Red Seal Oil Heat System Technician Practice Exam

What is the function of a fuel oil filter?

1. To increase the oil temperature

2. To measure the oil flow rate

3. To remove impurities and water from the fuel

4. To enhance the combustion process

The correct answer is: To remove impurities and water from the fuel

The function of a fuel oil filter is to remove impurities and water from the fuel. This is essential as contaminants in fuel oil can lead to various operational problems in oil heating systems, such as clogged fuel injectors, burner malfunction, and inefficient combustion. By effectively filtering out dirt, rust, and excess water, the filter plays a critical role in ensuring that the oil delivered to the burner is clean and suitable for efficient and safe burning. Clean fuel helps maintain the longevity of the heating system and ensures optimal performance, thereby preventing potential issues that could arise from using contaminated oil. Other options, while they represent important functions in different contexts, do not accurately describe the primary role of a fuel oil filter. Increasing oil temperature, measuring flow rate, and enhancing combustion are not the direct purposes of the filter, which exclusively focuses on the purification of the fuel before it reaches the combustion chamber.