Boulter Oil Fired Boiler Mystery...

[Joe_potato99]

Hi,
Would very much appreciate some expert advice with this - I'm rapidly approaching my wits end.

I have an old Boulter oil fired boiler, commisioned in '96. It's been fine other than 2yrs ago it started to only fire intermittently, so I stripped it and cleaned it - all good.

It's recently started doing the same. And struggling to maintain a flame at all. So I've had it apart, cleaned the boiler internals, cleaned around the nozzle/electrodes, cleaned the cup that protrudes into the boiler. Cleaned up the fan, which seems to be moving fine. I also just put in a new oil filter. None of this sorted the problem..

The thing I can't get my head around, is it will run fine with either the front cover off, or the top cover (as if it wasn't getting enough air). As soon as these are close to both being attached again it will cut out - as if not enough air is getting to the burner. Yet if I have the front cover off, and almost completely cover up the air inlet on the burner, it will keep on running (albeit poorly). To me this seems like it should strangle it much more than putting on the covers.

I really don't want to have to fork out if possible. (Have attached a photo)

Any help's massively appreciated.


Thanks!
Joe

 

[Joe_potato99]

 

[Best]

Hi Joe,
Has the nozzle been replaced?
What is the oil pressure?
Has the flue gases been tested with an analyser? (I assume not on that question?)
I am worried about you saying commissioned in ‘96 and fine after that. Cleaning parts of the burner does not service the burner.
Really needs an oil engineer to sort it. That burner is easy really to experienced oil person.

 

[rpm]

You might even get the money back over the course of a year in lower fuel costs. 😉

 

[Best]

You might even get the money back over the course of a year in lower fuel costs. 😉

Exactly what I was thinking!
The slightest fraction of adjustment of the oil/air mix on a service would save well in excess of the cost of the service. Easily £50 - £100 can be saved.
And if the boiler was greatly wrong ..... then will save £100s, depending on output and usage of boiler.
Oil boiler diyers usually aren’t aware that an oil burner can be running wrong, but appearing to be clean burning, thus wasting kerosine in the flue gases. This is very common.

 

[rpm]

A bit like old cars with carburettors you mean?

 

[Best]

A bit like old cars with carburettors you mean?

Yes rpm, that’s a good comparison.
Too much air into the mix will make the kerosine burn only partially. That’s why the boiler manufacturers commissioning and servicing instructions give CO2 readings to set using an analyser. Partly burning kerosine won’t give good CO2 tests.
I will pm you some info, if it interests you.

 

[Joe_potato99]

Many thanks for the quick replies and help.

She was serviced about 3-4 years ago I think. My ma had a guy come to look at it 2yrs ago when it wasn't running right and he said to just get a new boiler and he wouldn't work on it.. worth trying another guy though I know.

I don't have a pressure gauge for it or flue analyser unfortunately, I mainly just want to get a steady flame on it for now. I work in the Merchant Navy as an engineer, so I'm used to boilers but on a jumbo scale - I refuse to be beaten by my Boulter! I appreciate that it's worth having set up right for good economy too and will do this at some point, thanks for the advice.
I'll perhaps try the nozzle as recommended. The filter was filthy so maybe that's got some crap in it.

Cheers

 

[Best]

Many thanks for the quick replies and help.

She was serviced about 3-4 years ago I think. My ma had a guy come to look at it 2yrs ago when it wasn't running right and he said to just get a new boiler and he wouldn't work on it.. worth trying another guy though I know.

I don't have a pressure gauge for it or flue analyser unfortunately, I mainly just want to get a steady flame on it for now. I work in the Merchant Navy as an engineer, so I'm used to boilers but on a jumbo scale - I refuse to be beaten by my Boulter! I appreciate that it's worth having set up right for good economy too and will do this at some point, thanks for the advice.
I'll perhaps try the nozzle as recommended. The filter was filthy so maybe that's got some crap in it.

Cheers

You unfortunately can't do work on oil boilers without an oil gauge. And an analyser is needed.
It can be the nozzle faulty, or filters blocked (there are at least 3 filters), or oil pump faulty.
Needs an oil tech in. That Riello burner is a great burner, as I said earlier and there has to be someone fairly local to you able and willing to service that.
What approximate location are you?

 

[rpm]

Yes rpm, that’s a good comparison.
Too much air into the mix will make the kerosine burn only partially. That’s why the boiler manufacturers commissioning and servicing instructions give CO2 readings to set using an analyser. Partly burning kerosine won’t give good CO2 tests.
I will pm you some info, if it interests you.

Thanks Best but I have no desire to go anywhere near a smelly kerosine boiler thank you very much.😱

 

[Best]

Thanks Best but I have no desire to go anywhere near a smelly kerosine boiler thank you very much.😱

RPM, You don’t know what you are missing! Lovely smell of kerosine (you get to like it).
Better than Saniflos I reckon 😛

 

[rpm]

RPM, You don’t know what you are missing! Lovely smell of kerosine (you get to like it).
Better than Saniflos I reckon 😛

Haha, Unless it is a very ripe one I don`t even notice it now. Funny thing is I do notice it downstairs when I`ve finished so must be something to do with the power of the wet vacs exhaust. 😳

 

[SimonG]

There's a particular part on the g5 that doesn't really liked to be fiddled with. Get yourself a decent engineer. Plenty of life left in it.