So why are cartridge style filters more expensive?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

SilverC6

Joined
Oct 3, 2008
Messages
2,919
Location
Southeast
It's irrational.

So you buy an oil filter.

They hand you a box, filter element, a drain gizmo, and a couple of "O" rings.

The next guy with a spin-on filter application gets the whole enchilada - a can, ADB and bypass valves, springs, plates, gaskets, non-slip paint, etc., etc.

But your bill is double what the other guy pays?!?
 
The filters for my Cobalt aren't any more than spin-on filters from what I can tell.

What kind of car are you buying for? maybe it is because of the brand.
 
I can think of two reasons:

1. Cartridge filters need to be made better as any defects will be immediately visible to the purchaser.

2. Because they can.
 
Originally Posted By: datech
The filters for my Cobalt aren't any more than spin-on filters from what I can tell.

What kind of car are you buying for? maybe it is because of the brand.

A Purolator Classic for our Mazda5 is $4.29 at Advance Auto Parts. A Purolator Classic for my Cobalt is $9.39 for my Cobalt at the same place.
 
Originally Posted By: NateDN10
Originally Posted By: datech
The filters for my Cobalt aren't any more than spin-on filters from what I can tell.

What kind of car are you buying for? maybe it is because of the brand.

A Purolator Classic for our Mazda5 is $4.29 at Advance Auto Parts. A Purolator Classic for my Cobalt is $9.39 for my Cobalt at the same place.

Not apples to apples. The traditional Purolater will probably fail. The cartridge won't.
 
I know, wow, I buy the dinkiest, tiniest cartridge oil filter for my super-expensive high-tech 2011 GM 3.6L V6 24-valve high-compression 312 hp (Cadillac in a Camaro) engine. Its small, yet a Fram ToughGuard premium filter at WalMart is $14. Go figure. Same price as a massive Motorcraft FL820S used on smaller-engined Fords.
 
Purolator Classic for a Cobalt is still $3.27 at Walmart. But they are more expensive than a spin on everywhere else. I agree with the low volume comment above.
 
Originally Posted By: Eddie
Lower volume is also a reason.


+1 - Economics of scale - cartridge filter for one of our girls 07 Volvo s40 runs $13 For purolator classic to $20 for an M1. No other good reason I can see.
 
less common,as it become more popular it will lower in price but since they dont sell a lot of those price is higher!my 1978 Honda civic (mini Austin type of car but made by Honda)had a spin on filter.the machine making spin on filter is so old that it cost almost nothing to make ,and with material like flash bainite it permit corporation to have even thinner metal for same strength for way less expensive filter .most like yours probably cost more to make.steel used to cost 8 $ per pound but with flash bainite this dropped to around 3$ per pound
 
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
Cartridge filters need to be made better as any defects will be immediately visible to the purchaser.

hahahaha



Originally Posted By: Eddie
Lower volume is also a reason.

Yeah, lower volume / higher cost to manufacture
 
Originally Posted By: Eddie
Lower volume is also a reason.


Camry is the #1 selling vehicle on the road.

Should be the cheapest filter...NOT

Because they can is sounding more plausible.
 
The machines going wham bam slam it in a can are cranking out filters much faster with more flexibility than the ones putting the media in an injection mold and then putting it in a box. More than likely different number canned filters have the same element and other parts which cuts costs. Cartridge filters are probably all one off for each number. Plus the lower volume filters might be outsourced from a different manufacture. (This is all just speculation from knowing how industries function.)

Till there is a cartridge filter that is in more vehicles than the ph8a ph5 ph3387a and so on then they will probably never be cheaper.
 
I noticed that.. even Drive works filters that are cartridge are in the 10$ range.

and I was caught totally off gaurd.

I found a FRAM Extra gaurd Cartridge filter and since most Fram Extra Gaurd filters are like 4$ or $3.97 I figured it would be also.

However it was over 10$

I think Cartrdge style filters are more b/c that Filter company might not even make them, they might outsouce them

The Fram one I was talking about above was made by MALE.
 
Originally Posted By: SilverC6
Camry is the #1 selling vehicle on the road.

Should be the cheapest filter...NOT

These things take time. I get the Wix 51515 for $4.99, but there aren't a lot of new applications out there calling for that. My G's filter is less than half the size and close to double the price, but is somewhat common.

Yeah, they can, and I won't hold my breath.
wink.gif
 
FL400s is $4 at WM. FL500s is 50% more. Only major difference I see is the threads, and the 500s is much newer. When the particular cartridge filter has been out for 15 years and used in 10 million cars the price will be lower.
 
Hi,
I work for FRAM. Cartridge filters can be more expensive for a variety of reasons. Some are patented designs, so filter makers are forced to by from the original manufacturer and stick in their box or spend $$$ in engineering money to design around the patent. (Ford Powerstroke and new Jeep V6 are examples). Many companies in the USA have very limited ability to make them, FRAM has invested Millions of $$ to bring all cart filter manufacturing in house but it is a slow process. As they get more popular and volumes increase, the price will come down. That said, they are not all created the same. If it is really cheap, you can be assured the O rings are low quality and the media is plain cellulose. On the other hand, a high price does not mean high quality in some cases as it may just mean the seller is having issues sourcing it at a reasonable price.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
Denso style oil filters - how do they avoid bypass?
Replies
19
Views
913
Sayjac
C
AC Delco filter for 2025 5.3L Tahoe?
Replies
10
Views
896
BrendanC
H
All about Carquest oil filters
2 3
Replies
54
Views
10K
Glenda W.
7
Is this filter really 10 microns? At what efficiency? Or is it a mystery (Sierra Marine 18-7758)
Replies
15
Views
4K
oil pan 4
Mewbs
FRAM FS3600 A02521 about 2338 miles with HPL EC30
2
Replies
29
Views
4K
fantastic
Back
Top Bottom