Low Sulphur Kerosene and the effect on Agas & Oil Boilers
Over the last few years there has been much discussion about the changes in kerosene quality (heating oil & Aga fuel) and the increase in reported field problems with boilers and Aga’s. Problems seem to be on the increase for all boilers, but the vaporising cookers such as AGAs appear to have been particularly affected.
According to some fuel quality chemists, another contributing factor to more variable fuel quality is the BS2869C2 kerosene quality standard. All fuels sold in the UK meet this standard, but there appears to be a trend of the quality being closer to the limits of this specification than it would have been in the past. This change is probably being driven by the higher manufacturing cost of the lower sulphur kerosene.
Have you noticed increased issues with your Aga or Boiler since the low sulphur fuels were introduced a few years ago? Did you find that using Premium Aga Fuel Additives (CookerMax) reduced the issues that you may have previously experienced? Do you have any other hints and tips for fellow Aga owners?
Any ideas on reinsulating the door on the top oven of the Thermic. Is Yours a modular type from the 60,s -0 70′s
Reply
bob Fowler May 8th, 2011 9:11 pmMy Aga Thermic used to require a service every couple of years in the 1990s. It now requires cleaning out every six months. Fortunately I have acquired the necessary skills myself.
Turn off the oil at the valve and wait for the flame to go out. There is a pipe (known as the carbon leg) that leads from the burner to the fuel pipe elbow. Place a piece of kitchen roll under the pipe to catch any drips of oil and disconnect the elbow on the carbon leg side, sliding out the burner as a single unit. lift off the burner shells and take out the wicks. Remove the carbon leg from the burner elbow. Now using appropriate sized drills and pieces of bent 3mm fence wire clean out all the oilways in the burner. Be sure not to drill through the elbow. Reassemble in reverse order using new wicks. You can buy the wick in bulk on ebay and make the cut-outs with a pair of scissors. Turn on the oil and allow 20 minutes before relighting on a low heat. Allow a further 20 minutes before turning up the temperature.
Reply
Chris de Courcy-Bower April 24th, 2011 11:11 am