I’m scratching my head here. You can get a Prime Guard, Security, or Duramax filter etc that has nitrile adbv. Why does same company use silicone adbv in say a STP XL or CarQuest Premium oil filter? Cost?
Why some oil filters have nitrile adbv?
- Thread starter 53' Stude
- Start date
Not always.
Silicone ADBVs are very common in particular size filters because so many are made and sold that silicone is actually cheaper than nitrile. When there are a millions silicone ADBVs made of a particular models and a couple tens of thousands of nitrile of a different model, the nitrile costs quite a bit more.
Nitrile is the standard for filters in fleet applications where they won’t sit for years unused. But some filters models just have so many made and sold per year because they are so ubiiquitous that silicone is not only an upgrade material, it’s a cost savings.
do you have data to back that up?
Your argument doesn't explain why there are nitrile and silicone for common filters if silicone is cheaper why would there be nitrile?
IMO: Silicone is generally considered more expensive so the only reason to use nitrile as a manufacturer is if its a cost savings to the company producing the filter.
I am sure much of it is cost. Wix and Fram used to use nitrile on most of their filters. They likely justified it since they were using the same ADBV on both the premium and standard filters, the price difference was negligible.
I think some manufactures use it a purely to differentiate. A standard Premium guard can be had for under $4. If you step up to an XL its $9. They need to justify the price jump in as many ways as they can I suppose.
I prefer Silicon. I will only run Silicon on the wife and daughters car, as they would not recognize a start up rattle. I run nitrile on my truck to save a few bucks - either the PG standard or Hengst.
I think some manufactures use it a purely to differentiate. A standard Premium guard can be had for under $4. If you step up to an XL its $9. They need to justify the price jump in as many ways as they can I suppose.
I prefer Silicon. I will only run Silicon on the wife and daughters car, as they would not recognize a start up rattle. I run nitrile on my truck to save a few bucks - either the PG standard or Hengst.
Aren't they just a Fram EG?
I don't know but it seems all the basic models that Stude cuts open are coming from PG associated factories out of China.
Highly doubt it
Those filters are rated for higher mileage use (their Extended use filter model), so silicone is typically used because it will survive the longer exposure to heat. You've seen plenty of hard nitrile ADBVs in your C&Ps, but you'll never find a hard silicone ADBV.
That looks to be their higher tier filter. Their lower tier filter most likely has a nitrile ADBV.
Yes I do. Economies of scale are a thing.
Silicone and nitrile can have different costs to different factories in different places. The world economy is considerably more complex that you seem to grasp.
When a particular silicone ADBVs has massive annual production, it costs less than nitrile.
Tell you what, price out an FKM o-ring in a very common size (say -12 for ISO 11926-1) and compare it to an oddball (but similarly sized) nitrile O-ring. Then come back here with what you find.
That isn't what I asked.
but from your answer I'm guessing the answer to my question is no.
Going with your "hypothesis"
doesnt explain why a fram 10060 uses a nitrile in EG and a silicone in XG.
with your economies of scale theory there should be a silicone ADBV in both?
I presume these things are injection molded?
Silicone rubber itself is many times more expensive than nitrile. Its also more expensive to mold - higher temperature = higher machinery and mold cost, and the molds last less time.
If you have to make both, I can see a scenario where using only Silicone would give you the economy of scale. But since both are made in the millions, I just don't see it? Maybe for small batch sizes?
Have you actually been involved in the manufacture of silicon ADBV - or are you inferring from other experiences?
dnewton3
Staff member
I understand the economics of scale, etc.
I do, however, disagree with your premise. Nitrile ADBVs are made in the bazillions as well. The raw materials and processes are less costly for nitrile.
When I worked in HVAC engineering, we used "rubber" parts in many forms; seals, vibration isolation, etc. For any given component size and design, silicone is almost always more costly because of material and processing costs.
I do acknowledge there will occasionally be exceptions to the rule, but as a GENERALITY the nitrile will cost less, all other things being equal.
yes that is why I was showing that upper level Prime Guard to Stude in case he was not aware of that one because he only uses the jobber or basic Prime Guards with nitrile adbv. He was asking why PG make the Prime Guards with nitrile and then other extended makes with silicone and I was pointing out that even Prime Guard has a higher tier version.
Don't think that PGI makes "Prime Guard" extended filters - see thread linked below.
PGI does make "Premium Guard" extended filter which are basically the same as the MicroGard Select and the Carquest Premium.
yeah I am not sure on those Prime Guards either but they look like it.
Some Asian made oil filters look similar, but are built by different parent companies. Here's what PGI builds under other "private brand" names at the Vietnam factory. They also have a China factory, but not sure if other private brand names under PGI are built there, or the same ones.
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