When I turn on the oil burner there is a STRONG gas oder and I want to know if this is normal or harmful. I have not been feeling well and no one seems to know the answer. I have had people come to check it out and the jerks charge me and give me no real answers. Please help if you can.

Gas odor out of a fuel oil furnace? When was the last time you have your oil burner serviced? When was the last time you had your heat exchanger checked for cracks?

There are good tradesman out there, but you don't seem to have had much luck. Maybe rather than taking a chance on more bad service, you should open it up and take a look. Start at the pump and work towards the combustion chamber. Look for any telltale oil on the outside of the lines. Try to look over the heat exchanger too. If you don't see any obvious problems, then you will need to try to find a competent technician.