Kerosene Gelling Up

Mearsnh

Been fighting this all winter,

Have an MPI 422 kerosene Monitor fed with an outdoor 275gallon oil tank. Had some water issues earlier this season, believe I addressed all of that, but when addressing this I added Hercules Power Flow, an anti water additive that is just Mineral Spirits. Now, (may have always been an issue but not as apparent ) im having issues with my K1 gelling up and gradually clogging up the fuel screens inside my monitor. Have to clean the fuel pump and filter screen every couple weeks. Anyone have any ideas what may be causing this or what I can do to resolve it?

leonz

Hello Mearsh,

diesel fuel treatments are what you need, use either Heet or diesel 9-1-1 in your oil tank.

HVACNUT

So the Hercules is giving you everything it claims to prevent? Yes and no.

What "water issues" did you address and how did you address them?

If water, sludge is extensive, the fuel treatment is doing exactly what you want it to do. That is unless you expected it to just disappear into thin kero. It's all breaking down and getting pulled to the burner.

I'll guess it's 2 pipe? Constant stirring of the brew?

leonz

I neglected to mention that a RACOR 500 FG fuel filter will remove water and dirt quickly and the fuel filters will clean 10,000 gallons of fuel before they need changing. A two pipe top fed system would work well with the RACOR 500FG as it is designed to work with 2 pipe indirect injection fuel systems equally well.

Mearsnh

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1844436#Comment_1844436

Sorry, I'm an electrician no HVAC experience other than being a homeowner.

So, I'm assuming the water issues were caused by poor seals at the threads of my fill and vent pipes, (outdoor tank) I corrected that and covered it, drained off kero from the bottom of the tank until any visible signs of water were gone, (multiple attempts) and then drained and blew out the lines to the heater each time.

I kind of did expect it to emulsify or dilute into the k1 or something instead of turning into a goo inside my fuel screen.

Can you explain in a little more detail on what I have for options, is this something I just have to run and keep up on cleaning the fuel screen out until it works itself out?

Mearsnh

Additionally, I'm not 100% sure what a two pipe setup is, I don't believe I have that, it's one 3/8" brass line directly from the 275 Gal tank to the monitor

leonz

A two pipe system returns unburned fuel back to your oil tank preferably with a top fed oil delivery and return piping.

Mearsnh

Ahhh thanks a ton, I 100% don't have that, just a gravity fed brass line. I've been doing alot of googling looks like that RACO filter will be something I'll be putting in.

Grallert

The Monitor is gravity fed but they did/do offer a lift pump. The water is coming from condensation is the tank. Do you have a filter at the tank, and does it collect water? It's very unlikely the K1 is gelling is more likely you're still dealing with water in the tank and a filter at the tank will stop it from reaching the Monitor. You have to keep cleaning it until all the crap is out of the system.

Mearsnh

It does have a filter, however it is just a standard filter similar to this. The weird thing is, I've had this heater for years without issue, the only thing I changed was the tank. I'm definitely going to be installing a water separator this spring. https://www.acehardware.com/departments/heating-and-cooling/thermostats-and-heating-supplies/hvac-controls/4390589