Magnetic drain plugs have become a popular alternative to traditional drain plugs. The prevent fluids like oil from leaking out of storage systems while also providing a point of access for maintenance. You can drain the oil out of an oil pan, for instance, by removing the drain plug. Magnetic drain plugs, however, produce a magnetic field.
What Are Magnetic Drain Plugs?
Magnetic drain plugs are plugs with a magnetic stem. They are commonly used in oil pans, transmissions, gearboxes and hydraulic systems.
Like all drain plugs, magnetic drain plugs provide a point of access for maintenance. They are typically located on the very bottom of fluid storage systems. Removing a drain plug will drain the respective fluid via gravity. Once the fluid has fully drained, you can then add new fluid to the system. Only magnetic drain plugs, though, feature a magnetic stem.
Why Use Magnetic Drain Plugs
Being that all drain plugs provide a point of access for maintenance, you might be wondering why you should use magnetic drain plugs. With their magnetic stem, they are able to catch and remove ferrous particles.
Ferrous particles are an all-too-common byproduct of mechanical operations. Gearboxes, engines and other mechanical systems produce them naturally — often from the friction of moving parts. Over time, these small iron fragments can accumulate, resulting in increased wear and tear. Magnetic drain plugs are designed to intercept these particles while simultaneously protecting mechanical systems from damage.
How Magnetic Drain Plugs Work
Magnetic drain plugs work like traditional drain plugs but with the added benefit of being able to remove ferrous particles. They are typically interchangeable with traditional, non-magnetic drain plugs. After removing an existing, non-magnetic drain plug, you can replace it with a magnetic model of the same size.
All magnetic drain plugs feature a magnetic stem. The stem is designed to rest inside of the fluid storage system. As the fluid circulates throughout the mechanical system, it will pick up ferrous particles. These ferrous particles will eventually end up in the fluid storage systems where they settle to the bottom. The magnetic stem will then catch and hold these ferrous particles.
Magnetic drain plugs are reusable. The next time you remove a magnetic drain plug, you can clean the ferrous particles from the stem. You can then reinstall the magnetic drain plug so that it can continue to catch more ferrous particles.