280 runnning warmer than normal

[laglass69]

Maybe this is just a coincidence but yesterday I spaced the front plate on my alien cowl 1'' and drilled 2 1'' holes behind the plate to get more air flow. Motor always ran around 155 deg. between 5000-WOT rpms and 140 deg. idling..........went run it today and still 140 idling but now between 5000-WOT rpms it was running around 180 but didnt get any alarms. I had perfect water pressure the whole time. I thought maybe since it was getting more air it needed more fuel so I bumped it to plus 1 with my DDT but still ran warm. Any ideas?

[laglass69]

Could it have been that the water in the lake was just that hot to make it run warmer than usual as it was hot as hell outside yesterday?

[Tom Foley]

Check restrictor washer housings for trash , then pull the heads and check for bad O Rings around cylinder sealing area . Seen both deals on friends 280's .

[WATERWINGS]

I run all winter, and I get used to cool engine temps.....when the water and air get warmer, so do my guages.....but they don't continue to climb after a certain poing....155°-165°...(head temp, not water temp)...so I just ride on.....

I have noticed that my thermo's don't open up much more than a trickle....sometimes when I stop and idle, one side will open up for just a few seconds, then close back.....