Oil pump pressure setting: getting the burner's fuel flow right

Things worth knowing about oil pump pressure setting

• Pump pressure directly affects fuel atomisation quality
• Low pressure causes coarser spray and less complete combustion
• High pressure can push firing rate above the rated output
• The setting is matched to the specific nozzle fitted
• Confirmed afterwards with combustion and smoke testing

Oil pump pressure setting: the short technical version

Pressure that drifts below specification produces a coarser spray that burns less completely and can lead to sooting and reduced efficiency. Pressure set too high can push output beyond the appliance's rated capacity. The engineer fits a gauge to the pump, measures actual pressure against the manufacturer's figure for the fitted nozzle, and adjusts it before confirming the result with a combustion and smoke test.

Where we deal with this

• Clandown (BA3) · 1 mi
• Binegar (BA3) · 6 mi
• Easton (BA5) · 11 mi
• Nunney (BA11) · 8 mi

Questions we get asked

Does pump pressure change on its own over time?

It can drift gradually with pump wear, which is why it is checked and adjusted rather than assumed correct at every service.

Is this the same as gas pressure on a gas boiler?

It serves a similar governing role for fuel flow, though the mechanics of oil pump pressure and gas supply pressure are quite different.