New York Low Pressure Boiler Certificate of Fitness (COF) Practice Test

What component is responsible for separating dirt from fuel oil?

1. Oil burner

2. Oil filter

3. Vacuum gauge

4. Oil strainer

The correct answer is: Oil strainer

The component responsible for separating dirt from fuel oil is the oil strainer. An oil strainer is specifically designed to filter out larger particles and contaminants from the oil before it reaches the burner. Its primary function is to ensure that the fuel entering the combustion process is clean, which helps to maintain the efficiency of the heating system and prevents damage to the oil burner. While the oil burner itself does play a role in the combustion process, it does not serve as a filtration mechanism. The oil filter, on the other hand, typically functions to remove smaller particles and impurities but is more focused on finer filtration compared to the strainer. A vacuum gauge is used to measure vacuum pressure and is important for evaluating the system's performance and operational conditions, but it does not separate dirt from fuel oil. Thus, the oil strainer is the correct choice for the purpose of separating dirt from fuel oil effectively.