Oil boiler problems

TelG

TelG

TelG

Associate
Joined
24 Oct 2020
Posts
6
A few days ago my oil boiler stopped working. After checking fuel, electrics etc. I finally found the solenoid to be open circuit. Replaced that and the boiler lit immediately. Huge amounts of black smoke came out of the flue which I thought was just a build up of excess oil from before the solenoid was replaced but it would not stop.

So I replaced the nozzle. The smoke was better but boiler kept going into lockout.

So I replaced the control unit. The boiler still smokes for a few seconds after ignition but then seems to run normally until the lockout light comes on but then the burner still continues to run until the motor stops.

It feels like oil is getting into the chamber whenever the motor is running even though ignition has not yet been triggered and when lockout occurs. If that is correct it explains the smoke at ignition for a few seconds and the burner continuing to run after lockout.

Does any of the above make sense to anyone and can anyone suggest what needs to be done to fix it? Could the oil flow be the cause of the control unit going to lockout? Many thanks.
 
I forgot to mention above that I checked the flame sensor and it was clean and working previously.

I have just tested again this morning and now the boiler won't ignite at all. It seems that almost every time I run a test something different happens.
 
Thanks for the comments.

I took the burner unit out and turned it on its side so that I could get a part number for the fuel pump thinking that was the next part to try to replace. While the unit was turned I took off the flexible fuel tube at the fuel pump end to ensure that there was no blockage at that end (it was inaccessible before). I put everything back after I got the part number and, hey presto, the boiler ignited and has been running perfectly ever since (fingers crossed).

I have no idea what I did that suddenly cleared the problem; I presume there is an intermittent fault somewhere. I am now waiting for it to break down again!

If anyone has any idea what might have been the cause I should be very grateful to know so that I am ready next time it happens.
 
No I didn't, whereabouts is it? Do you think turning it on its side dislodged some dirt in the filter which could block it again?
 
I can't find what the make is, it is one of those who hides it well. I must have known at some point because there was a part of the flue missing from package when it was delivered and I had to get it from the manufacturer but that was many years ago.
 
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