OIL BURNER LICENSE STUDY GUIDE (
MASSACHUSETTS ) 2024-2025 UPDATE
WITH 100+ QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
exam,MASSACHUSETTS OIL BURNER'S
TEST QUESTIONS 200 QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
Combustion & Fuel
Q1. What is the approximate amount of air required to burn 1 gallon
of No. 2 fuel oil completely?
A) 500 cu. ft.
B) 1,000 cu. ft.
C) 2,000 cu. ft.
D) 3,000 cu. ft.
Answer: C. 2,000 cu. ft.
Rationale: Oil requires a large volume of oxygen to burn efficiently.
Incomplete air supply = soot and carbon monoxide.
Q2. Which tool is used to measure smoke levels in an oil burner?
A) Draft gauge
B) Smoke tester (Bacharach pump)
C) CO₂ analyzer
D) Manometer
Answer: B. Smoke tester
Rationale: Used to check smoke spot number on filter paper.
Acceptable range is 0–1.
,Q3. What color should a properly adjusted oil burner flame be?
A) Yellow and smoky
B) Blue to bright yellow, stable
C) Red and flickering
D) White-hot with sparks
Answer: B.
Rationale: A clean, efficient flame is bright and steady, not smoky or
unstable.
Q4. What causes delayed ignition in an oil burner?
A) Excess draft
B) Dirty electrodes or nozzle
C) High pump pressure
D) Too much combustion air
Answer: B.
Rationale: Poor spark or improper fuel spray delays ignition,
causing a puffback.
Safety & Regulations
Q5. The suction line inside an oil tank should be cut how far above
the bottom?
A) 2 inches
B) 4 inches
C) 6 inches
D) 10 inches
Answer: D. 10 inches
,Rationale: Keeps sludge and water at the bottom of the tank from
being drawn into the system.
Q6. Copper oil supply lines must be:
A) Exposed for inspection
B) Encased in continuous liquid-tight conduit
C) Painted black
D) Buried directly in soil
Answer: B.
Rationale: Protects the line from corrosion and leakage.
Q7. The minimum clearance between an oil tank and a source of
ignition is:
A) 3 feet
B) 5 feet
C) 7 feet
D) 10 feet
Answer: A. 3 feet
Rationale: NFPA 31 requires separation to reduce fire risk.
Q8. What device prevents oil burner operation in the event of
ignition failure?
A) Barometric damper
B) Primary control with safety lockout
C) Pressure regulator
D) Thermostat
Answer: B.
Rationale: Shuts off burner if flame is not established, preventing oil
buildup.
, Draft & Venting
Q9. Proper over-fire draft in an oil burner should be:
A) +0.05 to +0.10 in. W.C.
B) -0.01 to -0.02 in. W.C.
C) 0.5 PSI
D) Zero draft
Answer: B.
Rationale: Slight negative pressure ensures safe venting of
combustion gases.
Q10. A barometric draft regulator is used to:
A) Control fuel pressure
B) Maintain constant draft in the chimney
C) Measure flue gas CO₂
D) Increase combustion air
Answer: B.
Q11. White smoke from a chimney indicates:
A) Proper combustion
B) Excess draft
C) Unburned oil vapor (after a misfire)
D) Normal condensation
Answer: C.
Burner Components
MASSACHUSETTS ) 2024-2025 UPDATE
WITH 100+ QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
exam,MASSACHUSETTS OIL BURNER'S
TEST QUESTIONS 200 QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
Combustion & Fuel
Q1. What is the approximate amount of air required to burn 1 gallon
of No. 2 fuel oil completely?
A) 500 cu. ft.
B) 1,000 cu. ft.
C) 2,000 cu. ft.
D) 3,000 cu. ft.
Answer: C. 2,000 cu. ft.
Rationale: Oil requires a large volume of oxygen to burn efficiently.
Incomplete air supply = soot and carbon monoxide.
Q2. Which tool is used to measure smoke levels in an oil burner?
A) Draft gauge
B) Smoke tester (Bacharach pump)
C) CO₂ analyzer
D) Manometer
Answer: B. Smoke tester
Rationale: Used to check smoke spot number on filter paper.
Acceptable range is 0–1.
,Q3. What color should a properly adjusted oil burner flame be?
A) Yellow and smoky
B) Blue to bright yellow, stable
C) Red and flickering
D) White-hot with sparks
Answer: B.
Rationale: A clean, efficient flame is bright and steady, not smoky or
unstable.
Q4. What causes delayed ignition in an oil burner?
A) Excess draft
B) Dirty electrodes or nozzle
C) High pump pressure
D) Too much combustion air
Answer: B.
Rationale: Poor spark or improper fuel spray delays ignition,
causing a puffback.
Safety & Regulations
Q5. The suction line inside an oil tank should be cut how far above
the bottom?
A) 2 inches
B) 4 inches
C) 6 inches
D) 10 inches
Answer: D. 10 inches
,Rationale: Keeps sludge and water at the bottom of the tank from
being drawn into the system.
Q6. Copper oil supply lines must be:
A) Exposed for inspection
B) Encased in continuous liquid-tight conduit
C) Painted black
D) Buried directly in soil
Answer: B.
Rationale: Protects the line from corrosion and leakage.
Q7. The minimum clearance between an oil tank and a source of
ignition is:
A) 3 feet
B) 5 feet
C) 7 feet
D) 10 feet
Answer: A. 3 feet
Rationale: NFPA 31 requires separation to reduce fire risk.
Q8. What device prevents oil burner operation in the event of
ignition failure?
A) Barometric damper
B) Primary control with safety lockout
C) Pressure regulator
D) Thermostat
Answer: B.
Rationale: Shuts off burner if flame is not established, preventing oil
buildup.
, Draft & Venting
Q9. Proper over-fire draft in an oil burner should be:
A) +0.05 to +0.10 in. W.C.
B) -0.01 to -0.02 in. W.C.
C) 0.5 PSI
D) Zero draft
Answer: B.
Rationale: Slight negative pressure ensures safe venting of
combustion gases.
Q10. A barometric draft regulator is used to:
A) Control fuel pressure
B) Maintain constant draft in the chimney
C) Measure flue gas CO₂
D) Increase combustion air
Answer: B.
Q11. White smoke from a chimney indicates:
A) Proper combustion
B) Excess draft
C) Unburned oil vapor (after a misfire)
D) Normal condensation
Answer: C.
Burner Components
