Advice on how the flame on an oil fed fireplace is supposed to look

[brianjoan]

Hello, This is my first post. I bought a second hand fireplace fed by oil with no instructions. Periodically the screen on the burner turns brilliant red and a nice blue flame but most of the time I get this big orange flame that looks like a candle flame. What is the expected and what advice can you give me.
Thanks.
Brian

 

[Fsappo]

Zero experience with oil stoves, but from what I know of oil, burning blue is better than orange.

 

[begreen]

It's been decades since I have burned one of these, but the red glowing mantle and blue flame is goal. Yellow flame = smokey burn. One of these turkeys nearly asphyxiated me. Please be careful and don't run overnight until you are 100% sure it is running perfectly. If the neat exchanger is rusting out, junk it. Install a CO + smoke detector before using.

 

[brianjoan]

Can you explain a smokey burn? How can one make a smokey burn a clean burn?

Thanks for your reply.
Brian