Grants Vortex boiler fault after a service, linked?

Docspawn · 19 Nov 2015

Hi
I have a Grants Vortex Pro 26/36 oil which was working for 3 years no problem and thought i'd better get it serviced as hadn't done so since new. As soon as Engineer left i noticed there was an unusual 'buzzing' noise that preceded the ignition of the burner. In 3 years i hadn't heard this noise but presumed since just serviced then its perhaps how it 'should' sound.
A week later the heating packed in completely !.

I wasn't at home but same Engineer came to fix and said it was the oil pump, replaced and all work fine BUT no 'buzzing' noise.

Any idea what the buzzing noise could have been?
Could it have been the oil pump?
Could this have been caused by the service or just coincidence that started the same day?

Any advise would be welcome
Thanks
D.S.

oilhead · 19 Nov 2015

Riello pumps are notorious for this. Your new pump will be marked 'BIO' which means it is fitted with seals and such that are resistant to the biofuel content that is now in domestic kerosene. This has reduced the lubrication qualities of the fuel causing wear that shows itself as buzzing to start with, and I would put this down to coincidence.
As an aside, Danfoss pumps now carry, printed on the packaging, a recommendation to use an additive in kerosene to reduce this risk.

Burnerman · 19 Nov 2015

Can you recommend a good additive, Mr. O.......Exocet maybe?
John

Docspawn · 19 Nov 2015

Thanks for reply and advice.
Regards
DS

oilhead · 20 Nov 2015

Exocet is the one I have seen locally, but ask your oil supplier what they usually supply. They are all much of a muchness.

SilentDancer · 21 Nov 2015

.There is no biofuel in UK kerosene. The problems that Danfoss are experiencing are a result of low sulphur in the oil and do not affect Riello pumps. Danfoss have now reengineered their pumps to solve the problem.

Do not add any additives they may do more harm than good.

Your pump problem will either be down to contamination in the oil, air in the oil or it has simply failed. Do you have filters and a water strainer? Was the oil line properly bled after service?

Docspawn · 21 Nov 2015

SilentDancer said:
.There is no biofuel in UK kerosene. The problems that Danfoss are experiencing are a result of low sulphur in the oil and do not affect Riello pumps. Danfoss have now reengineered their pumps to solve the problem.

Do not add any additives they may do more harm than good.

Your pump problem will either be down to contamination in the oil, air in the oil or it has simply failed. Do you have filters and a water strainer? Was the oil line properly bled after service?

Unfortunately i wasnt at the house during service nor repair so no idea if bled correctly, would air in bump cause the 'buzzing' noise and lead to bump to fail ? I'm wondering if the pump was actually broken and was just needing bled !
I do have a filter which i believe was cleaned too.
As said the buzzing started EXACTLY same day of service and failed a week later.
Cheers
D.S.

simond · 21 Nov 2015

If you hadn't had your boiler serviced for 3 years, chances are working oil pressure had dropped due to the nozzle wearing out and the oil pump seals wearing.

The service tech would have adjusted the oil pressure up to the right level (by altering an orifice on the pump) thus altering the strain on the pump, potentially making it noisier and putting it, literally, under more pressure.

Next time get it serviced annually and don't blame the poor blighter who had three times more debris to clear out and probably charged you the same money. Sometimes there's not much joy in this job.

NB: Riello oil burners had massive problems with the lowering of the sulphur content in kerosene around 7 years ago. There were Grant and Worcester boilers fitted with Riello dying due to seized oil pumps left right and centre, about 6 of our Grants seized up within a month of being fitted.

Docspawn · 23 Nov 2015

simond said:
If you hadn't had your boiler serviced for 3 years, chances are working oil pressure had dropped due to the nozzle wearing out and the oil pump seals wearing.

The service tech would have adjusted the oil pressure up to the right level (by altering an orifice on the pump) thus altering the strain on the pump, potentially making it noisier and putting it, literally, under more pressure.

Next time get it serviced annually and don't blame the poor blighter who had three times more debris to clear out and probably charged you the same money. Sometimes there's not much joy in this job.

NB: Riello oil burners had massive problems with the lowering of the sulphur content in kerosene around 7 years ago. There were Grant and Worcester boilers fitted with Riello dying due to seized oil pumps left right and centre, about 6 of our Grants seized up within a month of being fitted.

The service chap works for a large company and i'm definitely not one of your 'worse nightmares' customers, in fact thats one of the problems as i didnt want to ask about the 'buzzing' noise after he left. Maybe if i had i wouldnt be looking at a bill of £££ !!
He was quoted as saying the boiler was very clean, not a problem seen.

I was only asking the questions on this forum as i now have a large bill for something that was working fine previously, yes i might well have been on its way out but thats why i'm asking.
Cheers
D.S.

muggles · 23 Nov 2015

Allegedly if you put some 2-stroke oil in your tank it'll raise the sulphur content of the oil and solve the lubrication issues. Apparently

Burnerman · 23 Nov 2015

Not sure if I've done the right thing, but some Exocet is on it's way so I'll stick it in the tank anyway.
So.....does UK kero actually contain bio, or not?
John

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Grants Vortex boiler fault after a service, linked?

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