Oil line sucking air?

bruce_21

My customer/neighbor's oil tank is full, but the burner fired once for a minute and a half and then shut down. The one-pipe oil line runs UP from the burner to the basement ceiling and across the basement 30-40 feet to the new oil tank and into the top of the tank, see the picture. There is just a plug in the bottom of the tank.
Can this be remedied by going to two-pipe?

leonz

Has the fuel filter been changed??

Jamie Hall

Double check all the connections for being tight. It may have a connection which leaks a bit of air -- it wouldn't take much -- under vacuum, and an over the top piping arrangement like that is going to be very susceptible to that.

EBEBRATT-Ed

It would be better after checking for leaks to power purge it.

A tiger loop is a band aid in my opinion. It does not fix the underlying problem. If it was my job it would be two pipe.

Other opinions will differ.

leonz

I agree with you Ed, I was just thinking that a 2 pipe system with a tiger loop and a combination check valve with vacuum gauge and Schraeder valve would be beneficial and simplify things.

EBEBRATT-Ed

No tiger loop.

If all the fittings are 100% oil tight, then no air can get in. If air can't get in then why do you need a Tiger loop which is a deaerator? It's a basement tank.

Make the piping tight, no air leak the burner will run weather it is 1 pipe or 2 pipe.

I was taught 2 pipes when you lift oil and that's the way I am staying.

STEVEusaPA

Looks like the wrong pipe dope. A vacuum gauge will help you with diagnosing.

Big Ed_4

I would take the supply off the Bottom , valve and filter . Single pipe over , no fittings and valve above oil level with a Tigerloop at the burner....

Intplm.

@bruce_21
Your picture seems to show compression nuts before the valve on the elbow. After the valve, it shows a flare fitting.
I have replaced many a compression nut with a flare fitting for this type of problem. Compression nuts on oil lines can, at times draw in air. (Crazy). But I have done it in the past and the air problem can go away.



Also. At that pumping/fuel unit to tank distance (30-40'from the tank?) You should have a two-pipe system fuel line set up similar to this picture.

Big Ed_4

That compression nut is holding the dip tune to set depth into the tank. We use a compression fitting with out a stop the copper slides though the fitting down into the tank ...