15 replies to this topic

[old_red]

Got my first Mini. 1993 JDM SPI 1275 Cooper.

 

About to do my first oil change and given the shared nature of engine/gearbox oil, I was thinking I should fit a magnetic sump plug.

 

Did the factory fit a magnetic sump plug?  Or should I buy one before I drain the oil?  Or are they waste of time?

 

Cheers,

 

Red.

[Spider]

They were fitted with one from the factory, though as some guys have found, there's the odd bodge 'fix' that's been done and the Magnetic Plug goes missing.

[old_red]

They were fitted with one from the factory, though as some guys have found, there's the odd bodge 'fix' that's been done and the Magnetic Plug goes missing.

 

Great, thanks 

[Spider]

Sorry mate - congratulations on your new purchase

[racingbob]

minispares do an extra strong one

 

will get one myself next oil change

 

and make you change oil at least every 3000 miles

 

i do 2000 miles, use 20 50 oil

Edited by racingbob, 22 November 2016 - 09:36 AM.

[Itsaminithing]

Original sump plug:http://www.minispare...|Back to search

Improved sump plug: http://www.minispare...|Back to search

& the latest neodymium sump plug: http://www.minispare...|Back to search

more expensive but so much better at attracting any ferrous metal particles in your oil.

[tiger99]

The expensive magnet will actually make very little improvement. There is plenty of field strength from a standard alnico bar magnet.

If you want to make a better plug you need more magnetic pole pairs, which comes by stacking a lot of magnets with centre hole on a non-magnetic rod such as stainless. The magnets need to be assembled such that they are repelling one another. That way you get multiple poles along the length and so multiple places to attract stray iron particles instead of just at the end.

[nicklouse]

Got my first Mini. 1993 JDM SPI 1275 Cooper.

 

About to do my first oil change and given the shared nature of engine/gearbox oil, I was thinking I should fit a magnetic sump plug.

 

Did the factory fit a magnetic sump plug?  Or should I buy one before I drain the oil?  Or are they waste of time?

 

Cheers,

 

Red.

to actually answer the questions asked.

1, Yes.

2, see 1

3, see 1

[stevestonmotorco]

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87

 

The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

[Richie83]

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

Great pun. I've said it before, shame you're in the States. Import tax is horrific.

[Spider]

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87

 

The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

 

Pun intended?

 

My god, that is sexy!

[nicklouse]

Not how I

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

 
Pun intended?
 
My god, that is sexy!

I would have done it with an Allen head then the out side would look good. And maybe with a bung to fill it.

BUT I feel there might not be the space for a standard Allen key ....

[tiger99]

Utter guff! The magnet WILL NOT lose any of its strength unless it is heated to the Curie Temperature of the material, and then it loses it all, permanently. That happens at 320 deg C for the Neodymium Boron magnets and 700 deg C for traditional Alnico. If your oil and your sump get that hot, your engine is toast anyway.

 

Allegedly special magnets "designed for high heat applications" are merely snake oil. And, all but the very weakest magnets will hold every tiny particle of iron that passes by their poles. The secret, as I have already stated, is not to have more field strength but to have more poles so there are more places for the particles to be held. However a correctly stacked set of Neodymium magnets will give you both.

[stevestonmotorco]

 

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

Great pun. I've said it before, shame you're in the States. Import tax is horrific.

 

 

We are Canadian, not sure if that make a difference for taxes. Our shipping rates are very low which can help alleviate the pain from the tax man

 

 

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87

 

The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

 

Pun intended?

 

My god, that is sexy!

 

 

Thanks, we think so too! small cars, small jokes

 

Not how I

 

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

 
Pun intended?
 
My god, that is sexy!

I would have done it with an Allen head then the out side would look good. And maybe with a bung to fill it.

BUT I feel there might not be the space for a standard Allen key ....

 

 

We had the option of doing it that way, but with the aluminum we felt it was safer/stronger to have it be a conventional headed bolt. Also leaves room for the logo to be more visible. We have found that If you use the correct wrench, and aren't totally ham fisted, the finish isn't ruined.

 

Utter guff! The magnet WILL NOT lose any of its strength unless it is heated to the Curie Temperature of the material, and then it loses it all, permanently. That happens at 320 deg C for the Neodymium Boron magnets and 700 deg C for traditional Alnico. If your oil and your sump get that hot, your engine is toast anyway.

 

Allegedly special magnets "designed for high heat applications" are merely snake oil. And, all but the very weakest magnets will hold every tiny particle of iron that passes by their poles. The secret, as I have already stated, is not to have more field strength but to have more poles so there are more places for the particles to be held. However a correctly stacked set of Neodymium magnets will give you both.

 

Interesting point, it was my understanding that although not totally de magnified with oil temp levels of heat, the heat will temporarily reduce the strength of the magnet. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I know first hand the performance difference between the stock drain bolt, and ours is vast.

[Dusky]

 

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

Great pun. I've said it before, shame you're in the States. Import tax is horrific.
 

 
We are Canadian, not sure if that make a difference for taxes. Our shipping rates are very low which can help alleviate the pain from the tax man
 

 

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

 
Pun intended?
 
My god, that is sexy!
 

 
Thanks, we think so too! small cars, small jokes
 

Not how I

 

Shameless plug http://www.steveston...05-852d8d1efb87
 
The key is having a strong magnet that is designed for high heat applications. Most conventional magnets loose their magnetism after repeated high heat cycles. After you see how much particulate is being removed from the sump when you do an oil change, you wont go back.

 
Pun intended?
 
My god, that is sexy!

I would have done it with an Allen head then the out side would look good. And maybe with a bung to fill it.

BUT I feel there might not be the space for a standard Allen key ....
 

 
We had the option of doing it that way, but with the aluminum we felt it was safer/stronger to have it be a conventional headed bolt. Also leaves room for the logo to be more visible. We have found that If you use the correct wrench, and aren't totally ham fisted, the finish isn't ruined.
 

Utter guff! The magnet WILL NOT lose any of its strength unless it is heated to the Curie Temperature of the material, and then it loses it all, permanently. That happens at 320 deg C for the Neodymium Boron magnets and 700 deg C for traditional Alnico. If your oil and your sump get that hot, your engine is toast anyway.
 
Allegedly special magnets "designed for high heat applications" are merely snake oil. And, all but the very weakest magnets will hold every tiny particle of iron that passes by their poles. The secret, as I have already stated, is not to have more field strength but to have more poles so there are more places for the particles to be held. However a correctly stacked set of Neodymium magnets will give you both.

 
Interesting point, it was my understanding that although not totally de magnified with oil temp levels of heat, the heat will temporarily reduce the strength of the magnet. I'm not an expert on the subject, but I know first hand the performance difference between the stock drain bolt, and ours is vast.

And you Are absolutely 100% correct.
I've actually heated magnets and tested how much of their strenght they lose at certain temperatures for school last year.
At 120° degrees ordinary magnets already lost a lot of their strenght.