Safe air compressor pump temp?

[kunkernator]

As some of you know, I recently bought a new to me 60 gal air compressor. I finally got it wired up yesterday, and proceeded to fill up the tank. I noticed that once the pump had shut off at 125 psi, the dust on the head of the pump was smoking (burning off). I grabbed my IR thermometer and the head of the pump was a blistering 280F! Furthermore, the head air output line was 370F! The pump body itself was about 150F, and the tank was 120F at its hottest point.

Are those two high temperatures something I should be concerned about? I never measure the temp on one of my compressors, so I wouldn't know what is normal.

Remember, this is an oiled pump.

 

[EOC_Jason]

The head doesn't have any oil going through it though. It should have big fins that get air blown over them from the flywheel. Is your compressor an adequate distance away from the wall? Did you clean all the crud off the head? Any dust / dirt will act like insulation.

I just drained my 60 gallon tank down to 40psi and flipped it on, before it cut off @ 120 psi the head over the high pressure piston was at around 250F...

 

[thinmac]

On my current project we have been using a *ton* of air. Our air/hydraulic mandrel bender pretty much keeps the compressor going constantly. The compressor's up to it, but I decided to give it a break.

I picked up an $11 clip on fan and clipped it onto the compressor so it blows over the cylinders. It's pretty much a piece of **** fan, but it still blows a lot more air than the pulley does, and it has kept the pump cool enough to touch even after hours of use.

 

[theknurl]

ran the tank down until the motor switched on, when it shut off;

2 HP motor 76.2*
pump (twin stage) the head 126*
finned coil between the stages 118*
out to tank 156*

shuts off at 165PSI

tank dated 1946

its been switched on since 1978 in my garage

 

[kenfain]

These things are made to run hot. It is absolutely necessary to have a good running temp. Way too hot to touch is normal. The output will be dangerous hot. It's okay, even necessary as I said. If it doesn't get a good operating temp, you'll get condensation in the lower end. Now that being said, obviously it can shorten the life of any machine, to run excessively hot for an extended length of time. Were talking years. Think large busy tire shop. Where air output temp can reach around six hundred degrees. So I wouldn't worry about yours, sounds about right. You really can get too big a compressor, and short run times equal low temps equal condensation in the block, now you got water in the oil. The heat keeps that out. So up to a point, it's a good thing

 

[Davefr]

As some of you know, I recently bought a new to me 60 gal air compressor. I finally got it wired up yesterday, and proceeded to fill up the tank. I noticed that once the pump had shut off at 125 psi, the dust on the head of the pump was smoking (burning off). I grabbed my IR thermometer and the head of the pump was a blistering 280F! Furthermore, the head air output line was 370F! The pump body itself was about 150F, and the tank was 120F at its hottest point.

Are those two high temperatures something I should be concerned about? I never measure the temp on one of my compressors, so I wouldn't know what is normal.

Remember, this is an oiled pump.

What's your ambient? Phoenix in the summer can be like hell.

PM me and I'll try and get you some readings from my compressor but everything should be measured as heat rise over ambient.

 

[scw1991]

My IR2475 5hp 2-stage would reach 275 degrees F at discharge line going to tank in the summer.

 

[TwoInch]

open the drain valve and turn your blow gun on full, and let the pump run with no pressure in the tank, and nothing building. let it run for a few minutes checking the temps with your hand. you will notice that it WILL NOT get to hot to touch(generally), unless its building pressure.

its the act of compression that gets it warmed up. nothing you can do about it. your number sound about right. when output temps get into the high 400s and 500s is when you have to worry about oil explosions, which happen with industrial compressors. another reason why true synthetic non detergent oil is recommended by compressor companies, synthetics have higher flash points. mineral oils, especially detergent oils will build carbon in the outlet and valves which increase the fire hazard considerably.

first few times you fire it up it will smell/burn a little, thats common. if you start to see discoloring of the outlet side of the head or tube, or paint starts burning, then you need to worry about head temps.

 

[p0lar]

open the drain valve and turn your blow gun on full, and let the pump run with no pressure in the tank, and nothing building. let it run for a few minutes checking the temps with your hand. you will notice that it WILL NOT get to hot to touch(generally), unless its building pressure.

its the act of compression that gets it warmed up. nothing you can do about it. your number sound about right. when output temps get into the high 400s and 500s is when you have to worry about oil explosions, which happen with industrial compressors. another reason why true synthetic non detergent oil is recommended by compressor companies, synthetics have higher flash points. mineral oils, especially detergent oils will build carbon in the outlet and valves which increase the fire hazard considerably.

^ This - thermodynamics hard at work! To be more specific it is the change in pressure combined with thermodynamic inefficiency that causes the change in heat (temperature). The loss of energy as heat is a direct indicator of some quantity of inefficiency as a compressor.