Wolf Range Model R364C-LP

[winenotwhine]

I have reviewed the samurai's most common causes for this problem but still don't know why the burners, when cold, i.e., they haven't been tu on for eight hours or more, go clicl, click, click etc, but light only after the count of five or six by which time, kaboom.

The ignitors click quickly and have the right color. They're clean, the burners come right on if you use a match though.

After the initial light, if you turn the burner off and then turn it on again, no problem, it lights right up. They did the recall on the oven so it doesn't do the boom anymore---I notice when the oven is warming up that the whole kitchen smells like propane exhaust, like it's burning rich. Maybe this is a clue? Or another problem

Any thoughts?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Couple thoughts on this. If the air-fuel ratio was off, I would expect it to manifest in the flame. Is the flame mostly blue with occasional yellow streaks? Any sooting? Absent any visible signs in the flame, I'd have no reason to suspect the air-fuel ratio.

The basic rule to keep in mind when troubleshooting gas ignition is this: if you have fuel and you have spark, in the same place at the same time, you WILL have flame. Keep repeating this to yourself as you examine the stove burners. One thought that occurs to me in this regard is that the geometry of the metal burner changes as the temperature changes. So, when cold, there could be a slight off-set in the fuel conveyance plumbing in delivering the propane to the exact location of the spark-- fuel and spark need to be in the same place at the same time for ignition. If this is what's happening, it's a problem with the manufacturing tolerance or material selection in the burner itself.

Be sure to check the basics: make sure all the gas ports in the burner are clean and free of scale, grease, etc.

Do all burners behave the same way?

[winenotwhine]

Wow---signs of intelligent life----I have talked to herds of Wolf and Wolf qualified techs about this. Their reaction in general has been that this should not be happening. Thus far that has not solved the problem.

The guy from the gas company did check the pressure which was 10" WC. But no one asked about the flame---YES, it is mostly blue with occasional orange sparks and pfifft sounds. Sooting, no, not that I'm aware--where would it appear?

 

The ports are clean--the stove is only 18 months old and hasn't been used much in that period. I had numerous problems with the same model I purchased two years prior--I objected and Sub-Zero Wolf sent this one new as a replacement.

 

All burners behave the same and the problem has been there from day one.

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Ok, the fact that it happens on ALL burners and that it's happening on this, your second range means only one thing: you're dealing with a design flaw inherent in the range. Internally, Wolf knows this but dares not admit it because they probably haven't figured out an economical work-around. The only ultimate cure, short of Wolf coughing up re-manufactured burners and fuel feed tubes, would be to get your money back on the range and buy another brand.

You know, I've worked on lots of different gas ranges and they all work the same way. The only real difference between the upper-end and lower-end ranges is weight (ignoring the obvious price tag difference). Yep, the upper-end ranges are much heavier because they have more stainless steel and cast iron. And for that, you pay more than 10 time more for the same technology.

[winenotwhine]

Yes--I'm sure you're right--it's just a poor design. I bought the Wolf to get some more flame power. They advertise 15,000 BTUs on the burners--I'd like to have 20,000.

Any recommendations on solid makes without electronic controls that put out a little more heat?

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

Not sure you'll find any these days without electronic controls. But, you can minimize the cost of those controls. For the money, I think it's hard to beat a plain-jane Magic Chef gas range. They're not duel fuel and I'm not sure about the BTUh rating on the burners, although that is certainly a design spec.

[winenotwhine]

I have been studying this range (Wolf R364C-LP) to figure out why I have delayed ignition on the stove burners.

One observation I did not previously mention---when you first turn the knob, the sound of pressurized gas is faint. The clicking is definitely there---then, after a count of two or three, boom.

But then try the same burner immediately thereafter, the sound of gas is louder, like one is used to hearing and ignition is prompt and smooth.

Could it be that the gas is initialling filling the ports, empty of any gas because the range has been sitting overnight? Some of this gas reaches the spark as a mixture of propane and air too lean to burn, but then, as the concentration of gas picks up and ignites, this initial now "hovering" gas also ignites, causing the boom?

[Pegi]

My Whirlpool gas range with sealed burners does that....techs changed the regulator .  tech line said it is because the gas goes back down the line after it sits for awhile and when it is first turned on my burners will not light right away, and when they do there is a small roaring flame and then gets larger and then burns normally.  If I use it every day is does not do this, is only after it has sat for 2-3 days.  Mine has done it since it was new 7 years ago...seems it is air that comes out first, the air and gas mix, when the mixture is right they then work ok. Mine is on natural gas but assume the same would apply to propane....not even suggesting this is your problem just that mine has done this since new and WP tech line said this is normal....

[Samurai Appliance Repair Man]

I recall a recent post in the Kitchen forum about a Thermadore with the same problem. Replacing the regulator solved the problem, in that situation. If it's not an expensive part, it'd be worth a try.

[winenotwhine]

So did the replacement regulator solve the problem? If so, I'm assuming the new regulator allows more gas flow and/or pressure  into the ports?

[Pegi]

No, replacing the regulator did not solve the problem.  The gas was returning down the venturies so when you turned it on just air came out first, then a small roaring flame which gets larger till it burns normal....I have used it like this for 7 years and just got used to it.  WP said there was no repair for this for my $700.00 range.