Hydrovane problem venting steam

[Tiggy_dorset]

Anyone had this problem with a Hydrovane 504?

Oil level good
Tank is drained of water
Runs fine and sounds sweet. Builds up to pressure fine.

As soon as pressure builds and the valve shuts off it belches steam through the air intake. Not electrical and not oil, smells like steam. It clears within 30 seconds to a minute.

I thought it was on fire at first. Freaked me out.

 

[Johnnybravo]

How often do you use it? Does the oil resemble pink yogurt? Normally a condensation issue. Hydrovanes don’t like infrequent use. They need to run everyday to boil the condensation out .

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

Used every day. I'm in the process of taking it apart this morning. Oil looks not bad, no sparkly bits, slightly darker red than fresh oil after several weeks after changing oil. Not really any sign of condensation.

Drained the tank with hardly any water, which is unusual. Probably because the condensation is venting through the intake rather tha collecting in the tank.

Let's see what I may find this morning after I finish dis-assembling it.