Worcester heatslave oil-fired black smoke

[crispibits]

Hi,
Worcester heatslave 15/19 oil-fired combi boiler. This morning the flue started giving out a little bit of black smoke. It wasn't much, but quite smelly. The boiler is still working, but I was wondering about cleaning out the burner. I've got the instructions for it, which says that the atomiser should be replaced when the burner is cleaned. Is this necessary, or should I be ok to just clean the filter (which it said you could also do)? Having said all this, how do I actually clean the filter? The boiler instructions don't go quite this far!

Thanks for any help you can give me,
Crispin

 

[outinthestix]

The filters on oil nozzles are very fine and difficult to clean so i would always recommend a new nozzle.Make sure it is to the same spec. and size of the one recommended in the literature.

 

[wilhelm]

clean out the boiler heat ex
clean fan
replace nozz
check pump press.....it may be forked
combustion check.
robertos ya uncle.

 

[crispibits]

Thanks for the replies, but noooo, please don't say the pump may be forked(!) . How would this create smokiness? I've just replaced the mototrised valve (both motor and actual valve) - would this play any part?

 

[wilhelm]

fuel pump .
if its oscillating. high/ low press youre getting incomplete combustion
=smoke

 

[crispibits]

Ah, that makes sense... I was thinking of the water pump.
Any easy way of checking the oil pump without special equipment, or is it time for the heating engineer?

 

[wilhelm]

special equipment.

 

[crispibits]

oh, er, bother. Thanks for the advice. I prsume oil pumps are not repairable...?

 

[cozzmic]

When was it serviced last. Should be serviced once a year if running on kero or every 6 months in diesel. You cannot repair the pumps, very fine tolerances. It is probably needing only a service and set up and you do need the proper equipment to do it. Or you could buy the stuff yourself to do it but it will set you back several hundreds of pounds. Cheaper with an engineer, OFTEC registerd.

 

[crispibits]

Thanks for all your help - trying to get hold of one now (engineer that is!), any recommendations round devizes, wiltshire, or can I not ask things like that?

 

[cozzmic]

Contact OFTEC they'll have a data base of engineers in your area.
They have a website. www.oftec.co.uk/