Erm.. are oil furnaces supposed to sound like two ships' hulls scraping

[GreenPartyVoter]

past each other?

I suppose I have to turn it off and hope that the pipes don't freeze overnight. :scared:

[Mopar151]

1. Is the noise coming from the burner?

Or the blower (for hot air) or the circulation pump?

A hot air blower can often be doctored up for a few days by oiling the motor bearings and/or the fan bearings - even a little WD-40 will help!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Or sometimes a critter can get caught in the fan

and cause it to screech and stop.

With luck, it's just the fan - obstructed or (like Mopar said) needs oil.

I don't know about WD-40. Some Kroil or other penetrating oil can free frozen bearings, then follow up with any lubricating oil you have around. Even a few drops from the engine's dipstick can work. And the dipstick can be used to apply oil to a hard-to-reach bearing.

Good luck!

:hi:

[elocs]

2. My fuel oil furnace experience ended on 9/11 when my full tank tipped over.

Good luck with the pipes. I've been through the frozen pipes boogaloo after sub zero weather. Not fun.

[old mark]

4. You might want to check the blower motor - they have bearings that should be oiled every year or so,

and that sometimes fail - and sound just like that...
They might need replacement.

mark

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. UPDATE: Thanks for the info. I am praying it's just the blower fan.