oily, diesel smelling fumes

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Luv2BWarm

Luv2BWarm

Member
Jan 10, 2012
32
New Hampshire
I just got home for the evening and relit my stove (Lopi Republic 1750) which is in my basement. I left the door ajar slightly to get the kindling started from the embers and then threw in a couple of smaller sized pieces to get the temp up. Once the temp started to climb (and the door was still ajar) I noticed a very oily, diesel-like smell in my living room (directly above the stove, two vents in the floor). I went down to check the temp (which was 1/2 way into the "burn" zone on the thermometer) and close the door. Smelled similar down in the basement. I got nervous, called my husband, who said it could be hydraulic liquid on the wood (our supplier said her processor broke down at one point and was late bringing one load of wood because of it). He noticed a blue tint on some pieces this weekend but at first thought it might be a mold starting.
Kept checking the output on the chimney (hard to tell because of the wind) and feeling the walls next to the chimney - nothing is hot. I have a window cracked in the living room.
Does my husband's line of thinking ring true to anyone? I'm just nervous! But I hate to put out the heat!
 
yup makes sense.....hydraulic fluid could do that, or spilled gas/oil mix or bar oil from a saw. the bluish tint would the give away. by the time you smelled it, most likely, any of the oil was burned/ing off so no need to put out the stove. I would take a look at the other wood you have on hand to see if it's clean or fouled.
 
Thanks for the insight. First thing we're doing before bringing in the wood for the week this weekend - checking!
 
Luv2BWarm said:
I just got home for the evening and relit my stove (Lopi Republic 1750) which is in my basement. I left the door ajar slightly to get the kindling started from the embers and then threw in a couple of smaller sized pieces to get the temp up. Once the temp started to climb (and the door was still ajar) I noticed a very oily, diesel-like smell in my living room (directly above the stove, two vents in the floor). I went down to check the temp (which was 1/2 way into the "burn" zone on the thermometer) and close the door. Smelled similar down in the basement. I got nervous, called my husband, who said it could be hydraulic liquid on the wood (our supplier said her processor broke down at one point and was late bringing one load of wood because of it). He noticed a blue tint on some pieces this weekend but at first thought it might be a mold starting.
Kept checking the output on the chimney (hard to tell because of the wind) and feeling the walls next to the chimney - nothing is hot. I have a window cracked in the living room.
Does my husband's line of thinking ring true to anyone? I'm just nervous! But I hate to put out the heat!
Click to expand...
Keep a watchful eye over it but more than likely it is an external problem and should disipate in a day. Don't forget to "close" the door. I, too, leave it open to help the fire accumulate, but I watch it, and then close the door. We have all done the same thing at one time or another, Many won't admit it but we are all in the same boat. Just be safe!
 
Just the same, if you have an oil furnace, you may want to check the tank, fuel line, filter, and burner for leaks. Leaking fuel oil lines and tanks are not that uncommon, and can completely ruin your well.
 
Do you have a single flue chimney and are running the furnace the same time as the stove?
 
Or, if you have a double flue chimney, you could be pulling draft from the other flue.
 
remkel said:
Or, if you have a double flue chimney, you could be pulling draft from the other flue.
Click to expand...
How do you like the F 600? That will be my next stove.
 
Joful said:
Just the same, if you have an oil furnace, you may want to check the tank, fuel line, filter, and burner for leaks. Leaking fuel oil lines and tanks are not that uncommon, and can completely ruin your well.
Click to expand...
We have a propane furnace - no oil to worry about there.
 
Luv2BWarm said:
Chimney is for the woodstove only. But thanks.
Click to expand...
No oil here either. Natural gas back up, but it came with my home. 4 cords Oct to May. This year maybe more because of broken baffle but have all the parts and fixing when a mild day comes. Otherwise, wood, wood and wood.
 
topoftheriver said:
No oil here either. Natural gas back up, but it came with my home. 4 cords Oct to May. This year maybe more because of broken baffle but have all the parts and fixing when a mild day comes. Otherwise, wood, wood and wood.
Click to expand...
makes me cringe when I hear the furnace click on. sometimes necessary (like last week when it was below zero for days), but usually not!
 
I don't know about the odors, but...

Luv2BWarm said:
I went down to check the temp (which was 1/2 way into the "burn" zone on the thermometer) and close the door
Click to expand...
topoftheriver said:
Don't forget to "close" the door. I, too, leave it open to help the fire accumulate, but I watch it, and then close the door. We have all done the same thing at one time or another, Many won't admit it but we are all in the same boat. Just be safe!
Click to expand...
I don't leave the stove if I have the door open (which I almost never do.) If you space out, you may destroy your stove, your house or worse. I would think that with the stove in the basement you must have a tall chimney and would be getting great draft, obviating the need to leave the door open. Maybe you don't have a 6" stainless liner to the top, only a masonry chimney, and your draft isn't that good?

I'm usually within sight of the stove but on startup I still use the timer on my phone to make sure I cut the air when needed, in case I get distracted. _g
 
Woody Stover said:
I don't know about the odors, but...


I don't leave the stove if I have the door open (which I almost never do.) If you space out, you may destroy your stove, your house or worse. I would think that with the stove in the basement you must have a tall chimney and would be getting great draft, obviating the need to leave the door open. Maybe you don't have a 6" stainless liner to the top, only a masonry chimney, and your draft isn't that good?

I'm usually within sight of the stove but on startup I still use the timer on my phone to make sure I cut the air when needed, in case I get distracted. _g
Click to expand...

Draft is good most of the time. Only a masonry chimney in a 1200 sqft ranch, so not extremely tall. The only time we have the door open is when we are trying to get the heat up after leaving for 9 hours. My husband sits staring at it until it starts - never leaves it. I'm always doing 5 things at once, but keep the lights on down stairs so I don't forget. But point well taken!
 
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