Oil Fired Boiler: Black Smoke from Flue

QrizB

Well that certainly explains why it's not filtering

I'm sure you can buy replacement filters but (if their anything like diesel filters) there will be 200 different sizes.

Are there any identifying markings on the filter housing, either the bit you're holding or the bit it screws into?

lohr500

As per QrizB's comments, that is annoying. With no existing filter to measure it could be a challenge finding the right filter.
The bowl on my filter is much smaller.
Can you see any markings as QrizB suggests?

I would candidly ask the heating engineer if the tank filter is replaced as part of the routine service. If he/she says yes, then you know they haven't done a thorough job and could question the rest of their work.

As far as the fluid you have drawn off so far is concerned, are you sure the syphon pipe was right at the bottom of the tank?

If there really is 2" of water in there I would have expected it to be much more obvious in the fuel you have drawn out so far. Unless all of the liquid is murky water. Does the upper layer smell strongly of kerosene? You could soak a rag in the upper layer of fluid and carefully try lighting it outside and well away from anything else combustible. If it is mainly water, then obviously it won't ignite. If it is just cloudy kerosene, it will burn. 

The other thing you could do is syphon a small amount from close to the top of the tank into the same container and see if you get an obvious third layer. That would confirm that most of what you have in your container is water based. 

If it turns out to be cloudy water, then you are on track and just need to keep syphoning until you reach the point where there is a distinct layering in the container.

There does look to be some pretty dark fluid at the bottom of the container which could well be a sludge layer that usually settles right at the base. 

When I sorted out my tank there was also a layer of very dark sludge like liquid at the very bottom.

muggin5

Every detail of my filter looks a lot like this one:
https://www.bes.co.uk/biofuel-filter-20-l-hr-1-4-bsp-23490/

bes.co.uk are local to me (in Birmingham) so I should be able to go and get a filter first thing tomorrow morning.

Just glad I have gotten to the bottom of this... hopefully!

QrizB

muggin5 said:

Every detail of my filter looks a lot like this one:
https://www.bes.co.uk/biofuel-filter-20-l-hr-1-4-bsp-23490/

That particular filter is an Anglo Nordic product. Here's the data sheet:
https://www.anglo-nordic.com/media/productattach/2/4/2408111_an_18489_filter.pdf
Here's the replacement filter at BES (you've probably seen it already):

https://www.bes.co.uk/biofuel-filter-element-seal-20-l-hr-23492/

Good luck with the shopping expedition tomorrow!

lohr500

Good find on the replacement filter QrizB.

The filter should help with any sludge being drawn through the pipework, but I don't think it will stop water. 
So before you fit a new filter, I would still continue investigating what the fluid is in your container. If it is water, then keep going with the syphoning process until you get it all out. 

Like you said earlier, if there is 2" of water in the tank, depending on the shape of the tank (Cylindrical or flat sided), then there will be a lot more water in the tank than you have in the single container you have syphoned into.

I hope it is mainly water in your container because you will then know you are on track to keep removing it and in doing so you will end up pulling a bit more sludge through as well. A great saving over the £275+VAT that the tank company quoted you and the satisfaction/knowledge that the job has been done properly. 

QrizB

I've always been quite fond of this style of filter:
https://www.apukonline.com/10954-single-fuel-filter-assembly-with-glass-bowl.html

They have a glass bowl on the bottom so you can see any water, and a drain tap so you can remove it without having to bleed the system.

But even the deep bowl version isn't really going to help if you've got 2" of water in your tank. You need to syphon that out first, then let your filter deal with any traces that are left.

dunstonh

I would candidly ask the heating engineer if the tank filter is replaced as part of the routine service. If he/she says yes, then you know they haven't done a thorough job and could question the rest of their work.

This is exactly what happened with our first service engineer.   The second one also went on to find a few other things hadn't been replaced under service by the first engineer.

muggin5

I decided to replace the whole filter unit with new filters. I had a look this morning and I have a strong in-cling that the unit was fitted the wrong way round with the flow going the wrong way.

You can't make this kind of stuff of sometimes... the amount of jobs I have completed on my new house to fix work carried out by so called tradespeople in the past is amazing! We have only been in 14 months

muggin5

I changed the fuel filter and it is still chucking out the same amount of grey smoke and smells really bad in the kitchen where the boiler is. Not really sure what to do now.

I am not sure I fancy calling the engineer back who 'had never seen this before'
He is due to come and take a flue reading so he can issue the paperwork etc...

I did notice that the pipe coming from the oil tank was pretty cold when it was running. Is this normal?
I haven't really checked before.

Sobraon

Um haven't seen where you mentioned the flue pipe so this may be very O/T. If it's a conventional lined flue than I had something like this about 12 years ago - dead pigeon + 'bits' down the chimney liner! Wasn't picked up on the service.