANA (dimple) magnetic drain plug (M12mm x 1.75 Dimple) and I was told that the 'later' (mine is a 2010) Corvettes have 2 drain plugs.
Anyone verify that?
Anyone verify that?
11-02-2009, 12:20 PM
#16
Team Owner
11-02-2009, 12:28 PM
#17
My 2008 has:
1) 2 drain plugs, and I would expect ALL Ls7s and LS9s do. I can't say about LS3s, but I would think they have two as well.
2) My 2008 came with magnetic drain plugs, but during later 2008 production (some time after Jan1, 2008, i think) they stopped with the magnets. Probably to save a few pennys.
Magnetic drain plugs are available from several of the Forum dealers. They are not GM drain plugs -- those have been discontinued.
Every oil change i look at the magnets on the drain plugs for needles from the rocker arms. The little pieces of iron filings are no big deal and will decrease with more miles on the engine. See the sticky thread on rocker arm bearings over on the Z06 section of this board.
1) 2 drain plugs, and I would expect ALL Ls7s and LS9s do. I can't say about LS3s, but I would think they have two as well.
2) My 2008 came with magnetic drain plugs, but during later 2008 production (some time after Jan1, 2008, i think) they stopped with the magnets. Probably to save a few pennys.
Magnetic drain plugs are available from several of the Forum dealers. They are not GM drain plugs -- those have been discontinued.
Every oil change i look at the magnets on the drain plugs for needles from the rocker arms. The little pieces of iron filings are no big deal and will decrease with more miles on the engine. See the sticky thread on rocker arm bearings over on the Z06 section of this board.
11-02-2009, 01:37 PM
#18
11-02-2009, 04:04 PM
#19
Tech Contributor
11-02-2009, 04:09 PM
#20
Tech Contributor
That's incorrect. I just went to the Chevy dealer and he confirmed that my 2010 (LS3) coupe has 2 oil drain plugs.
I just got 2 magnetic oil plugs from Autozone (Part # 65372 - M12 x 1.75). Had to look up under 2007 Corvette parts, as the magnetic ones were discontinued on later models (sometime during the 2008 run).
I just got 2 magnetic oil plugs from Autozone (Part # 65372 - M12 x 1.75). Had to look up under 2007 Corvette parts, as the magnetic ones were discontinued on later models (sometime during the 2008 run).