Heating Oil Filter Keeps Clogging

DIYROB

In fall of 2019 I had a new Roth tank installed to replace my old steel one. It's located in a outdoor shed attached to the house. This past fall I had a new boiler installed (Weil-Mclain) with a new becket burner since my old Peerless was leaking. I also have a Smart-Flo de-aerator with oil filter since the run from the tank to the boiler is about 25'. Ever since the new boiler was installed the filter on the de-aerator clogs up about ever 2 weeks. I can tell when it happens cause the burner makes the screeching sound when it is cavitating.
Then I check the vacuum gage on the de-aerator and sure enough, it's pegged. I've had the filter changed out three times now with the same result. It runs fine for two weeks or so then plugs up. This last time I watched as the gage slowly increased vacuum until it pegged and the cavitation started.

Any ideas on how to figure out what's causing this ?

Thanks,
Dale

Robert_25

What is the filter getting plugged with?

Did you pump fuel from your old tank to the new one?

HVACNUT

Yeah it seems like there's a whole bunch of sludge and muck from the pump over in your nice new tank. Not good.

clammy

Have your oil service person check the pick up tube on the tank I know in the past they had issues . I would suggest they blow back your oil line to the tank and reality unless they did not the Roth pick up then they piped to the bottom on the tank . You stated your tank was out side in a enclosure . Are you burn regular heating fuel possibly a issue w fuel jelling due to cold temps . When I did oil some of our customers would burn kerosene to avoid fuel jelling there are additives which will help ask you fuel provider about them 911heat is one if I remember correctly .was the fuel transferred from your old tank ? If you have a spin on filter it is hard to see what’s in the fuel ( moisture /water) a simple sample from the bleeder on the fuel pump into a clear glass bottle and let stand this will show what your burner and after it settles if there any water it will seperate in the bottle then you know if there’s any water which will clog a nozzle and clog your filter . While I like spin on filter due to them catch the smallest dirt particles and less mess in changing I dislike because you cannot look in the bottom of the housing for evidence of moisture ,fuel jelling and just crap can’t see any of that w a spin on . A simple thing to check is the fill cap is tight and the vent pipe has a vent top and neither one is letting any water into the tank . Water and oil do not mix and in some case a bacteria can grow in certain conditions again take a sample of oil from the bleeder on the pump to verify that it is not contaminated with moisture or sludge if so constant your fuel provider for assistance . Funny thing not all fuel oil is the same I had a buddy w a oil system I installed always used a cash oil place figured it was all the same after about 10 years of cash sales and crappy oil he switched to a larger oil company never had a issue or clogged filter again so not all oil is the same being I was the one changing clog filter due to poor fuel . They all come from a oil refineries but not all our refined equal ,it would seem open market buy from any where at the fuel Depo being they don’t have any site storage and maybe do a delivery truck at a time while larger oil companies have storage and a tanker and buy bulk possible one or two 10 000 gallons loads a day from one seller not any seller like most one delivery truck outfits .Just my experience from doing oil service and seeing the difference between cash oil sales from one truck companies not to knock them but some are not doing the right thing and again all oil companies do not seller the same oil they can buy any grade from top shelf brand name Hess or luk oil / Russian processed and refinesd they all fall into the general fact that it is heating oil but as stated before not all heating oils are the same . Peace and good luck clammy

DIYROB

They did pump from the old tank into the Roth tank when they installed it but my old furnace ran for close to a year without issue with the same de-aerator setup after the tank was installed. And I don't think it's cold weather related since this started as soon as the new furnace was installed and the temps hadn't got that cold. The technician said he was going to cut the filter open back at the shop to see what he could see (no update as of now). My source of oil has been the same company (reputable in the area) for this whole time.

I'll see about pulling the pickup tube to check for crud. I'd be none too happy if that's the problem.

HVACNUT

Ok, you made it seem as if the tank was just recently replaced. They're assuming the filter is clogged. Is there a vacuum gauge anywhere? 

clammy

Yeah check that pick up tube and do the bottle test w a sample ,learned that one from old timer many many years ago n it has work on a few occasions dealing w repeat issues. A vacuum gauge would be nice also . Usually when installing a new tank I would run a new oil line and replace any firematic valves , oil filter and new housing and install a new tiger loop de airator and all flexible oil lines to burner . As much as many would believe not all things last or work forever , and for myself I have learned new means new not re used it’s a little bit common sense or maybe they like recalls . I know I always hated having a recall on a service call I did when it was the other guys that was ok but on oil it’s sometimes not as easy as one may think especially when it s fuel related issues peace and good luck Clammy

EBEBRATT-Ed

@DIYROB

You need to find what the filter is plugged with and address that problem. Oil treatment for sludge? Is it a water issue?. You can also put a couple of filters in series, maybe a screen strainer first (General makes them, it would probably have to be ordered) then a finer filter.

Take some of the sludge and have it analyzed if this doesn't resolve.

Too bad, with a new tank and a new boiler you shouldn't be having these issues

Supply House.com has the larger General filters

STEVEusaPA

You're probably going to have to run the tank almost dry. Pump out the rest, clean the tank and put in additives. Fill with fresh clean oil.
I'd personally change the entire oil line too.
I'd also make the tank installer pay for it. It says in the instruction to not pump over the oil from the old tank into the new as it leads to premature tank failure and voids the warranty.

Robert O'Brien

STEVEusaPA said:

You're probably going to have to run the tank almost dry. Pump out the rest, clean the tank and put in additives. Fill with fresh clean oil.
I'd personally change the entire oil line too.
I'd also make the tank installer pay for it. It says in the instruction to not pump over the oil from the old tank into the new as it leads to premature tank failure and voids the warranty.

Good advice! Never a good idea to pump over old fuel into a new tank but I'm almost positive Roth has no specific prohibition against it unlike the steel tanks.

STEVEusaPA

@Robert O'Brien you are correct sir. Not in Roth's warranty or instructions

Robert O'Brien

STEVEusaPA said:

@Robert O'Brien you are correct sir. Not in Roth's warranty or instructions

Doesn't make it OK though as the OP found out!

Jon_blaney

Check the fuel pickup line to see it may have slipped and now is down in the bottom of the tank in all the crap. You might try raising the bottom end an inch or so and see if the problem resolves.

Steamhead

EBEBRATT-Ed said:

............. You can also put a couple of filters in series, maybe a screen strainer first (General makes them, it would probably have to be ordered) then a finer filter.

That would be the 2A-17A. But a regular 2A-700B General or Unifilter 99 would work too. Both of these have the same larger canister and could hold a fair amount of sludge.

Big Ed_4

All top feed tanks will breed sludge .....

DIYROB

Last week they replaced the filter again and raised the pick-up tube. One week later, the problem has returned again. I am going to task them with getting the oil analyzed.