My heating oil boiler stopped but tank got 33cm oil still?

Section62

sujsuj said:

I know qualified engineer needed, but for sludge removal this could be the best time and if I can detect the sludge then order of whom I need to get will be changing as well. thanks

Two quick checks you could make...

1) Use a spirit level to see if the bottom of the tank is sloping away from the end with the feed to the boiler.

2) Check the end of the tank opposite to the feed to the boiler to see if it has a 'gate valve' attached to it on or near the bottom.  If there is one Don't do anything to the valve yet.

With steel fuel tanks it was fairly common practice to site them so the base sloped away from the fuel draw-off so any sludge would accumulate at the lowest point of the tank which was as far from the draw-off as possible.  A valve was also often fitted which would allow some of the fuel to be manually drained out at that end, flushing any sludge away with it.  If there is such a valve then it might be stuck and/or once opened you may not be able to close it again - which is why it is important not to do anything to it (yet).

But knowing whether or not you have such a valve would allow you to ask the service technician to check the valve and try drawing some fuel off at that end to check for sludge.  They should have liability insurance which would cover the cost of a clean up if the tank or valve fails and the remaining contents of the tank leak out.

sujsuj

Only issue i noticed with boiler was its controller started resetting and not display any schedule information for last 2-3 months. When ever this happens i just need to switch off and on the boiler switch ( see the white control box pic). But this issue may not be directly linked to current problem as this resetting issue was happening for last 2-3 months once of twice in a month. I was planning to get boiler service engineer for that anyway.

Apart form that no other issue noticed during this winter.

I think I am getting more convinced that current lower oil level in the tank is stopping oil from flowing to the boiler which is at 5m away and way be 2 foot above level of tank.

only un known factor still is if there is any sludge deposit in the tank..? If so this is the best time to remove them. Alsocan there be water entering tank any means..??

See photos

sujsuj

Section62 said:

sujsuj said:

Since dip test shows 33 cm, is that could be 33 cm sludge in the tank?

No, unless someone has deliberately been putting something in the tank it won't have built up that much sludge - and if it had, then you'd have had problems with blockages long before now.

The suggestions already given almost certainly include the answer.  There's a blockage, or the oil level is too low for the boiler, or the boiler has a fault.

Make your next step getting a qualified oil boiler service technician to give the boiler a service and check what's wrong.

Don't order more oil unless you are absolutely sure the level is too low - as the tank is rather old and you may be needing a new one sooner rather than later.  Having a near-empty tank replaced is easier than a full one. I don't think you'll find anyone who will desludge/clean the inside of the tank... due to age there's a risk of making it leak and I doubt you'd find anyone likely to want to take that risk.

No one deliberately put anything inside tank..Jut wondering if years of sludge and deposited at the bottom..? I have no way to find when tank was last emptied and clean.

I am also leaning to the pressure angle though may be some oil is already in the tank. So may be first thing is to get 500L oil before getting engineer for service otherwise after service also boiler can't be tested because no oil to to burn!

No plan to replace tank anytime soon. Tank is really strong one though its looking bit ugly. One coat of paint will get it back to its glory for sure.

what the chances of of rusting inside metal tank.??? Recent tanks I have seen are plastic ones.

Section62

sujsuj said:

Section62 said:

sujsuj said:

Since dip test shows 33 cm, is that could be 33 cm sludge in the tank?

No, unless someone has deliberately been putting something in the tank it won't have built up that much sludge - and if it had, then you'd have had problems with blockages long before now.

The suggestions already given almost certainly include the answer.  There's a blockage, or the oil level is too low for the boiler, or the boiler has a fault.

Make your next step getting a qualified oil boiler service technician to give the boiler a service and check what's wrong.

Don't order more oil unless you are absolutely sure the level is too low - as the tank is rather old and you may be needing a new one sooner rather than later.  Having a near-empty tank replaced is easier than a full one. I don't think you'll find anyone who will desludge/clean the inside of the tank... due to age there's a risk of making it leak and I doubt you'd find anyone likely to want to take that risk.

No one deliberately put anything inside tank..Jut wondering if years of sludge and deposited at the bottom..? I have no way to find when tank was last emptied and clean.

I am also leaning to the pressure angle though may be some oil is already in the tank. So may be first thing is to get 500L oil before getting engineer for service otherwise after service also boiler can't be tested because no oil to to burn!

No plan to replace tank anytime soon. Tank is really strong one though its looking bit ugly. One coat of paint will get it back to its glory for sure.

what the chances of of rusting inside metal tank.??? Recent tanks I have seen are plastic ones.

Oil tanks aren't like septic tanks and don't need regular cleaning.  In the old days fuel was sometimes contaminated with sludge-forming solids, but that is far less likely to happen these days where processes are much more tightly controled.  Rusting on the inside of the tank is a possibility, with flakes of rust detaching and falling into the fuel - hence the practice of sloping them away from the draw-off point.

The tank may look strong, but you have no way of knowing what condition it is in internally, or under the paint.  A pinprick rust hole is all it takes for a (very expensive) leak to start.  You should at least have replacement of the tank with a modern plastic bunded one in mind.  Be careful if you go ahead and repaint the tank - agressively preparing it for painting (e.g. with power tools) could cause it to start leaking, and it may have been given a Red (Lead) Oxide priming when it was manufactured.

Peronally I wouldn't buy anymore oil until your boiler has been checked by a professional, it looks to be a modern one, so the oil flow will be pressurised by pump rather than relying on pure gravity.  If the problem is with the tank then putting an extra 500l in it will just mean having another 500l of oil to be dealt with during the repair/replacement.  A competent oil technician will know methods of testing the boiler's operation even if it does turn out that the level is too low.

Everything considered, I think it is more likely you either have an electrical/control issue, or possibly a blocked filter or nozzle.  Since getting an oil boiler serviced in the summer is good practice, that to me is the most sensible way forward and take things from there.

sujsuj

Surprise surprise..my boiler started working today.

May be some sort of blockage in oil inlet to boiler due to low pressure form tank..?? Any way I need to get engineer sort out the controller issue.

It resets every now and that from timed CH & HW to always on. I am sure this could be sorted with a service of entire system.

Good to see both boiler and ride-on mower are better behaving now.

Thanks for all inputs here.