1988 244DL normally aspirated with stock B230F engine and about 300k miles. Prior owners poorly maintained due to low fluid levels and stripped oil drain plug.

I've read mixed reviews about putting magnets on oil filters. One side said that it traps metal before it reaches the filter, which would have trapped the metal anyways and could clog the filter. Also, trapping THAT much visible metal is closing the barn door after the horse ran out. They add that debris on the oil filters actually helps trap really small particles, so magnets are unnecessary. Plus, they won't trap non-ferrous metals, eg aluminum.

Others swear by it and show a bunch of metal on the inside surface and say it captures 1 micron size metal. Here's one of many YouTube videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcMBbop_11k

"The use of an oil filter snap-on external magnet such as Filtermag, is an excellent additional improvement to any engine’s oil filtration system. I use them myself. The whole point of an oil filter snap-on external magnet, is that it can pull out finer metal particles than the oil filter’s own element can, with NO increase in flow restriction. "

source: https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/motor-oil-wear-test-ranking/

Filtermag offers magnets that go on the outside of automatic transmissions, inside manual transmissions.


However, my oil filter sits right next to the alternator. Would magnets affect the alternator?

What is your opinion and experience?