Yellow Flame tips

[fixn2gocamp]

Hi there! Anyone else there had this issue or know anything about it? Nothing in the manual addresses it. On the "high output" burner, the front one, I have serious yellow tips....flame is not really hot at the tips. On the back two burners, flame is blue and works great. I've checked propane, good to go there. I've cleaned all the little holes with a toothpick, nothing there. checked connections, all fine. Flame is steady and consistent around the burner. Doesn't matter how high/low flame is....Baffled :confused:

Thanks for any help!

[notanlines]

Fixn, this is quoted from "Home guides."
Gas burners burn blue if the ratio of fuel to air is correct. A yellow burner flame is a symptom that the burner is not getting enough air for complete combustion of the gas. Correcting this problem involves adjusting the burner’s air shutter to admit more air, something that an experienced do-it-yourselfer can do.
Allow the stove to cool, remove the top grates and lift up the stovetop to expose the burner piping. On some stoves, the air shutter is just behind the burner gas valve. It is a sliding plate or tube that covers the burner air vent. Loosen the set screw that keeps the shutter from moving. Turn the burner on fully and slowly open the shutter until the flame turns blue. Retighten the set screw, turn off the burner, lower the stovetop and replace the top grates.

[Pull Toy]

+1

Good Luck.

[fixn2gocamp]

Thanks, Notan and Pullt... went hunting per your suggestion....found openings in the pipe, but no screws or slides to adjust...now funny thing. Cooking last night, used the back burner, by the end of the 15 min cooking, there were yellow tips on the back burner....never did that before, but this morning, no yellow on the back burner....just the front. Still odd. Thought I'd add a couple pictures and take the free education on what you see? BTW...those odd little spots of corrosion like? Been there since we got it, saw it on several units we looked at...??

[kfxgreenie]

This is just a WAG, but on a residential range we ran in circles trying to figure out orange tips on a range. It turned out to be an ultrasonic humidifier emitting particles in the air that the range was then burning off causing the orange tips. :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtE1fEr8wPg

[fixn2gocamp]

Thanks kfx....we have plenty of humidity here in east TX right now without running a humidifier. LOL In fact we need a DE-humidifier. But I did check, yellow tips are something in the mixture, not humidity. Just can't find the "adjustment".

[ken56]

Is there a customer service number in the manual to possibly call?

[gkainz]

since spiders love the smell of propane, could be some spider web blockage in the orifice or the air tube?

[sourdough]

Thanks kfx....we have plenty of humidity here in east TX right now without running a humidifier. LOL In fact we need a DE-humidifier. But I did check, yellow tips are something in the mixture, not humidity. Just can't find the "adjustment".


Looking at the pic I don't see an adjustment. The square holes at the front of the burner tube is where the air mixes I believe. On most stoves etc. I have adjusted there is usually a little screw and plate that can be moved to adjust the size of that air hole - I don't see anything there in the pic. I also could not see any screws for adjustment on the burner or tube. Just for grins you could take some thick foil paper, tightly form it around the burner tube and then slide it over the opening slightly to see if that improved the flame......

Another thought, and I've never delved into it, would be the fuel itself. Can the mixtures for LP have "variants" that could cause it to burn less efficiently for some reason??

[fixn2gocamp]

Thanks Ken, yes there is an 800 number, and I'll may try it at some point. Never dealt with Atwood, most just want to refer you to a dealer whenever dealer with things that might go boom and I'm not ready to give up my fall on the lake. Like I said, stove works great. Don't think its the fuel GK, because its only on the one burner...the "highoutput" burner in front. Tomorrow, going to give Sourdough's idea a try. The stove does work, like I said, just major yellow tips. In fact, if you turn it down, the tips go away, Yes, :facepalm: just noticed that today. So that really leads me to think air mixture. I just don't seem to have those slider pieces where you can adjust it. Thanks for all the ideas. Will let you know what S-Dough's idea does....

