VAFI, Premium Guard, Carquest Premium, Microgard Select, Specs

[Carlostrece]

All the filters below fit my Buick. AFAIK they are the all same filter made by Vietnam Advanced Filtration Inc (VAFI) but sold under various brand names. Supposedly they're all the same filter, except with different brand names stickers on it.

All have holes (not louvers) in inner tube, coil spring, and are efficient.

NAPA Gold 1036 claims 99% @ 23 microns. It has pink silicion ADBV seal and gasket.

Advanced Auto Parts Carquest Premium 85036 claims 99% @ 20. It has a pink silicon seal and gasket.

Autozone STP XL claims 99% @ 20 microns. It has pink silicion ADBV seal and gasket.

Oreilly Microgard Select MSL51036 claims 99% @ 25 microns. It has pink silicon ADBV seal and gasket.

Premium Guard PG4011 claims 99% @ 25 microns. It's photo shows black nitrile rubber ADBV seal and gasket on its webpage at PG. It's disappointing if it doesn't have pink silicon ADBV seal and gasket, but maybe it's an out of date webpage? Maybe its current version has silicon gasket and ADBV seal?

If all of the above filters the same filter, why do they have different efficiency claims?

 

[FlyingVan]

My take on it is that either the specs are listed wrong or they are not the same filters, just that they are made by the same company.

 

[Hootbro]

When you buy container ship loads of something, you can spec your filter media. Not a one size fits all just because they are made by the same company.

 

[ZeeOSix]

If all of the above filters the same filter, why do they have different efficiency claims?

They really aren't that much different in efficiency. Probably because they were done at different ISO test labs, which there could be slight variations in the results.

 

[Glenda W.]

It took me a long time to find this detailed efficiency graph. It’s been posted in a few threads now. Technically all the different efficiencies are correct. These filters are 99.8%@25 and 99.5%@20. How each company decides which to publish is beyond me.

 

[Sayjac]

Just a note of significance (imo) on a filter listed in the OP, not all AZ STP XL are PG made filters. Depending on region, some are made by Champ Labs and are ecore filters.

 

[D1dad]

I pulled a service pro filter off my nieces car from the quick lube. Probably 10k on it, nitrile valve jobber filter. I should have posted it after I took the angle grinder to it, but it was fine. Dirty, but no worse for the wear.

 

[Glenda W.]

I pulled a service pro filter off my nieces car from the quick lube. Probably 10k on it, nitrile valve jobber filter. I should have posted it after I took the angle grinder to it, but it was fine. Dirty, but no worse for the wear.

Yep even the non extended version PG made filters look great!

 

[KCJeep]

The Premium Guard branded filters that are the equivalent of the others is the XL series, they have the silicone gasket and ADBV.

 

[Carlostrece]

Are the filters I mentioned in OP made by Premium Guard, or made by Vietnam Advanced Filtration Inc (VAFI)? I thought they're all made by VAFI.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Checkout this thread, link below.

C

Thread 'Here are Premium Guard's main Oil Filter suppliers'

Sep 25, 2024

Vietnam

1) VAFI / Vietnam Advanced Filtration Inc. Founded 2018.

https://afifilter.com.vn/doi-tac/

China

2) Guangdong Advanced Filtration Inc. This was the first AFI founded in 2003 with Korean capital.

http://www.afifilter.com/en/p1.asp

3) Boshifilter. Founded 1985 and is an OE supplier

http://www.boshifilter.com/intro/

Boshifilter have also supplied Champion, Fram, Napa and Purolator directly

Korea

Filtermaster. They have the worst website and I may have crashed it by visiting

http://www.filtermaster.co.kr/

There is another Korean...

• CharlieBauer
• Replies: 42
• Forum: Engine Oil Filters

• 
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[Glenda W.]

Are the filters I mentioned in OP made by Premium Guard, or made by Vietnam Advanced Filtration Inc (VAFI)? I thought they're all made by VAFI.

