An interesting thing to me has always been the "upgrade" we're doing by sourcing the Venza metal oil filter housing.
Is it really better?
I suspect there is a good reason that our beloved Land Cruisers come with the plastic oil filter housings. Sure, the common assumption is plastic is an inferior material to metal. That's generally true but not always the case and I know in the aerospace sector, metal is not always the superior choice. What we don't know is the processes these are built with. And what the original engineering trade space was that resulted in the fitment of the plastic version as the right solution for our trucks.
High quality plastic and composite parts are often spec'd for their advantages. These include better chemical and corrosion resistance properties. They can be lighter weight and insulating thermally and electrically. High quality plastics can be just as strong as metal in certain designs. I suspect the major reason though, is their greater durability and resilience for impact resistance. Where a commodity metal part can bend too much or crack rendering it unserviceable.
It's wholly possible we're doing ourselves a disservice by "upgrading" to the metal housing.
Evidence.
The common metal oil housing 15620-31060 that is substituted is found in mass produced commodity vehicles.
The original plastic part fitted to our Land Cruisers is only found in heavier duty Toyota trucks.
The OEM parts are ~$35 vs ~$100, metal to plastic respectively. Doesn't seem like they went to plastic because it was cheaper/easier to produce.
Is it really better?
I suspect there is a good reason that our beloved Land Cruisers come with the plastic oil filter housings. Sure, the common assumption is plastic is an inferior material to metal. That's generally true but not always the case and I know in the aerospace sector, metal is not always the superior choice. What we don't know is the processes these are built with. And what the original engineering trade space was that resulted in the fitment of the plastic version as the right solution for our trucks.
High quality plastic and composite parts are often spec'd for their advantages. These include better chemical and corrosion resistance properties. They can be lighter weight and insulating thermally and electrically. High quality plastics can be just as strong as metal in certain designs. I suspect the major reason though, is their greater durability and resilience for impact resistance. Where a commodity metal part can bend too much or crack rendering it unserviceable.
It's wholly possible we're doing ourselves a disservice by "upgrading" to the metal housing.
Evidence.
The common metal oil housing 15620-31060 that is substituted is found in mass produced commodity vehicles.
The original plastic part fitted to our Land Cruisers is only found in heavier duty Toyota trucks.
The OEM parts are ~$35 vs ~$100, metal to plastic respectively. Doesn't seem like they went to plastic because it was cheaper/easier to produce.
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