OA ?? I have a thought

[Scot]

This may be a brain fart, but here we go anyway.

When you have an OA showing wear metals in your oil. Are they just an indicator of engine problems <or> do they cause wear themselves <or> a combination of both??? I ask because after a few beers Monday night I had a thought. If the wear metals cause problems after they are in the oil? Couldn't I contain the metals with magnetic proprties and trap them in my by pass filter by perminantly attaching a high power magnet to the end of it? If I did this - and it worked? would I eliminate some of the benefit of the OA? Since the OA would no longer come up with readings on the magnetic metals.

???? -popcorn ????

 

[bushpilot]

the wear metals HOPEFULLY fall to the bottom of the pan...but we
know some will continue to circulate (at least those not trapped by
the filter).

there are magnets for the exact purpose that you consider...some
wrap (and stick) around the metal filters.

its also possible to determine WHAT is wearing when the type of metal
is determined...

 

[BJS]

it's a vicious cycle the metal parts wear which puts metal flakes in the oil which in turn accelerate the wear when they are in areas of tight clearances creating more metal flakes in the oil to create faster wear.

If you're getting metals on the OA then more than likely you are having some kind of a problem but I'd pull a 2nd sample in the near future.

 

[bushpilot]

also consider IF youre running a good (micron) by pass filtering
system thats trapping the metal your sampling MIGHT not alert you
to the potental problems (if theyre caught in the filters)