THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

I got this new Dimple brand drain plug a while back and just got around to changing the oil in the Gwagen's diesel since installing it. There is no doubt this was sucking fine metal particles from the oil. I'm running the best filter for that engine (a MAHLE, made in Austria).

The pic is of the plug after cleaning it off but making sure not to fully wipe the magnet off. All the black stuff you see is fine metal sludge made of dirty oil and metal "dust", I guess. I spread it onto a clean paper and could attract the sludge with the magnet again, proving the metal content.

http://www.drainplugmagnets.com These are US made with rare-earth magnets built in which are far, far stronger than the old style magnetic plugs. They seem to make most sizes. Kent Bergsma, the famous Mercedes engine guru, is who turned me onto them. The quality is top notch.

Downside to having a "very good" magnet - you can't get all of the metal filings off, so you have to put some back in to the engine!! LOL

Plus side, the metal fillings will still stay stuck to the magnet and come out into daylight next time you do an oil change! LOL

John

So do you think these are better than the stock magnetic drain plugs? I saw them and almost bought some - but the cost made me hold off.

do you think these are better than the stock magnetic drain plugs?

"Better" is subjective. Both will grab and hold on to metal flakes in the oil. The rare earth magnets are stronger, mostly meaning that they will attract more particles at a further distance than the weaker stock magnets.

Getting the particles out of the oil stream is the goal; if you just push a couple of small rare earth magnets inside the oil pan drain opening, they will collect particles (and those particles will stay on those magnets). Who cares if they get cleaned off or not? Worry about them the next time you ever remove the pan. Much cheaper than a fancy drain plug.

I like being able to monitor what might be floating around in the oil. The plug is nice for that, plus I got it as a birthday present so it was free.

I don't know if its "better" than Pinz stock or not. It makes some logical sense as I don't think "rare-earth" was practically available or applied much in the petrol Pinz days so I bet it's far stronger which means it might, in theory, grab some particals that are too fine to be caught with something weaker, or it might catch something further away before it cycles from the sump and into the pump. This is a man-made magnet, not made until the 70's or early 80's I think.

My engine is a Mercedes 617A diesel which doesn't come with a magnetic plug at all so it's a lot better than my old one, in this case.

I take care of two everyday cars for other family members, which we'll be replacing plugs in too. They ordered these Gold brand plugs instead, which are cheaper but highly rated (also US made). https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Plug-Magnet ... B000JWKMA2

If the non-magnet drain plug is steel, then just use loctite to attach a rare earth magnet to it! Voila!

But, yes, the stronger (MUCH stronger) rare earth magnets will attract more particles at a greater distance than the older style weaker magnets. And then those particles will be much less likely to leave the magnet in operation. So the oil should have less particles flowing around in it.

Great find Vince, as Jim pointed out the magnetic "reach" of the rare earth
magnetic is way beyond the stock Pinz magnets. The other positive is you
get a Plug with a magnet that is HEX rather than the Allen head, I have
converted all my upper and control plugs with HEX leaving only the drains.

The Pinz plug is M22 x 1.5 x 12(i'sh), They have a M22 x 1.5 x 14, should
be fine. Expensive at $35 a pop. I'll get a couple and try it out on the Tranie.

ron

I would like to buy a pair for my 710M. Would you publish something about how the threads matched up?

Will do! But won't be till my next Oil change

I can "match" one up with a spare plug I have. But it's
not the tread to worry about, it's more the seating area
that could be different. I'll caliper the heck out of one when I get it.

Just got my Dimple plug

Although I have not replaced the old plug with this Dimple plug, waiting
for the net Oil change -- the threads are correct and the seat looks rigth,
compression gasket it came with measures exactly right 22mm/27mm.
Side by side with the EI Hex replacement measures almost exactly. The
Hex is 17MM vs 19MM for the EI plug, 17MM is plenty to grab onto.
I'd say it's a pretty safe bet, OH, WOW was a bear to pull it off the top
of my table saw Machining on this plug is very high quality.

Could you post the part number for that plug? I want to make sure I order the right one.
I just did an oil change, but I'm thinking I can yank the old plug out and put in the new and lose a quart or less. Lost oil can go right back into the engine anyway.

There does not seem to be a PN# per se. You select the size you want and that's what ships.
The one I picked is shown below. There are only three M22 choices, the one below -- matches
the EI Hex plug. Of the other two, the one intended for BMW Diff's might work but it is short at
only 9mm. The other one simply would not work, has no base shoulder. Hope this helps.

M22X1.5X14
DUCATI AIR COOLED ENGINES
VW and AUDI 2010' UP STANDARD TRANSMISSION PLUG

Thanks for the info! I ordered one for the Pinzgauer and one for my GM car.

I installed one in the engine and one in the transmission. Definitely high quality and very strong magnets

Great! Your a step ahead of me, I have another 1,000 miles to go before my next Oil change.
Mine is going in then!