Home Oil Heater won't stay primed

dethpike

Hi folks! Beckett Honeywell burner... was working great up until this morning when I had more oil delivered. Wasn't empty, had like 1/8 tank. Since they added more this morning, it locked out. Reset it a few times - kept locking out. Then I bled it, and it ran for a few minutes, and locked out again. Digital Thermostat when it does it goes completely blank until I touch it. Everytime I bleed it, it runs, then stops.

I looked outside - here the guy didnt tighten the cap on the oil pipe when he was done. I tightened it.

Would that have let enough air in to do this? I'll keep bleeding it but honestly nothing was touched except that pipe when he added the oil before this started.

dethpike

Oh - unit is only like 6 years old, cleaned recently, etc. No issues until that oil delivery this morning.

Steamhead

Is there a filter on the oil line to the burner? I'd bet that got plugged. If there is no filter, it's probably the strainer at the pump, in which case you NEED a filter in the line.

dethpike

There's a filter, yeah. I'll try changing that. But that was recently done - my thinking was more air / lack of vacuum, due to the oil pipe cap not being tightened all afternoon til an hour ago. So thought I'd ask.

dethpike

This filter that supposedly was changed with my last service was full of BLACK MAYONNAISE. I'll be giving someone a call - meanwhile I changed it, I'll see if it stays on

billtwocase

You either have a tank problem, or a supplier problem.

Steamhead

dethpike said:

This filter that supposedly was changed with my last service was full of BLACK MAYONNAISE. I'll be giving someone a call - meanwhile I changed it, I'll see if it stays on

That was probably sludge from the bottom of your tank, stirred up by filling it when it was that low. Or, you got a load of dirty fuel. @billtwocase is right, you have an issue.

lchmb

fyi cap being loose will not allow air into the oil line.

dethpike

I didn't THINK so, but it was the only thing I could find since the delivery that was abnormal.

dethpike

It didn't work - when it shuts off it won't automatically restart unless I bleed it, then it runs a few minutes and locks out again. Horizon is coming out tomorrow.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Probably going to need oil additive. How old is your tank??

dethpike

Not sure about the tank itself - doesn't look bad on the outside. House is like 70 years old but the heating system is only 6 yrs old.

One other thing I noticed before I finally just shut it off - the last time it stopped, the fan kept going but some device in there where the lockout light and reset button are just kept "clicking" - almost like the thermostat upstairs was calling for heat but the furnace didn't know what to do. The thermostat - digital - upstairs was displaying nothing at the time. Completely blank, until I moved it and it lit up again, and then the unit downstairs locked out again. At that point I flipped the switch. Heating folks will be here tomorrow to look at it.

burnerman_2

Pump screen most often missed item if it is a suntec but since you may tear gasket be careful if filter was as bad as you say the pump screen will be too