the ELUSIVE Magnefine filter

[Rhett]

So I was looking into getting a Magnefine inline tranny filter, but it appears that there are a lot of fake/ knock-off "Magnefine" filters out there. Buyer beware. Per Magnefine tech line in Australia, a lot of these fake Magnefines filter element distorts, and the filter quits filtering anything, plus other issues with leakage, etc. Here is a fake (probably decent quality, and decent filtering, but still a fake):

https://www.amazon.com/Raybestos-Po...UTF8&qid=1489701066&sr=8-3&keywords=magnefine

Per BITOG (Bob Is The Oil Guy forums), the real ones have the Magnefine sticker, and under the sticker an area is embossed with the Magnefine logo. The Raybestos ones are knock-offs, per BITOG people, and the BITOG people are fanatics, so I trust their knowledge. The Raybestos ones (or WIX ones, etc.) might be ok, but I'd rather have the real thing.

Here is the real thing:
http://magnefinefilters.com/Magnefine-3-8-Magnetic-Inline-Transmission-Filter-R038M.htm

Notice how it says "out of stock". According to a thread on BITOG, they aren't made in Australia anymore (as of about 2013). The U.S. Distributor (and possibly manufacturer in the U.S.) is BOSS Products USA:

http://www.bossproductsusa.com/products.html

BOSS does not sell them, at least as far as I can tell. I've been having a real problem finding a Magnefine. I found this on ebay, which may be the real thing:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Magnefine-3...ash=item25cd1c9d82:g:YcMAAOxyGqZSaKKU&vxp=mtr

Do you guys think I have stumbled across a real Magnefine? Do any of you know of another source for these?

 

[natenkiki2004]

I'm pretty sure that's who I bought my last ones from. One is on a shelf and the other is on a seldom used vehicle. Seems to be good build quality. I'd go for it but like any fluid fitting, keep an eye on it for a couple hundred miles, see if you notice any leaks or issues.

 

[Rick]

I found this on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Raybestos-3...id=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=162354994562

Do you think Raybestos picked up the manufacturing from the Australian company? Other than the label it looks the same.

 

[swshawaii]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATP18721

 

[Rhett]

I found this on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Raybestos-3-8-Inline-Magnetic-Transmission-Filter/122309510375?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=2&asc=20131003132420&meid=2e7a120cbb034543a4ae8d8f7923056c&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=162354994562

Do you think Raybestos picked up the manufacturing from the Australian company? Other than the label it looks the same.

According the the guys at BITOG, the Raybestos ones are knock-offs. Apparently if you peel back the Raybestos label, it has no embossed markings. It probably works just fine though. ?

 

[Rhett]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATP18721

aha, thanks. I have a NAPA store close to me.

 

[swshawaii]

In case NAPA doesn't pan out.

Misc Gen II stuff for sale | Ford Explorer and Ford Ranger Forums - Serious Explorations

 

[Rhett]

I can now confirm that the NAPA # 18721 is a Raybestos filter, at least at my local NAPA store.

The pn# 18721 pictured on NAPA's site:
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ATP18721

...is not a Raybestos, it's a genuine Magnefine. Kinda interesting

 

[natenkiki2004]

Being that you like to modify and work on your truck, it might be better for you to go with a dedicated oil filter mount that's serviceable rather than the in-line Magnefine filter. More internal surface area, more fluid capacity, slight additional cooling, stronger magnets for wear materials. Check my signature for part numbers.

 

[Rhett]

Being that you like to modify and work on your truck, it might be better for you to go with a dedicated oil filter mount that's serviceable rather than the in-line Magnefine filter. More internal surface area, more fluid capacity, slight additional cooling, stronger magnets for wear materials. Check my signature for part numbers.

I thought about that. But then I thought I didn't want to drill into my rad support or other front area to mount the Trans Dapt or Derale or whatever fitting I used. Am I getting to be a weeny or what? heh.

For $20, I thought why not try out an in-line filter.

 

[FR-425]

All medium and heavy duty trucks with automatics I work on have inline filters. Wonder why?

Detect the sarcasm?

 

[natenkiki2004]

I thought about that. But then I thought I didn't want to drill into my rad support or other front area to mount the Trans Dapt or Derale or whatever fitting I used. Am I getting to be a weeny or what? heh.

For $20, I thought why not try out an in-line filter.

To be fair, I only had to drill 1 hole since there was 1 existing. Plus, you don't have to mount it where I did, there's other spots.

All medium and heavy duty trucks with automatics I work on have inline filters. Wonder why?

Detect the sarcasm?

Oh, oh! I know this! It's the same reason all transmissions in passenger cars are "lubricated for life" these days. Same reason why heavy duty trucks have dual oil filters in bypass mode.

Because it's ok for your daily driver that you rely on to break down because some bean counter wanted to save $5 on a $40,000 vehicle but it's not ok for a truck in a fleet to break down.

 

[Centaurus5.0]

Do you guys think I have stumbled across a real Magnefine? Do any of you know of another source for these?

FORD MOTORCRAFT FT116 XC3Z-7B155-BA

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-XC3Z-7...ash=item33c38d2e28:g:epUAAOSwj85YNd9d&vxp=mtr


Or get a cool one with a Ford logo!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Ford-Tr...ash=item237701081e:g:cbsAAOSwx2dYJkKJ&vxp=mtr


It would be a good idea to buy a few and stash them away if the original company stopped making them and the repo's are of lesser quality (like everything else now-a-days).

 

[FR-425]

Get ya one of these,

Hayden Automotive
Manufacturer Part Number 6510291 (external filter mount) also from Napa

And Napa Gold filter # 1268 (specifically for trans fluid)

 

[Rhett]

To be fair, I only had to drill 1 hole since there was 1 existing. Plus, you don't have to mount it where I did, there's other spots.

And for me to be fair -- I haven't really looked under there. I just don't like drilling into my truck if I can avoid it. I figure mounting it as low as possible is good (?) but then I also don't want to scuff it going up inclines, or maybe it won't matter how high or low it is, since the fluid is pressurized (?).

Thanks for the heads up on the additional e-bay links all.

 

[natenkiki2004]

Get ya one of these,

Hayden Automotive
Manufacturer Part Number 6510291 (external filter mount) also from Napa

And Napa Gold filter # 1268 (specifically for trans fluid)

I really don't think a trans-specific filter is necessary. Transmission fluid is much thinner than oil and if oil can pass through a given fiber filter then so should thinner transmission fluid. Especially when you're talking such a large surface area inside a filter compared to the low flow rate through the 3/8" steel line.
Then again... I'm not an engineer and could easily be missing something. I just like that I keep the FL-1A filters in stock and use both for trans and oil.

And for me to be fair -- I haven't really looked under there. I just don't like drilling into my truck if I can avoid it. I figure mounting it as low as possible is good (?) but then I also don't want to scuff it going up inclines, or maybe it won't matter how high or low it is, since the fluid is pressurized (?).

Thanks for the heads up on the additional e-bay links all.

Depending on how your engine bay is setup, you might be able to bolt a homemade bracket to an existing hole on the engine block such as the power steering pump housing (if AC is missing) or a spare hole on the exhaust manifold. That's what I did to mount my antifreeze filter. You could even make a bracket patterned off the bumper mounting holes and mount it that way.