Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

[cdnfthree2]

1991 Fast Strike 150 Here's my situation. I replaced my oil pickup, purged the air out, tan wire to tan wire- black to black, and tested low oil warning(Yay!!! fixed the symptom). Here's where I need some experienced advice. Instructions state to pre mix until usage is verified. I have nearly 35 gallons of gas left in my tank right now. That sounds like a lot of white smoke when it should be working correctly. Any Advice?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

SHOULD is the key word. you need to verify the tank and pump are working. you can use a portable tank to do this. but you need to know that the motor is getting the proper oil. it could be a very expensive mistake not to do it. i would go thru two tanks of premixed fuel.

 

[CBINMN]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

Maybe you could borrow a 6 gallon portable tank to test it. I knowI wouldn't want to pre-mix the whole 35 gallons either.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

A lot of white smoke is a way better thing than a lot of rods through the side of your motor.
I know what my choice would be.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

Well, I guess I'll go pick up a portable tank and hook it up to my existing line. I thought it was weird that Johnson didn't us the quick connects like mariner did at the cowling. This fuel line is hose clamped at the cowling instead. Then again, the Mariner uses portable tanks like smaller engines so guess that makes sense.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

From my recent experience the smoking from double oil is not all that bad. My OEM shop and owner's manuals say to mix at 75:1 or 100:1 (can't remember) for this test period. I just mixed 50:1 anyway, but you might check into that. I also marked my oil tank by the quart when I first filled it so now it's easy to tell at a glance if it's working. If you watch it, you'll be able to tell after 5-10 gallons.

One thing you could do is go ahead and put oil in the 35 gallons at whatever ratio you feel comfortable with. After you run 10 gallons or so and are comfortable that the VRO/OMS is working properly, you can then top off your tank and the mixture will be very dilute, hardly worth noticing.

While you're at it with the pre-mix, you might as well test your no oil alarm.

Good luck.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

I just now bought an extra tank and all the extra stuff that goes with it. I am going to use a full pint of oil and 6 gallons of gas in it. I am also going to top off my VRO oil reservoir. When the tank empties I will see if my Oil Reservoir will hold about another pint. If it does, I think I'll be in the clear to switch back over to oil injection.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

I just now bought an extra tank and all the extra stuff that goes with it. I am going to use a full quart of oil and 6 gallons of gas in it. I am also going to top off my VRO oil reservoir. When the tank empties I will see if my Oil Reservoir will hold about another quart. If it does, I think I'll be in the clear to switch back over to oil injection.

Why put a quart of oil in 6 gallons of gas? That's twice the amoung of oil you need for 6 gallons. A 50:1 premix would be a pint in 6 gal.

Also, assuming your VRO/OMS system averagea about a 50:1 mix, the oil tank should be down a pint when that 6 gallons is done, not a quart.

Just be aware that depending on the actual pump you have, and the speed you run, it could be considerably less than a pint. I think my VRO2 pump tends to average closer to 60:1 depending on how much WOT vs. slow speed I do.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

Measuring my oil consumption before I replaced the VRO with a premix pump it wasgiving around 60 to 1 on average as well. All depends on how you use it.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

Why put a quart of oil in 6 gallons of gas? That's twice the amoung of oil you need for 6 gallons. A 50:1 premix would be a pint in 6 gal.

Also, assuming your VRO/OMS system averagea about a 50:1 mix, the oil tank should be down a pint when that 6 gallons is done, not a quart.

Just be aware that depending on the actual pump you have, and the speed you run, it could be considerably less than a pint. I think my VRO2 pump tends to average closer to 60:1 depending on how much WOT vs. slow speed I do.

I bought a pint, logged on and called it a quart, realized my mistake and edited it a few minutes later hoping no one had seen it yet. I was most likely editing when you were posting. Thanks for looking out though. I do appreciate it. As far as the ratio, I am both hoping and expecting my oil pick up to work so the engine should be recieving more oil than needed anyway. But, based on what you are saying, maybe I should only use a 60:1 premix as I expect my pump to work. Thanks again

 

[cdnfthree2]

Results- 1st with new VRO pickup

Results- 1st with new VRO pickup

Well here's what happened. The white smoke wasn't all that bad. The oil ijection worked also so you'd think I'd be happy. But just as we started back in at WOT, the NO OIL alarm sounded briefly (fast alarm for about 2 seconds then it ceased.) Ain't that something. I'm glad I had the premix running. I guess I'll run the premix a few more times just to be safe.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

I would premix for a while longer and keep an ear to that no oil alarm.
Did it just do it the once for a couple of seconds ????

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

Yep! Just a few seconds late in the day at WOT. beep, beep, beep, beep, done. Definatley gonna run a few more tanks.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

I wonder if there was still some air in the line when you primed the oil line... Oh well, best thing is just to watch it for a while and run premix. Hope everything works ou.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

I appreciate it. It won't be a big deal either way. I can always disable the oil injection if it does it again.

 

[cdnfthree2]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

Ok, I've now run 11 gallons of pre mix at 50:1. After checking VRO consumption I calculated usage to be 58:1 . Thats about what others say they use also, so good! I'm ready to do away with the portable tank. So here is my final question on the matter. Would it do any good at all to add oil to the gas at 200:1 in addition to what should be supplied by the VRO pickup as a little insurance against catastrophe?

 

[kjdunne]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

It can't hurt. Probably not necessary. I like the VRO/OMS system, and it sounds like yours is working the way it should. Happy Boating.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Pre mix run 1st with new VRO pickup

I dont think 200 to 1 will do much if the pump fails you and that is the only oil it is getting. Probably take an extra 15 seconds before self destruct. Let the VRO do it's job if it is working correctly or if you have serious doubts change entirely to premix.