Oiled Coal problem

Has anyone ever had the oil on the coal condensate on the hopper door area of their stove. This has been going on for a couple months now and wondering if it might be caused by the hopper door gasket. The gasket is soaked with it and the bottom of the door is covered, I am going to change the gasket today but would like any input anyone has.

George, I don't have any residue on the door or hopper walls, but I have a feeling that John got a little carried away w/ the oiling this year. Can't hurt anything w/ a new gasket up there. I put a new one on the hopper door in the fall. Might be why I don't have any residue. You're not showing any rust are ya?

Are you sure the oil itself is collecting on the hopper door? I think it is more likely that water vapor is condensating there, possibily from a leaking gasket or improper draft.

every morning wnen i service my stove for the day i have a dead spot in the left front corner . the coal is complety burned up in a 5 square inch patch. what causes this?? the rest of the coal bed is great.lets have your ideas/suggestions to remedy this thanks.. oh yea this stocton coal burns great long and HOT.

Bob, does our Hitzer have a cast iron air inlet in that part of the firebox? Here is a picture of the firebox of a Hitzer 82 Furnace model, the cast iron piece I am talking about is at the bottom left at the back of the firebox.

fastcat wrote:Has anyone ever had the oil on the coal condensate on the hopper door area of their stove. This has been going on for a couple months now and wondering if it might be caused by the hopper door gasket. The gasket is soaked with it and the bottom of the door is covered, I am going to change the gasket today but would like any input anyone has.

Yes I have it happen. Was getting smells in the house and the gasket was new on the hopper.


What I think is happening (above 300*F), the oil starts to turn to a gas to fast, it can not ecsape the hopper cause the coal is semi packed in, so it Pushes out the load door. I know the gasket is good, and no fire goes up on the hopper. only happens after a reload when running the stove hotter.

A buddy had the same thing happening, so he pulled his hopper out and drilled holes all the way around the top of the hopper problem gone.

I spoke to DS about this and they said it is possible, if I wanted to drill holes in my hopper and try it I could. They were not sure at what point the fire would follow the air. My buddy has no problem, so I'm thikng the only way the fire will follow up the hopper is if it recieve air from outside the firebox.

I got a couple of bags of coal non oiled, and cranked the stove and the problem doesn't happen.

If someone could get a pic of the hopper area and hopper load door that would be awesome.


Eric

Pacowy wrote:

Coalfire wrote: What I think is happening (above 300*F), the oil starts to turn to a gas to fast, it can not ecsape the hopper cause the coal is semi packed in, so it Pushes out the load door.

I don't have any direct experience with oiled coal that I can compare to what you've described, but it's my understanding that most oils don't evaporate in an orderly way, but have smoke and flash points that would produce different symptoms if the problem really stemmed from heating of the oil.

Mike

No experience, but you are telling me I am wrong?

It is the only thing that makes sense. When I stopped using oiled coal the problem went away. What ever is coming off of the oiled coal can not ecscape fast enough with the liitle space there is around the hopper and it pushes out in a smoke. I can see and smell.


Eric

You're not showing any rust are ya?Fred no rust at all just this oil and last night you could smell it because I decided to turn up the stove to 450.

Rob R, for sure it is not water.

buffalo bob On: Tue Mar 06, 2012 10:02 am

every morning wnen i service my stove for the day i have a dead spot in the left front corner . the coal is complety burned up in a 5 square inch patch. what causes Bob your fix is going to be easy, Measure the grate shaker end that sticks out the side of your stove (the square) get a washer with that size hole and file the inside hole square to just fit over the grate knob and push it up against the stove. This will take care of your problem.

Coalfire, thanks I have been getting a buildup under the door gasket for a couple of months now and have been wiping it trying to dri it up with no success and last night the temp went to single didgits so the stove went up to 450 and I started to smell something. Though that a new gasket might help. I will put the drilling holes in the top of the hopper thing in my memory bank, so let us know what happens when you drill yours.
Thanks Eric

fastcat wrote:Coalfire, thanks I have been getting a buildup under the door gasket for a couple of months now and have been wiping it trying to dri it up with no success and last night the temp went to single didgits so the stove went up to 450 and I started to smell something. Though that a new gasket might help. I will put the drilling holes in the top of the hopper thing in my memory bank, so let us know what happens when you drill yours.
Thanks Eric

What you smelled didn't smell like coal gas did it? Cause I know when I saw the smoke it had a differant smell like burning oil.


Eric

Just for the record---

Coalfire wrote:

fastcat wrote:Coalfire, thanks I have been getting a buildup under the door gasket for a couple of months now and have been wiping it trying to dri it up with no success and last night the temp went to single didgits so the stove went up to 450 and I started to smell something. Though that a new gasket might help. I will put the drilling holes in the top of the hopper thing in my memory bank, so let us know what happens when you drill yours.
Thanks Eric

What you smelled didn't smell like coal gas did it? Cause I know when I saw the smoke it had a differant smell like burning oil.


Eric

Eric no, no gas smell but just like you that burning oil smell

This is what I am dealing with and it is making a mess of the top of the stove around the hopper door.