Greenstar Utility 32/50

[Millsy 82]

I got called out today to this boiler which kept going to lockout apparently the last tenant ran out of oil the landlord had it topped up new tenants have been in for a week and the boiler wasnt working. I thought great pull some oil through fire it up and test pressures smoke fga etc.

So pulled oil through went to fire it up explosive ignition ran for 3-5 secs started to vibrate like mad so I knew it wasnt right pressure was fine and not bouncing up and down so no air and filters were clear. Next I thought it was choked up checked combustion chamber not really dirty not enough to cause that anyway.

Asked have you got the manual (Of course they didnt that would make life far too easy) and it was to late to call tech so I looked at the air setting it was set at 16 I thought to myself most worcesters are around 3-4 I will try reducing it a bit so dropped it down to 10 and tried again explosive ignition gone but it ran then went to lock out sparking constantly so I checked photocell ran constantly so photocell fine its just not set up right.

Dropped air to around 4 ran fine checked smoking quite a bit so up to 6 when it stopped smoking so checked CO2 which was at 15% they are usually around 12% so I thought I would set it up around that the closest I could get was 12.9% otherwise it would not run it still drops out every now and then about 15mins.

So at the moment it is set up
CO2% is at 12.9 Should be 12.0
CO 8ppm
Ratio 0.0001
Smoke 0

The only thing I didnt check was the nozzle as I know I didnt have anything anywhere near it 1.10 45 S. So I am thinking the nozzle is completely the wrong size but by that time everything was red hot and it was 7 o clock. So going back with correct nozzle and servicing it whilst I am there.

So after all that my question is only short.

How has this boiler been working since November last year when it was last serviced. My only thought is somebody has been tinkering. Or different oil.

 

[Dotty]

Check they're running kerosene, pump pressure would be 8bar. I'd actually be looking for 11-11.5% CO2.

If it was running 35sec the boiler would've been full of soot.

 

[dontknowitall]

Thank you, Croppie, for that. I don't know what it is about boilers and me but when I read questions like that I have no idea. Then I read an answer like your's and think, "I should have known all that".

Then I go to a boiler that's broken down.

And panic.

But an hour or two later, suddenly I've found the problem and fixed it.

I suppose that's the important part, but it still amazes me that I just can't see through the problem when people post a question here.

Just reading the above I must have been on the ribena again.

 

[Dotty]

No one knows everything (except Gasman!) but everyone knows someone who knows something. I'll pm you my number DK. I get stuck too!

 

[Millsy 82]

Check they're running kerosene, pump pressure would be 8bar. I'd actually be looking for 11-11.5% CO2.

If it was running 35sec the boiler would've been full of soot.

Pump pressure was 120 PSI which is around 8 Bar. Asked the tenant if he had delivery ticket but as landlord got the oil there was no ticket around. Is there anything else I can do to make sure it is kerosene I have always gone by my checks. I have only ever worked on small boilers I always thought 35sec was more commercial.

I only thought 12% as most of the worcesters I have worked on have been around that but out of curiosity why would you be looking for 11-11.5%.

I passed my oil about a year ago but dont work on them enough so still really trying to find my feet the boilers themselves are easier than gas but when it comes to the burners never really worked on them before hand and like the acs they dont really teach fault finding skills I suppose thats why it took me 2hrs.

 

[Dotty]

35sec is mainly used on commercial but you will come across it on your travels sooner or later. You'd be looking 12bar there. I go for 11-11.5% because that's what the majority of the manufacturers specify. It gives you a cleaner burn, a less bumpy start and is more fuel efficient.

 

[SimonG]

I wouldn't set anything at 12%. Unless you want to be going back to clean it out at some point. I'm always a happy bunny at 11 - 11.5%.

I think that one is HE. If so it won't run on 35sec, it's in the worcester manual for all the he's. Come across that a couple of years ago on a farm. New install, red in the tank and no settings in the book for red so phoned worcester 'Oh no you can't run the new ones on 35sec'.

 

[Dotty]

I wouldn't set anything at 12%. Unless you want to be going back to clean it out at some point. I'm always a happy bunny at 11 - 11.5%.

I think that one is HE. If so it won't run on 35sec, it's in the worcester manual for all the he's. Come across that a couple of years ago on a farm. New install, red in the tank and no settings in the book for red so phoned worcester 'Oh no you can't run the new ones on 35sec'.

I've spent a happy couple of hours too cleaning thick oily crap out of an HE warmflow after a farmer ran 35 sec through it.

 

[Best]

12% co2, if a manufacturer specifies around that, might be okay if the boiler has a good drawing tallish flue pipe, but some flue pipes are prone to downdrafts or poor draw at times & low level flues have no suction so risky as everyone said to fine set burners.
35sec (diesel) is red in colour if you look at some you have run into a jar. If it wasn't, - we would all be using it for our vehicles! :grin:

 

[Roger Welton]

I also hate the smell (and taste!) of 35sec have to clear any off the van pronto.