Inexpensive hydraulic parts can be tempting. Lower-cost aftermarket hydraulic components in the oil and gas industry often appeal because of lower upfront costs or easier availability.
But when mission-critical equipment goes down, every second of lost production is expensive. Repairs must happen fast. Choosing the cheapest option often comes with hidden risks.
Using cheaper aftermarket hydraulic hoses, fittings, couplings, pumps, valves, filters, and seals instead of OEM parts can lead to catastrophic consequences including equipment failure, safety hazards, environmental damage, and major unforeseen expenses due to:
In an industry as volatile and unforgiving as oil and gas, the quality of your hydraulic parts is not optional. It’s essential.
With the right partner, you can strategically manage inventory needs to balance budget and risk. Here’s why Parker is the gold standard in hydraulic parts; durable, precision-engineered, and backed by robust warranty support. MCE is a preferred distributor for Parker.
Oilfield operations are high stakes, high pressure, and physically demanding. Workers face stress and fatigue daily while operating in some of the harshest conditions on earth.
Remote, hard-to-access environments
The risks of equipment failure are severe, with potential for fire and explosions, toxic chemical exposure, and worker injury.
Substandard parts often fail without notice. In isolated locations, this creates challenges for worker safety, timely repairs, and environmental protection. Spills can contaminate water, soil, and habitats, adding liability to already costly downtime.
When extreme conditions are the norm, only high-quality, proven parts will keep operations safe and productive.
The oil and gas industry is high risk by nature. Equipment failure caused by inferior parts should never be one of those risks.
While original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts may cost more initially, they deliver long-term value by protecting your workforce, your assets, and your reputation.
High-quality components ensure:
Choosing the right hoses, fittings, and filtration systems constructed from the right material at the start can save thousands and prevent unnecessary downtime. Core benefits include reliability, durability, safety, efficiency, longevity, and stronger ROI.
Specific risk mitigation advantages for oil and gas include:
The “cheaper now” approach often leads to “expensive later.” To understand the real financial impact, evaluate the total cost of ownership (TCO) rather than just the purchase price.
Key costs include:
When you choose Parker’s precision-engineered hydraulic parts designed for oilfield conditions, you can benefit from:
Learn more about the importance of asset management with the Parker Tracking System.
Let’s do the math.
A few upfront savings do not equal lower long-term cost. Here is a sample analysis comparing lifecycle costs of a generic aftermarket part to an OEM Parker product, including maintenance, downtime costs, and replacement frequency.
When you factor in the number of repair calls, unplanned maintenance, and expedited shipping costs, the numbers simply don’t add up.
Parker hydraulic products provide long-term value in the demanding oil and gas industry by ensuring reliability, increasing safety, minimizing costly downtime, and withstanding extreme conditions. By choosing Parker, you ensure:
MCE carries a full line of Parker hoses and fittings built to withstand the high pressures, abrasive environments, and extreme temperatures common in oil & gas. All products are rated to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) guidelines, ensuring compliance and compatibility.
Mixing brands introduces unnecessary risks.
Hydraulic manufacturers work within a specific set of tolerances. Using a component from another manufacturing line decreases the likelihood of proper fitment and increases liability. If hydraulic hoses, fittings and seals are from different brands, the manufacturer may not honor their warranty on a failed component.
As a preferred distributor for Parker, we recommend choosing hydraulic hose components from the same product line. Sticking with Parker product line across all hydraulic components simplifies maintenance, asset tracking, and communication for more reliable systems.
Don’t cut corners where it counts. When it comes to safety, uptime, and compliance in oil and gas, cutting corners on critical components isn’t an option. By pairing high-quality products and expert recommendations with advanced traceability solutions, you can achieve longer part lifespans and fewer replacement costs over the life of your equipment.
MCE’s fluid power team can review your hydraulic systems and recommend precision-engineered parts designed specifically for industrial-grade and oilfield conditions.
Schedule a Consultation and check out MCE's ParkerStores