[Johnny's Journey]

There is something odd going on. My cook top (exact same) one morning had yellow tips for no rhyme or reason once on the middle burner as well. By that afternoon and since then it's been blue tips as it should be. But there is one thing I see on your photo that I may have missed when looking at mine. Your middle nozzle is not parallel to the burner tube. Could air density (which always changes) be an issue because the gas isn't flowing straight down the center of the burner tube here it takes in oxygen?

[JRTJH]

Another consideration is the quality of the propane in your tank. While propane isn't supposed to "get old and stale" where you buy it and the condition of their bulk tanks will make a difference. Mercaptin (the additive that makes propane stink) is an oil based substance that can accumulate in the tank. Most propane distributors purge their tanks and clean them on a regular basis. If they don't, the mercaptin can settle out and accumulate in the tank. That can be transferred to your smaller tank and can affect the performance (yellow tipped flame, etc).

I wouldn't put too much effort into troubleshooting the problem until you know that your propane tank isn't a contributing factor. The next time you fill your propane tanks, take them to a "real propane dealer" (not a campground or gas station outlet) and ask them to purge your tanks. That will eliminate any excess oil in the tank and may resolve your problem without "rebuilding the stove".....

[Johnny's Journey]

"real propane dealer"Propane is from a real RV dealer when I received my TT :D

[JRTJH]

Propane is from a real RV dealer when I received my TT :D

Yup, sort of like going to a health food store to get "expert advice" about cardiology. It might be good information or you might get a suggestion to "take more fish oil and the pain should go away."

[fixn2gocamp]

Well, its still happening...yesterday I did get some yellow tips...but haven't the day before. Odd. Air density? I believe the propane is fresh, from a high volume place where its 'refilled' often. It was only filled in August for the first time when we bought the trailer. It is Montana propane though, this is Texas...shouldn't make any difference. If the propane was the issue, I would think we'd get the yellow tips on ALL the burners, not just one. :confused: The one "experiment" (because of course that's more fun than calling the manufacturer for an answer) that seems to have worked is to turn the flame down a little. When the tips turn blue again, the flames seem hotter even though they are lower, as it should be. Again, the front "high" output burner is the culprit. Really leaning towards the air mix at this point. Checked the "level" of the stove and individual burners...all good. Checked tightness of fitting, burner to input. Will call Atwood today to see if they care to offer a suggestion or render an opinion and will report it back here. Stove works, so sure not taking it to dealer/repair/factory or any other place not on my travel agenda. :whistling:

[Johnny's Journey]

If the propane was the issue, I would think we'd get the yellow tips on ALL the burners, not just one. :confused: The one "experiment" (because of course that's more fun than calling the manufacturer for an answer) that seems to have worked is to turn the flame down a little. Very same thing that happened with me. I'm not certain what is doing this but I'm not worrying much about it yet. It happened once and during a weather condition the stove had not seen before. I won't tell what the condition is yet but when this happens to you what time of day and weather conditions is it?

[fixn2gocamp]

Weather has varied...it started several weeks ago. Since then we've had hot/cool/cold, wet and humid. Not too much dry as we're in east Texas. Humidity runs about 40% or so...yesterday, rained all day, humidity 100% all day, wet/cool....same issue, no difference. Someone asked me in a PM the brand, its a Wedgewood Vision by Atwood. Fixing to call Atwood in Elkhart and see if I get any ideas.

[Eastham]

My cougar 2016 does the same thing front burner only seems to be worse if the exhaust fan is on not sure if that is the problem. Will follow to see what comes up on here.thanks

[Dave W]

Looking at the photos of the assembly, the air shutters are controlled by the insertion depth of the of the burner tube - and all three are different on your stove. Loosening various screws or nuts, burner or gas supply, and adjusting that air shutter opening will modify the amount of air. Your hot water heater flame is adjusted the same way - modify the openings. These are pretty sloppy fits - even my natural gas furnace and HW heater in my home is sloppy, with the flame optimized by the openings. You adjust to a good blue flame - then maybe a tiny bit more (it shouldn't roar). And using aluminum foil tape as mentioned above - that too is a good choice for 'adjustment' if nothing will move without a big hammer.

