The Best Filament for 3D Printing Car Parts (NOT ASA/ABS)

Product reviewed

PETCF filament (carbon-fiber filled PET variant; brand mentioned as Bamboo Lab) for 3D printing car parts—especially useful for people using a bedslinger (open-frame) 3D printer such as the Bambu Lab A1 (not typically recommended for high-heat plastics like ABS/ASA).

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Key features / what it’s claimed to do

• Works on a bedslinger/open printer (no enclosure required), where ABS/ASA typically need enclosure and/or ventilation.
• High heat resistance: described as suitable for under-the-hood use and car interior exposure.
• Good UV resistance: explicitly called out.
• Heat performance (from the video):
  • Printing at about a 270°C nozzle
  • About a 90°C bed (bed temp described as approximate)
• Reported durability in real-world driving conditions:
  • A cup holder made from PETCF was daily driven in North Carolina
  • Interior temps reportedly reached 100°F+ with sun exposure
  • Described as “rock solid” even on the hottest days.
• Car-part use case: recommended for small brackets and interior/exterior non-critical parts
  • Example demonstration: spark plug wire separators using a zip-tie clamp-style design.

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Setup & user experience (how easy it is)

• PETCF availability is described as not widely available compared to common filaments.
• The printer setup includes preset settings for PETCF (at least on the creator’s machine), so no settings were changed.
• Practical constraints / important notes:
  • Use a hardened nozzle (carbon fiber filament is abrasive/gritty).
  • Do not run PETCF/carbon-fiber through AMS tubes, as it can wear them out.
  • The creator bypassed AMS and fed filament straight into the extruder/nozzle.

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Print results (performance)

• The spark plug wire separators printed successfully using:
  • ~270°C nozzle
  • ~90°C bed
  • ~20% infill
  • 6 walls
• Bed adhesion/removal: “comes off the plate pretty easy.”
• Fit/design: parts were designed to work with zip ties and were successfully assembled.

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Pros mentioned

• Helps achieve car-part durability without the enclosure/ventilation that ABS/ASA often require.
• Handles heat and UV well (based on both claims and the presenter’s long-term use).
• Compatible workflow on printers that have PETCF presets (minimal tuning).
• Low smell: PETCF reportedly “doesn’t put off very many bad smell[s],” unlike ABS which requires ventilation.
• No enclosure needed for the presenter’s setup on a Bambu Lab A1.

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Cons / limitations mentioned

• Not cheap: described as “not the cheapest filament,” with a big jump from PLA to PETCF.
• Harder on equipment:
  • Requires a hardened nozzle
  • AMS tubes not recommended for carbon fiber filaments
• Unknown performance areas:
  • Not tested/verified for being submerged in fluids
  • Strength vs ABS not established (“don’t know what is stronger”)
  • Uncertain for higher-stress parts like an intake

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Comparisons made (explicitly vs ABS/ASA)

• ABS/ASA are presented as the typical choices for high-heat car parts, but:
  • They’re not practical on typical bedslinger/open printers without an enclosure and ventilation (and possibly sufficient printer heating capability).
• PETCF is positioned as a workaround:
  • For users with a Bambu Lab A1 or similar open-frame “toy printer”, PETCF can enable car parts that better survive heat and sun exposure where ABS/ASA would be harder.

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Unique points mentioned (all)

1. PETCF is pitched as a way to print car parts when ABS/ASA are difficult to use.
2. The presenter uses a bedslinger/open printer context (Bambu Lab A1).
3. ABS/ASA are said to need enclosure and ventilation to be practical.
4. PETCF is claimed to be better than ABS/ASA (without detailed scientific proof).
5. PETCF availability is limited/not widely available.
6. Intended for interior and under-hood durability.
7. Real-world test: a cup holder survived daily driving and 100°F+ interior sun exposure; described as “rock solid.”
8. PETCF is said to resist heat and UV well.
9. Fluids/submersion performance is unknown.
10. Example printing parameters: - ~270°C nozzle - ~90°C bed - ~20% infill, 6 walls
11. PETCF presets exist (on the creator’s machine), reducing tuning.
12. Carbon fiber handling notes: - Use a hardened nozzle - Don’t use PETCF/carbon fiber through AMS tubes - Feed directly to the extruder/nozzle
13. PETCF reportedly needs no enclosure (at least in the presenter’s setup).
14. Smell: reportedly minimal bad smell compared to ABS.
15. Demonstration part: spark plug wire separators assembled using zip ties.
16. Cost: PLA → PETCF is a “big jump.”
17. Strength guidance: - Not sure how PETCF compares to ABS strength - For very high-load parts, metal is usually better
18. Uncertainty about larger/high-stress exterior parts (e.g., intake).

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Speaker-specific views

• Single main speaker (presenter): provides all product guidance, setup instructions (hardened nozzle, avoid AMS tubes), printing parameters, and real-world durability claims.

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Concise verdict / recommendation

Recommended if you have an open-frame bedslinger printer (specifically like the Bambu Lab A1) and want a filament that can withstand car heat/UV better than typical options—without ABS/ASA-style enclosure/ventilation issues.

Main caveats: higher cost and the need for a hardened nozzle + bypass AMS. Strength for very demanding parts (e.g., intakes) is not proven in the video.