I have a John wood GSW water heater, JW317RF that will not come out of "lockout mode". I have reset the water heater numerous times and it will seem like its going to run but never ignites. I have bled it and the heating oil is good and running through properly. I am wondering if my house fan messed the water heater up? I can feel a small draft coming through the exhaust damper above the boiler when my fan is on. I have tried to reset it when I turn my fan off and it still doesn't work.

Main breaker on and reset buttons on thermostats pushed in.

Try unplugging it plug it back in and see if it resets

JW=John Woods
8=8 years warranty
40=40 gallon
S= (profile) S=standard, T=tall
40=wattage, 40KW
(Don't know what the rest means)

Push and hold the button for 60 seconds. It is in customer lockout because it was pressed more then 3 times.

Rheem does not post service manuals.
However AO Smith has posted relevant service manual:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-gas-water-heater.html#intellivent

Have you cleaned the air intake located under combustion chamber, and inspected for broken glass vial?
Rheem FVIR system uses glass vial that breaks if combustion air is slowed, and resulting combustion causes slow-moving venting of hot gasses, causing overheating that breaks glass vial.
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-repair-Rheem-FVIR.html

Check gas pressure.

Replace gas control valve:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/How-to-replace-water-heater-gas-valve.pdf

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/gene_9f0ef4df2f9897e7

Depends on gas control valve, and if cause is overheating high-limit event or FVIR flammable vapor event.
Turn off water heater when using flammable vapors, clean burner parts to prevent overheating.

1) GSW Residential power vent gas water heater with FVIR system:
Some models have intelli-vent gas contol
Others have robershaw gas control with auto-reset

2) Parts manual shows #15 'auto-reset' high limit switch on the blower
http://www.gswpartsonline.com/model/27484
http://www.gswpartsonline.com/schematic/137/view

3) Possible manual:
http://www.gsw-wh.com/pdfs/GPD135NInstall.pdf
Shows resettable lockout page 15
Water temperature must be 120 degree F or lower for reset. Unplug power cord, and then plug back in and wait 15 minutes or 60 minutes depending on gas control valve.
Some intelli-vent controls must be replaced when 195 degree high limit event locks out the water heater.
If high-limit lockout repeats, then gas control must be replaced.
Also clean burner parts, air intake, and make sure flame is clear blue. and not yellow-or-orange.

4) Intelli-vent service manual might apply to your water heater:
http://waterheatertimer.org/pdf/Intellivent-service-manual.pdf

If FVIR flammable vapor event locked out heater, then unplug heater and plug back in.
Immediately press two temperature buttons. Wait for green light to blink. Release buttons.
Page 34 in troubleshoot chart.

5) Take a moment and rate answer:
And take advantage of fixya expert assistance live.
For a price, expert works with you while you work on water heater or any do-it-yourself project.
Fixya is always less expensive than a service call.

Water pressure is blowing everyting loose with new heater,give your system a good flush,it will work it self out. RichieRich

GSW Series 5 water heater is electric water heater.

http://www.gsw-wh.com/index.php?context=/products/waterproducts/gsw/electric/standard
The link above goes to the GSW page, but the manual does not match the product shown in photo

GSW has a phone number in the manual:
1-888-479-8324

I cannot see the manual, but I might be able to help.
Every electric water heater has a red reset button located on the thermostat.
Normally on a two-element thermostat, the ECO or reset button is located behind the upper panel.
Your water heater seems to have a box located where upper panel is located.
Without the manual, I do not know what functions are performed by this box.
If there is a thermostat setting on the face of the box, then maybe there is also a red reset button.

That being said, you want to drain your water heater.
The GSW water heater has a drain valve.
If the valve is plastic, rotate the knob counterclockwise.
If the valve is brass, use a screwdriver to rotate stem counterclockwise

The photo shows the screwdriver slot for brass drain valve

If your water heater will not drain, it is probably clogged with sediment at the tank bottom.
http://waterheatertimer.org/Water-heater-will-not-drain.html
Connect a washing machine hose to drain valve.
Connect garden hose to outdoor spigot, and to washing machine hose.
Turn on outdoor spigot for 10 seconds and this will open the clog.
Repeat procedure if clog is still there.

If your water heater is clogged with sediment, you will want to clean out the water heater:
Follow the step by step on link below:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-clean-sediment-out-of-electric-water-heater.html

If I can assist you more, add a comment and I will respond

It sounds like your main valve. The diaphram may be loose fitting or it has a small leak.

The water heater is locked out. The following process should reset it.
1. Reapply power to the water heater and wait for 3 seconds for the system self-diagnostic check.
2. Within the first 30 seconds, the temperature dial must be rotated back and forth crossing the 120
degree mark at least six (6) times. This will reset the control and display a normal flash code
(slow blinking).