I just recently bought a 1979 Grimmer Schmidt 302 compressor, and after using it today, found that the temperature was reading at 235 degrees. The engine was running at 2300 rpm for about 45 minutes to an hour. Is 23 degrees too hot? It would seem so, but I've never worked with a 302 before


Thanks
Jameson

 

The new aluminum engines run alot hotter than the older cast iron engines.The electric fans on my '06 LS2 were factory set to turn on at 226 deg.I had my tuner reset them to come on at 195 deg. 235 is too hot for a cast iron '79 302 to be run for any length of time.That's how you spin bearings.I'd check the cooling system for a stuck t-stat or a blockage.Are you sure the gauge is correct?

 

I don't know for sure, but I could tell the engine was running hot. When I shut it off after 30 minutes of running at around 1500 rpm, I could hear the water boiling


Jameson