Episode 29: OEM Parts or Bust

Jason Reed

Alright, welcome back to The Big Dog Podcast. I’m Jason Reed, here with Lisa Saunders, and today we’re getting into something that, honestly, I see way too often—folks thinking they’re saving a buck by going with aftermarket parts for their air compressors. Lisa, you ever hear that line, “It’s just a filter, what’s the worst that could happen?”

Lisa Saunders

Oh, all the time. And it’s never just a filter, right? I mean, you swap out an OEM air-oil separator for some off-brand, and suddenly you’re not just risking a little extra oil in your air—you’re talking about real safety issues. Fires, even explosions in the worst-case scenario. That’s not just a scare tactic, it’s happened.

Jason Reed

Yeah, and people don’t realize, you’re not just voiding your warranty, you’re basically gambling with your whole system. I’ve seen compressors come in with damage that costs way more to fix than what they “saved” on that cheap part. And the warranty thing—manufacturers aren’t messing around. You use a pirated part, they’ll drop your coverage in a heartbeat.

Lisa Saunders

And it’s not just about the money, either. Like, Kaishan’s air-oil separators, for example—they add a piece of copper on top to make sure the unit’s grounded. That’s not just a nice-to-have. If you get a separator that isn’t grounded right, and a spark happens in the sump, you could have a fire or even an explosion. I mean, it’s rare, but it’s not impossible. Why risk it?

Jason Reed

Exactly. And even if you dodge the big disasters, you’re still looking at stuff like oil pass-through, pressure drops, or just plain bad air quality. That’s gonna hit your downstream equipment, maybe even your end product. So, is saving a few bucks really worth risking all that downtime—or worse?

Lisa Saunders

I don’t think so. And honestly, sometimes people don’t even realize what they’re risking. They see a part that “fits” and figure it’s good enough. But if it’s not designed for your machine, you’re just asking for trouble. I mean, would you put bargain tires on a race car and expect to win?

Jason Reed

That’s a terrible analogy, but I get what you mean. The point is, you’re messing with the design integrity of the whole system. And that’s where things start to go sideways.

Lisa Saunders

So let’s talk about what actually makes OEM parts different. Take Kaishan’s KTL-8000 rotary compressor oil. It’s not just about matching viscosity. The real magic is in the additives—stuff that helps with heat rejection, keeps the oil flowing right, and protects your bearings from corrosion. That’s not something you get from just any oil off the shelf.

Jason Reed

Yeah, and I’ll tell you, back when I was just starting out, I saw a plant try to save money with an aftermarket sensor. Looked the same, plugged in the same, but it was way off on calibration. Suddenly, the whole production line was getting false alarms, and nobody could figure out why. We lost hours chasing a problem that wouldn’t have existed if they’d just stuck with the OEM part. I mean, I’m not saying every aftermarket part is junk, but you’re rolling the dice every time.

Lisa Saunders

And it’s not just sensors. Variable-speed drives, motors, even the grounding—OEMs design all that stuff to work together. If you swap in a part that’s not made for your system, you could be putting extra stress on the machine, or even creating safety issues you can’t see until it’s too late.

Jason Reed

Right, and the thing is, it’s not always obvious. Like, you might not notice a pressure drop right away, or maybe your cooler isn’t working as efficiently, but over time, that’s gonna add up. More energy use, more wear and tear, more headaches. Design integrity and compatibility—they’re not just buzzwords. They’re what keep your compressor running smooth and efficient.

Lisa Saunders

And honestly, if you’re running a plant, reliability is everything. You can’t afford to have your system go down because you tried to save a few bucks on a part that wasn’t built for your machine. It’s just not worth it.

Jason Reed

Let’s dig into some of those other parts people don’t always think about—like coolers, enclosure panels, even drains. OEM accessories are designed to fit and perform with your compressor, not just “sort of” work. I remember a Midwest plant that swapped out a drain for a non-OEM one. Looked fine at first, but it didn’t communicate with the controller, so it wasn’t draining properly. Next thing you know, they had moisture running downstream, air quality tanked, and they were down for hours trying to fix it.

Lisa Saunders

Yeah, and it’s the same with coolers. If you put in a cooler that’s not designed for your compressor, you might get a bigger pressure drop, or it might not cool the oil to the right temperature. That means your compressor’s working harder, using more energy, and you’re shortening its life. And don’t even get me started on enclosure panels—if you lose insulation or noise dampening, you’re not just making things louder, you could be messing with temperature control and even safety compliance.

Jason Reed

And here’s the thing—your local compressed air pro or authorized distributor isn’t just there to sell you parts. They know your system, they can spot issues before they become problems, and they’ll get you the right part fast. You’re not waiting weeks for a cooler to ship from who-knows-where. You’re getting real support, and that’s what keeps your compressor running at its best.