What does Gardner Denver advisory 316 high discharge temp mean?
Short answer: High airend discharge temperature warning. If your Gardner Denver AirSmart controller is showing ADVISORY #316 HIGH DISCH TEMP, the controller has logged a specific, documented condition. This page covers what it means, what causes it, what you can safely fix yourself, and when — and why — it takes a technician.
What exactly is the machine telling you?
Airend discharge temperature passed 225°F (107°C) — a warning stage before the 240°F shutdown. It usually means cooling is marginal.
Which machines show this?
Gardner Denver rotary screw compressors fitted with the first-generation AirSmart microprocessor controller — a wide range of oil-injected packages, including VFD-equipped variable-speed units where the controller supervises the drive. The first-generation AirSmart reports problems as numbered codes: SHUTDOWN #1xx and #2xx faults that stop the machine, and ADVISORY #3xx warnings that let it keep running while flagging maintenance. That numbering matters when you search — the later AirSmart G2 dropped the numbers and displays plain-text fault names instead, so a numbered code on the screen tells you that you are on the earlier controller. Shutdowns clear with Stop/Reset once the machine has stopped; advisories acknowledge with the Enter key.
What causes it?
- Discharge temperature passed the 225°F warning line — cooling is marginal, not yet failed
- Dusty oil cooler faces or poor room ventilation
- Oil level drifting low at the sight glass
Can you fix it yourself?
Yes, and this is the cheap moment to act — clean coolers, fix ventilation, and top up oil now, before the same trend hits the 240°F shutdown at #128.
Step by step — what to try, in order:
- Improve room ventilation and check ambient temperature
- With the machine off and cooled, clean the oil cooler faces
- After cooldown, verify oil level at the sight glass
- Press Enter to acknowledge and monitor the temperature trend
When do you need a technician — and why?
If the temperature keeps trending up after the basics, the thermal valve or oil circuit is degrading, and that diagnosis needs instruments on the pressurized oil system before it becomes a hard shutdown.
If it does come to a service call and you're in Nashville, TN or Birmingham, AL, we maintain independently compiled lists of local companies that service industrial air compressors — real businesses with verified contact information, none of whom paid to be listed.
Related questions
What does ADVISORY #316 HIGH DISCH TEMP mean on a Gardner Denver AirSmart controller?
High airend discharge temperature warning. Airend discharge temperature passed 225°F (107°C) — a warning stage before the 240°F shutdown. It usually means cooling is marginal.
Can I fix ADVISORY #316 HIGH DISCH TEMP on a Gardner Denver AirSmart controller myself?
Yes, and this is the cheap moment to act — clean coolers, fix ventilation, and top up oil now, before the same trend hits the 240°F shutdown at #128.
When does ADVISORY #316 HIGH DISCH TEMP on a Gardner Denver AirSmart controller need a technician?
If the temperature keeps trending up after the basics, the thermal valve or oil circuit is degrading, and that diagnosis needs instruments on the pressurized oil system before it becomes a hard shutdown. Call a technician if the temperature keeps trending toward 240°F after cleaning and ventilation fixes.
Verified against service documentation: Gardner Denver AirSmart controller documentation for ADVISORY #316 HIGH DISCH TEMP (best-aire.com)