Fuel burning heater

My fuel burning heater is smoking massively any ideas on what the problem could be and how to fix it

It probably needs a service. It's a miniature oil fired boiler, so like all boilers, it needs a service occasionally.

Never serviced mine in 6 years, no smoke.

How long are you letting it run for? they like at least 1/2 an hour minimum otherwise the burner can foul up.
Glow plug gauze/acreen is another favurite for fouling.
Either way parts are dear, but cleaning is easy.

lynall said:

Never serviced mine in 6 years, no smoke.

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I've done mine once. It was horribly coked up, and smoked really badly.

lynall said:

How long are you letting it run for? they like at least 1/2 an hour minimum otherwise the burner can foul up.

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Unfortunately the Freelander TD4 seems to short cycle the FBH, so it never gets really hot enough to burn off the muck.

Nodge68 said:

I've done mine once. It was horribly coked up, and smoked really badly.

Unfortunately the Freelander TD4 seems to short cycle the FBH, so it never gets really hot enough to burn off the muck.

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I kept expecting mine to die during the winter as my commute is only 5 miles/15 minutes max, but I do have a timer on it, so all winter it runs for 30 minutes before leaving work which must help.

lynall said:

I kept expecting mine to die during the winter as my commute is only 5 miles/15 minutes max, but I do have a timer on it, so all winter it runs for 30 minutes before leaving work which must help.

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As long as it runs for a decent time at full temperature, then it remains clean inside.

Unfortunately the FL1 FBH never runs long, so gets clogged up.

I've a FBH heating a couple of small rads to keep my workshop warm in winter, which never needs cleaning, probably because it runs for a decent time, and on heating oil, which is lighter and cleaner burning than diesel.

Were the FBHs or PTCs a standard item on Freelander 1s or were they optional equipment?

paul99 said:

Were the FBHs or PTCs a standard item on Freelander 1s or were they optional equipment?

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It varies by year and option. The FBH came as part of the winter options package, normally along with the heated front screen.
The PTC was fitted, when the FBH wasn't.

Well, I don't have a heated screen, so almost certainly not a PTC heater. And I know that there is no FBH on mine.

paul99 said:

Well, I don't have a heated screen, so almost certainly not a PTC heater. And I know that there is no FBH on mine.

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So it seems you car is one of those unfortunate ones that doesn't have any form or auxiliary heating.

Poverty spec, lol. I was just checking so I could be ready to disable the PTC heater if necessary.

paul99 said:

Poverty spec, lol. I was just checking so I could be ready to disable the PTC heater if necessary.

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Why would you want to disable it?

I'm pretty sure my FL2 has a PTC, as the heat works straight from cold, but haven't seen anything relevant in the documentation I've studied so far.

I had seen a discussion about them causing electrical fires when faulty, so being prepared for the possibility seems to be prudent to me.