Product warning: Greddy magnetic oil drain plug
 

I feel that I would be doing the community an injustice to not circulate record of this experience. No doubt, it may not be widespread, nor may it be a big deal, but knowing this was an issue certainly would have had an impact on my decision to use this part.

I have been using a Greddy magnetic oil drain plug for about 25k miles or so. In that time I have changed my oil probably 6 or 7 times, maybe more. Each oil change I find just a small amount of magnetic sludge on the plug and I wipe it clean before reinstalling it. Today I drained my oil and found that there was no magnet in the plug. I looked around on the oil pan and on the floor, and I next began to search the freshly drained oil. To do this I re-inserted the magnet-less oil drain plug into the oil pan. While threading the plug into the pan I heard a click consistent with how a small magnet would sound if it had been dislodged from the oil pan threads and then re-seated elsewhere inside the oil pan. I checked the oil that I had just drained into a plastic container by pouring it through a fine mesh strainer into another plastic container. No magnet was found. The floor was thoroughly checked as was the outside of the oil pan, the subframe, and the aluminum under-tray... the magnet is in the oil pan. I am quite displeased with this. A part that I bought and installed for the sole purpose of protecting my engine is now unsecured in the oil pan presenting much more of a risk than a benefit.

Realistically, I don't expect any major problem to come from this. The oil pickup strainer mesh will prevent it getting to the oil pump. The magnet will likely remain bound to the oil pan or oil pickup throughout the duration of the engine's life (assuming the pickup is steel? I would be surprised if it is not but I am not 100% sure). Yet, regardless of how much of a problem this is or isn't, I find it unacceptable that Greddy has offered this magnetic oil drain plug for sale without ensuring that the magnet was securely enough adhered to the bolt. All other details aside, I do maintain that this magnet, loose in the oil pan, is more of a risk than a benefit once it has become disconnected from the drain plug bolt.

I will certainly not be using this oil drain plug in the future. Take this info for what you will.

a much better investment if you want to have a magnet in your oil system is Filtermag, as it can be used across multiple vehicles.

You are completely correct. The only drawback is that metallic particles that reach the filter have already passed through the oil pump. But after this experience, I don't consider a magnetic oil drain plug an option anymore so I completely agree with you.

Then just install a relatively strong flat magnet on the outside of the oil pan. Problem solved.

WOW thanks for reporting this.. I also have one of these drain plugs.. I might need to look into other options now.

The only real "problem" is that the product failed and introduced a risk. Collecting magnetic particles pre-pump is a preventative measure and not a problem.

Not to mention, those particles would then be held in your oil pan to be released sometime. Ideally you would collect them in an efficient way but a much better solution is a magnet on your oil filter if you chose to be excessive about magnetic particles. I for one will just be trusting my oil filter for the rest of the time that my motor decides to run.

It appears that I will be able to run the car without an issue with the magnet stuck inside. I'm still not happy about it.

I had that drain plug and the magnet is pretty strong, I can't see ot dislodging from the oil pan. But you are right it sucks that it failed. I got a drain valve for my new car I'll skip the magnets.

Why the fumoto drain plug is the best. No problems whatsoever

What's wrong with the stock drain plug?

My question is how effective is the magnetic drain plug at all or magnets like the filter mag. The block is aluminum and I don't think the oil makes contact with many surfaces that are magnetic. Please correct me if I'm wrong but with this engine magnets seem to be more for piece of mind than actually attracting metal particles. I assume the large majority of any metal particles floating around would not be magnetic and thus have no affect on magnetic attractors.

I have had great success with just the normal oem filter and the standard drain plug. According to blackstone my wear metal levels where very low past the 60k.


this is after using 0w30 for oil changes for 40k miles.

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/show...6&postcount=13

Valid question. It's my understanding that the OEM drain plug contains a magnet - :iono:


humfrz

at this point you're overthinking the entire engine wear problem.

as others have mentioned, there is very little iron in this engine...

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120085

I'm not worried about iron particles being released into the oil system, if anything a larger magnet on the oil pan will be much better at avoiding this problem instead of a tiny drain plug magnet.


stock engine oil drain plug doesn't have a magnet built in, the differential and transmission drain plugs do.

but there's nothing wrong with the stock engine oil drain plug.

It's not, but it's also no different than buying "performance" oil filters or "racing" engine oils for a street car.

If iron wearing is an issue (or there's abnormally high measurements of it in an UOA) then some type of magnet may be warranted. But 10-20 PARTS PER MILLION measurements of iron in an engine is of zero concern.

Oh, I stand corrected - :thumbsup:


humfrz