Servicing a Conversion Oil Burner
Protecting the oil burner motor from unnecessary wear is extremely important. At least once a year (but not more than three times a year), preferably at the beginning of each heating season, place about 10 drops of #20 SAE oil in each oil port of the burner motor. After you have oiled the burner motor, clean the fuel strainer and change the oil-filter cartridge. Clogged fuel strainers are a common source of trouble. In rotary- and gun-type oil burners, these compo- nents are usually located either at the point at which the oil line con- nects to the tank or at the oil line connection to the burner. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for removing the fuel strainer, and clean it with a stiff wire brush or a blast of compressed air.
Be sure that you are using the correct weight of oil. If the oil is too heavy, the burner motor will start, but it may fail to establish a flame. Continued use of the wrong oil may cause damage to burner components.
Soot should be periodically removed from the burner and com- bustion chamber. Commercial soot removers are available for this purpose. When burning out a layer of soot, take care not to ignite a soot fire in the chimney. This could be very dangerous because it may lead to the igniting of combustible materials near the chimney. The hard layer of carbon that frequently forms on the bottom of the firepot in burners should also be removed.
Other servicing recommendations for conversion oil burners are as follows:
1. Check the furnace or boiler for possible air leaks. Any that are found should be sealed (a refractory mortar is recommended) because they interfere with combustion efficiency.
2. Check the burner nozzle in gun-type burners. If it is dirty, remove and clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Check the position of the electrodes in rotary- and gun-type oil burners. They should be positioned near, but out of, the direct spray of the oil.
Troubleshooting Oil and Gas Conversion Burners Operating problems, their symptoms and causes, and the suggested remedies for oil and gas conversion burners are covered in Chapter 1, “Oil Burners” and Chapter 2, “Gas Burners” in Volume 2.