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Racing Technology
Down the drain
by Wayne Scraba
A drain plug is a drain plug. You unscrew it, the oil comes out, and you screw it back in. Nothing could be simpler. Or could it? When the health of your race car engine is concerned, it might be more important than you think — especially when you consider oil-pan drain plugs.
An engine that is in good condition doesn't shave off bits of metal filings from its internals, but if something isn't quite right, tiny metal particles, easily created by unprotected metal-to-metal contact, eventually work their way into the oiling system. An out-of-whack crank, a cam sprocket operating without a thrust bearing, lifter-to-cam lobe wear, and other factors are responsible for the quantity and quality of metal garbage that floats around inside the oil galleries. These pieces contaminate the oiling system, and you may be left with toasted bearings, fried crankshafts, scored cylinder walls, and a deflated wallet.
Metal junk equals big money
No gauge can easily tell you that a pile of metal junk, ready to strike critical engine hardware, is floating around inside the oil pan of your race car. Your oil-pressure gauge will only tell you the results after the fact.
So what's the answer? Try a magnetic drain plug. It's a simple device: The metal contaminants inside your engine migrate toward the magnetized plug and collect on the tip. Every time you change the oil in your race car, check the end of the drain plug for evidence of metal shrapnel in the oil.
A better mousetrap?
That's fine, but what if you want to check for metal shavings without draining the oil. Until now, that wasn't possible, but thanks to the folks at SX Performance, there is a way. The SX CHP-1 magnetic chip collector provides a slick and easy way to monitor your engine without the hassle of draining the oil. This drain plug features a self-sealing housing with a powerful magnetic probe locked in place. The magnet collects metal debris, which in turn is your signal that something isn't right inside the engine.
The main body of the SX chip collector looks almost like a regular drain plug — 3/4-inch hex head and 1/2-20 threads. But that's where the similarity ends. Machined inside the stainless-steel plug is a special passageway that holds the unique, removable chip collector, which provides positive aerospace vibration resistance and is locked in place with a pin-in-slot lock. The head of the chip collector features a regular flat-blade screwdriver slot that allows for easy removal and installation. In addition, a special O-ring ensures that the chip collector is always sealed. In short, it won't leak.
What happens when the chip-collector probe is removed? The special design of the main body incorporates a sealed port that closes every time the center chip collector is removed. The result is a mess-free inspection — no oil loss and easy access to the inside of your engine via the oil pan.
Money down the drain? Not if you know about potential damage before it begins. Drain plugs are simple and inexpensive components that can pay back massive dividends. Try one on your race car. It's dirt-cheap insurance.