Has anyone had any experience of a product which appears to be simply a "belt" with magnets (probably rare earth magnets) which clamps around a standard engine oil filter to trap metallic particles to prevent them circulating in the engine?

The website I found for such a device is Fleetmate online. Fleetmate is based in Perth and stocks ProMa oil additives but doesn't seem to have any Hyclones or similarly suspect products on its books which is encouraging.

So do you think these work, or are they just hype? Do they just fall into the category of "can't do any harm / might help but might not"? I'll be interested in your opinions, especially anyone that's tried one.

Thanks guys.

__________________
GrahamH
'96 Disco SI 3.9V8i (LPG) Manual
'03 Disco SII TD5 Auto

Magnets on the filter can't do any harm - all it will do is attract any fine metal particals to the filter casing, however, if you have an old computer hard disk or two, the arms that hold the heads have extremely powerful magnets - I've use them on my oil filters.

__________________
Iain Burgess
1997 Discovery 300Tdi
2011 Defender 110
Unimog U1250
Brisbane

Use a magnetised sump plug instead. At least then it's useful to find out what's dropping off above.

/Damien

I think they are a good idea, coupled with a magnetic sump plug they will remove alot of contamination from the oil....totally useless for non ferrous wear particles tho......

The only argument I have is the cost.
You can buy a few rare earth magnets from Jaycar for $20. I have stuck some to my filter for the last few years.
But I had a mate had a 3.5 go for 500K. When you don't overheat them or run them out of oil (and change the oil)they last a long time anyway.
Regard s Philip A

I think they are a good idea, perhaps not as good as they are made out to be but definately not ineffective.

The one magnetic sump plug wont catch everything but gives you an indication as to whats coming out.

__________________
Dave

"In a Landrover the other vehicle is your crumple zone."

Fozzy, 2.25D SIII Ex DCA Ute
The midlife crisis car
Some D1

For spelling call Rogets, for mechanicing call me.

Never tried it at all....but my initial opinion would....ABSOLUTE RUBBISH!

If you get on UK Ebay these things are all over the place. If they really worked I am sure the tech would be more mainstream and used commercially. I think these things are like Hyclones and that the tides out on whether they work or not...

Angus

These guys sell them and have a detailed write up:
https://www.expeditionexchange.com/filtermag/


The pics down the page are interesting.

__________________
Nik
1997 D1 V8 SE manual - loud & locked - RPI Optimax & some toys
2003 D2a V8 auto - hers

LROCV member

I love it when a plan comes together!
John "Hannibal" Smith

well, i think they are just things that stick to the outside of the filter, and as above, mcdisco said 'rubbish'.
we cut every filter and inspect the element.

if your engine is making that much metal [ferrous] and those magnets are holding any, you wouldn't know anyway if you don't cut the filter open.
and i hav'nt seen a non ferrous magnet yet, and your filter should stop that too, but you won't know if you don't cut the filter.



champion make a nice filter cutter which cuts the head off easily without making metal in the process.

__________________
Safe Travels
harry