After having 4 plumbers now and changing the pump and virtually checking every valve, nozzle and everything that does something, the boiler is still locking out! About 8o man hours has been spent on fathoming this problem to no avail. Is there anyone out there that may miraculously have an answer? By the way the oil tank is below ground and yes theres plenty of oil in.

June, August 2009

Have your Trained Monkeys made absolutely sure that the the Foot Valve is clear, not blocked and not letting by, The Maximum lift for a Tiger-loop is 3.5mtrs, this should be measured from the bottom of the tank. All joints must be oil & Air Tight, it is important to understand that leaking fittings on the suction line will not drip oil, so will be invisible to the eye, instead air is drawn in, reducing or even nullifying the vacuum altogether, it is not uncommon to have to pull the oil up to the Tiger-Loop using a hand vac pump, Underground tanks can be a nightmare (you don't live at Beck Row in suffolk by any chance? as I have had lots of problem jobs on an estate there!)

www.elanar.co.uk, August 2009

Hello June
I presume that your engineers have checked your new pump for vacuum as well as output pressure, and the pump is set up for a flow and return oil supply?
I think in your case it would be a good idea to remove the burner unit, and have it run on a bench...this is what I do if there are bizarre problems. I rig up a gravity feed of kerosene plus a 240v supply and if the burner lights up I know that there is no real problem with it. It also indicates flue or boiler blockage if the burner fails once reinstalled. Underground tanks do employ a tiger loop and they often don't self bleed - there is a hand pump that we use from time to time for this purpose - but there again, I would have thought that any OFTEC guy would know that. I really need a few more details about your system and burner before I can think further.

John, August 2009