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Boiler oil burner dripping oil

Usgw
Usgw Member Posts: 3
in Oil Heating
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A small drip of oil (it's red) is coming from the oil burner of my boiler. It looks like it's coming from the black plug on the underside, where I indicated with the arrow. What would cause this? Our annual servicing is in 3 months. Is this more urgent than that?
I know nothing about boilers, so want to learn something about the issue before talking to a tech. Thanks!

Comments

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,003

    If it is red it is probably fuel oil as some it is dyed red. I wouldn't call it an emergency, but it should be looked at.

    Usgw
  • pecmsg
    pecmsg Member Posts: 5,597

    I don’t see any stains on the floor.

  • Usgw
    Usgw Member Posts: 3

    Thank you Ed!

    Pecmsg, It's just out of frame on the bottom of the 1st photo. The white thing at bottom of the photo is an absorbent mat, sitting in a pan, on the floor. I have that catching the drip.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,509

    Dripping from the switch plug but coming from the burner housing. Could be a bad pump cut off. Could be the pump seal. Could be a giant coke ball on the head.

    Has your service provider mentioned a PSC motor, a 15 second primary with interrupted ignition, possibly an oil delay valve?

    clammySuperTech
  • Usgw
    Usgw Member Posts: 3

    I haven't called for service yet, I was hoping to get some ideas of what might be happening beforehand and if it was possible to repair/troubleshoot vs having to replacing the whole burner. Having a boiler is new to me, I'll look up the possibilities you mentioned. Thank you!

  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,003

    No one is saying you need a new burner or boiler. There is only a few things it could be.

    Leaking pump seal

    mis adjusted or dirty burner

    damaged retention head on the burner

    Why not call them and see if they can do the service early? Make sure they actually clean and adjust the burner, clean the boiler and do a combustion test.

    Usgw
  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 9,857
    edited January 21

    There is always the possibility that there was a leak when the technician worked on it in the past. If the oil found its way inside the burner motor, there is no way to wipe it dry without taking the motor housing apart. That is not done regularly. That oil will just sit there and eventually evaporate away leaving the red stain behind. That would eventually stop dripping.

    If the leak is ongoing and shows no sign of stopping, then you have a leak in the pump seal or on the high pressure line, or nozzle after drip. For the oil to build up enough to get into the motor housing is not very common. I would call for service sooner that later if the leak is ongoing. If the leak has stopped, then it can wait.

    Edward Young Retired

    After you make that expensive repair and you still have the same problem, What will you check next?

    Usgw
  • RTW
    RTW Member Posts: 176

    In my case, for a Riello F3 oil burner, the solution for the drip required replacing the pump Not the entire burner. Often, technicians dont know how to "fix" things and just replace parts these days

    All the best,

    RTW

    UsgwEdTheHeaterMan

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