My IR compressor is too hot too touch, is that too hot? It is 100 degrees here today, will it help if I plump the air intake into a bay?
Which part of the compressor are you talking about? The head , cylinder, and supply pipe to tank will get very hot to touch, this is caused by the term called " Heat of Compression" this heat is what fires the diesel engine where there is no spark, so it get very hot.
The crankcase where the crankshaft is located and the oil sump will or should not get this hot, make sure of correct oil level!
There are on many pumps a belt pulley that has fan blades built in and blows surrounding air over the pump, make sure it blows over the pump not sucking the air around , it could be installed backward.
Back to your question of cooler bay air, I would not do because the compression will still heat up the pump and also you could be pulling in more moisture which is a problem in itself with the water condensate inside the system.