Magnet in oil reservoir

[klefroid]

I saw that my oil level didn't work. It was all the time at almost full level.
Took it out and to my surprise there was a half magnet sticking on my oil level sender...
Where does it come from?

[Robbbyg]

The other half?

(couldnt resist)


It is common to put a magnet in to catch any metal bits that may have broken off your engine.

If the Magnet has no metal shavings on it be happy and put it back

[JFairman]

Where it came from will probably remain a mystery.
All you can hope is some jealous moron didn't drop it in there on purpose to sabotage the motor. Unfortunately I've heard stories like this.
Another words never valet park your car or leave it at a body shop if possible. It would be real nice if the oil tank cap was made of strong metal that took a key only you have to remove it.
It's a good thing you found it. It it ever found it's way into the main oil pressure pump it would have been ground up into little pieces and they would be pumped with oil flow into the engine oil thermostat and oil galley where they would become embedded in the main bearings, rod bearings, chain tensioners, and everywhere oil flows and sprays inside the cam towers.

If the motor continued to run the scavange side of the oil pump would suck them up and pump them through the external oil thermostat, front oil cooler if the oil is hot, and then they might get collected by the oil filter on the oil tank.
Being magnetic the little pieces would stick to anything cast iron or steel along the way and be real hard to find, remove, and clean out completely.

Could have been an incredibly expensive mess.