Genuine Air Compressors Parts Supplier
Atlas Copco Air End Replacement: When It’s Time and How to Choose the Right One
The air end — the screw element — is the heart of any Atlas Copco rotary screw compressor. When it wears, everything downstream suffers: air delivery falls, temperatures rise and oil carryover climbs. Knowing when to service or replace the air end, and how to identify the right one, saves both energy and unplanned downtime.
In short: a worn air end shows up as lost air output, high running temperature, bearing noise and metal in the oil. Fitting a genuine Atlas Copco air end restores full performance and protects the rest of the machine.
What the air end does
Inside the air end, two precisely matched rotors turn together to compress the air. The clearances between those rotors — and the bearings that hold them — are measured in microns. As they wear, compression efficiency drops, so the compressor runs longer and hotter to make the same air. Because the air end sets the machine’s output, temperature and efficiency, its condition matters more than any other single part.
Signs an air end needs attention
- Falling air delivery or pressure at the same load
- Higher-than-normal running temperature
- Bearing noise, rumble or vibration
- Rising oil carryover into the air
- Metal particles in the oil or filter
Decoding Atlas Copco air-end names
Atlas Copco uses several naming families, which can be confusing when sourcing a part:
- C-series (e.g. C55, C67, C168, C200) — screw element designations used across many stationary compressors
- GA — oil-injected stationary rotary screw range the air end is fitted to
- ZR/ZT — oil-free ranges
- XAS — portable (towable) diesel compressors
The safest way to order is by the air-end part number and your compressor’s model and serial number — the same element can appear under more than one description. Browse all genuine Atlas Copco air ends or the full Atlas Copco parts range.
| Component | Air end (screw element) |
| Job | Compresses the air (core rotor pair) |
| Replace/service when | Low output, high temp, bearing noise, metal in oil |
| Identify by | Air-end part number + compressor model & serial |
New vs remanufactured
Depending on model and availability, an air end may be supplied new or professionally remanufactured to OEM tolerances. Either way, insist on genuine Atlas Copco parts and correct bearings and seals — a rebuilt element with the wrong internals will not hold its clearances.
Order the correct air end
Send us your Atlas Copco model, serial number and air-end part number and we will confirm the exact element and lead time. Contact us for a quote — we ship genuine air ends worldwide.
