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Recommendations for oil held over from year to year

winnie
winnie Member Posts: 37
in Oil Heating

I have something of a hybrid heating system. I use mini-splits for heating in the shoulder seasons, and oil/steam for the coldest part of the winter. I use about 110-140 gallons of oil during the heating season.

I get my tank filled up mid summer, and have a local tech service the boiler every 2 years.

I have a 275 gallon tank. Should I be doing anything special given the significant amount of oil being held over from one year to the next?

Thanks

Comments

  • EdTheHeaterMan
    EdTheHeaterMan Member Posts: 10,501

    #2 heating oil has a shelf life.   There is some off gassing of different chemical compounds that aid in the combustion process that will find their way out of the oil over time.  Just like some of those old cars that only run for only 10 minutes a month while loading into the trailer to go to the car show,  you want to put a fuel additive in the tank to get the fuel back in shape after sitting for a year.   Some of my favorite additives are Hot 4 in 1 and SuperHeat just to name 2.   

    If you are getting a fresh delivery of fuel oil at least once a year, then you may not see any issues.  If you end up waiting 2 years between deliveries then you may experience ignition issues in that second year.  That is when you really need to add some chemicals to enhance the fuel and keep it fresh

    Edward Young Retired

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

  • winnie
    winnie Member Posts: 37

    Thanks. I get the tank topped off every summer, so at the start of the heating season I have about half fresh oil and half old oil.

  • HVACNUT
    HVACNUT Member Posts: 6,778
    https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1855953#Comment_1855953

    That's fine. Just do the additive. The higher the level of fuel in the tank, the less chance condensation can form. If the tank isn't buried, there should be a valve at the bottom of the tank. If the tank feeds off the bottom and the tank pitches towards the valve, the filter should get it. If its top fed, water (if any) can be drawn off at the bottom valve.

    SuperTechEdTheHeaterManRobert_H
  • BDR529
    BDR529 Member Posts: 333

    Is it outside cooking in the sun? With bio it will grow fungus like a petri dish.

  • winnie
    winnie Member Posts: 37

    The tank is inside, in my basement. The boiler feeds off the bottom and the tank is pitched toward the feed port. So I expect the water will collect in the filter.

    The tank isn't exposed to sun, and I don't specifically order bio fuel though I don't know if it is being blended in.

    I appreciate the feedback. I will just add the additive when I get my next fuel delivery.

    -Jonathan

    EdTheHeaterManRobert_H

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