All those filters are under the PGI(Premium Guard Inc) umbrella. PGI is a US owned company which uses overseas manufacturers to build their filters. VAFI is one of those manufacturers and I believe their largest. Here is a comprehensive list of PGI/VAFI oil filters.

 

[Carlostrece]

I wonder if tariffs will make Premium Guard and related filters from Vietnam unavailable or unaffordable?

 

[ZeeOSix]

All those filters are under the PGI(Premium Guard Inc) umbrella. PGI is a US owned company which uses overseas manufacturers to build their filters. VAFI is one of those manufacturers and I believe their largest. Here is a comprehensive list of PGI/VAFI oil filters.

It sounds like VAFI is an exporter and importer in Vietnam. Not sure they actually do any manufacturing ... still trying to put the puzzle together.

https://www.volza.com/p/oil-filter/manufacturers/manufacturers-in-vietnam/

https://www.volza.com/company-profile/vafi-joint-stock-company-67293094/

https://importkey.com/i/vafi-jsc

 

[Carlostrece]

It sounds like VAFI is an exporter and importer in Vietnam. Not sure they actually do any manufacturing ... still trying to put the puzzle together.

https://www.volza.com/p/oil-filter/manufacturers/manufacturers-in-vietnam/

https://www.volza.com/company-profile/vafi-joint-stock-company-67293094/

https://importkey.com/i/vafi-jsc

I went to the VAFI website a week ago. It looked like an impressive high tech factory. Now I can't find it in a Google search. It seems to have disappeared from Google. I don't remember the VAFI website address, but it's none of the links you posted above.

I might be able to find its web address in an old post I made 2 weeks ago.

 

[Carlostrece]

I found a link to VAFI in an old post I made 2 weeks ago. Look at their factory roof. It's covered by solar panels.

https://afifilter.com.vn/san-pham-cong-ty/

 

[ZeeOSix]

I went to the VAFI website a week ago. It looked like an impressive high tech factory. Now I can't find it in a Google search. It seems to have disappeared from Google. I don't remember the VAFI website address, but it's none of the links you posted above.

I might be able to find its web address in an old post I made 2 weeks ago.

Edit, from your post above, there seems to be two "VAFI" acronyms going on here. Yes, that looks like a big factory that makes all those brand name products.

VAFI (which also stands for Vietnam Association of Financial Investors) is a joint stock company and a Vietnam exporter/importer from what I'm finding.

https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/8162...se-the-minimum-trading-lot-to-100-shares.html

 

[ZeeOSix]

I wonder if tariffs will make Premium Guard and related filters from Vietnam unavailable or unaffordable?

Not from Vietnam (yet) ... but maybe the ones made in China.

 

[ZeeOSix]

I found a link to VAFI in an old post I made 2 weeks ago. Look at their factory roof. It's covered by solar panels.

https://afifilter.com.vn/san-pham-cong-ty/

Google translator says:

Premium Guard INC was founded in 1996 with nearly 30 years of experience, PGI is proud to be a pioneer in providing the world’s leading brand oil filters. Our partnership has been established over the past decade with the presence of AFI Guangdong, China and AFI Vietnam factories. Premium Guard INC is not only an important customer partner but also a companion with us during VAFI’s construction and development journey.

PRIVATE BRAND CATERS TERMS

https://afifilter.com.vn/doi-tac/

 

[ZeeOSix]

Google translator says:

Premium Guard INC was founded in 1996 with nearly 30 years of experience, PGI is proud to be a pioneer in providing the world’s leading brand oil filters. Our partnership has been established over the past decade with the presence of AFI Guangdong, China and AFI Vietnam factories. Premium Guard INC is not only an important customer partner but also a companion with us during VAFI’s construction and development journey.

Want to point out the part in bold. This is why some Premium Guard filters are made in China and some are made in Vietnam, because it looks like VAFI has a factory in both countries.