I have no idea.... and I am not curious!
You know... I just don't think $30 is a high price to pay for $15 worth of oil and a $12 filter changed in 30 minutes while I keep my hands clean.
And 2J.... who I posted to, is a wacky enough chick that she might also really dig changing her own oil for the pure cathartic experience of it.... but it ain't for me. :~D
I am--if Ford decided that the Motorcraft filter for my car should have a silicone anti-drainback valve, then there must be some benefit to it that will result in improved engine reliability.
I don't pay $12 for a filter and I don't pay $15 for oil, neither does Jiffy-Lube. I pay $3 for a filter, I suspect that they pay less than $2. I pay about $1.20/quart for oil (6 quarts), I suspect that they pay under $1/quart for oil. (If I really wanted to be cheap, Wal-Mart's house brand of oil, which meets API specifications, is 88 cents a quart).
That leaves me with an oil change for my car costing about $10 in oil and filter.
I change the oil myself and eat out with the remaining $20!