PS: Just because I could, I checked and there is no air adjustment on ours either but it looks like things can be moved with loosening fasteners and maybe a bit of a 'calibrated' heavy hand

[Johnny's Journey]

Weather has varied...it started several weeks ago. Since then we've had hot/cool/cold, wet and humid. Not too much dry as we're in east Texas. Humidity runs about 40% or so...yesterday, rained all day, humidity 100% all day, wet/cool....same issue, no difference. Someone asked me in a PM the brand, its a Wedgewood Vision by Atwood. Fixing to call Atwood in Elkhart and see if I get any ideas.Thanks. Mine happened on a very cool morning mid 40's temp @ 4200 ft (wish I knew the barometric pressure). No dampness or dew, just dry crisp morning. At first I thought it was because we were all tight and that the air or O2 was thinning so I opened the door. Nothing changed. Switched bottles, nothing. By that afternoon for lunch, gone. Blue flame as normal and has been normal since. In 2 weeks I'll be back up where I was and watch. Looking forward to what Atwood has to say about it.

[Steve S]

This happens to me at different elevations and it's just soot build up. I just crank up the burner for a few minutes and then hit it a few times with a rubber mallet. The soot build up will burn off. You'll get a bunch of different colored flames and after a few minutes it'll return to normal.

[Johnny's Journey]

"Chim chiminey Chim chiminey Chim chim cher-oo!"

[notanlines]

You gotta like Steve's "hit it a few times with a rubber mallet." Amazing how many things in life work better after that.......:eek:...:D

[Sandi587]

Something else to check, not sure if you have them also, but it happened to me on mine a few months ago. Similar flame coloration, and then it wouldn’t light at all. Pulled off top, and found an issue.

Between the valve, and the burner tube there was, as in no more, a black plastic tube that the burner tube ran through. Guess it was about an inch or so long. It was originally inside the valve tube. I’m guessing a liner or centering tube. It had heated up and melted, blocking the fuel flow to burner.

Removed the melted gunk, reinstalled the burner tube and no issues since.

[fixn2gocamp]

Well, I like Steve's solution too, bigger hammer. To update, no answer, no response from Atwood at all! Not too surprised as someone did advise me that they were not end user friendly. So tried everything suggested (ok, except the rubber mallet)...guess I'll live with the yellow tips....LOL. There are no blockages, the propane is ok, there are no adjustment values, I cannot get chim-chim-cheroo out of my head now...thanks a bunch Johnny, and the supplier is non responsive. Sounds like a normal RV day to me! I'm sure if I look around I can find someone else to fix.....:hide:

[Johnny's Journey]

I cannot get chim-chim-cheroo out of my head now...thanks a bunch JohnnyHere's something that's been in my head but forgot to ask. And no, it doesn't help a thing but answer this question. Does your front middle burner produce a larger flame than the back two even though all the burners are all the same size? Mine does, and with a perfect blue flame. There must be something to what they said about reducing the size of your flame. Maybe they just don't want to say the atomization has been sacrificed due to such a short runner?

[bobbecky]

Most of the RV ranges have a 9,000 BTU burner in the front and the two back burners are rated 6,500 BTU, even though they look to be similar in size, so that may be why the flame appears to be larger on the front burner.

[Johnny's Journey]

Most of the RV ranges have a 9,000 BTU burner in the front and the two back burners are rated 6,500 BTU, even though they look to be similar in size, so that may be why the flame appears to be larger on the front burner.Nice. Seem's the more I throw out there the more things come into light. 2500 more BTU's of propane passing over the same size vent's as the rear's. Hmm? I let that sink in a while as to what's going on here about yellow tips up front.

[fixn2gocamp]

Yes, the front flame is larger, its a high output burner. I didn't know the BTU'S off the top of my head, but the manual does address it. It looks the same size, but is supposed to produce a hotter/higher flame.