1988 Johnson 70hp - VRO or not to VRO?

[dingbat]

continuousWave: Whaler: Reference: VRO Fuel-Oil Mixing

OMC VRO fuel-oil mixing in outboard motors

continuouswave.com

 

[cyclops222]

Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !

 

[rolmops]

View attachment 411611

continuousWave: Whaler: Reference: VRO Fuel-Oil Mixing

OMC VRO fuel-oil mixing in outboard motors

continuouswave.com

If anybody has any doubt left as to why Premixing is the better way to go...
This might help: A lot of these VRO using engines blew up because people forgot to refill their oil oil tank, or the connections had an air hole sucking air instead of oil.
There are simply too many things that can go wrong.
The vacuum fuel pump has been around since the 1950s, is cheap , easily repaired or replaced and works good.
So "Keep It simple and mix your own".

 

[racerone]

They are NOT vacuum pumps.----They operate with PRESSURE from the crankcase.

 

[flyingscott]

vro2 has 4 wires

 

[dingbat]

Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !

Going on year 28 with my second "VRO" pump.
Put 1,000 to 1,200 gallons fuel and oil a year thru the system w/o incidence.

I would rather/easier keep the 3 gallon oil tank full than premix 150 gallons of fuel every time I fill up.

 

[Jimmy Starcraft]

Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !

Going on year 28 with my second "VRO" pump.
Put 1,000 to 1,200 gallons fuel and oil a year thru the system w/o incidence.

I would rather/easier keep the 3 gallon oil tank full than premix 150 gallons of fuel every time I fill up.

150 gallons is huge I'm only talking about a 12 gallon tank but 28 years has me scratching my head again. Being a 1988 motor I was thinking I would get an overwhelming get rid of it based on the age of the motor alone. I know the pump was replaced once already but I don't know when.

 

[Jimmy Starcraft]

If anybody has any doubt left as to why Premixing is the better way to go...
This might help: A lot of these VRO using engines blew up because people forgot to refill their oil oil tank, or the connections had an air hole sucking air instead of oil.
There are simply too many things that can go wrong.
The vacuum fuel pump has been around since the 1950s, is cheap , easily repaired or replaced and works good.
So "Keep It simple and mix your own".

I felt like I was leaning this way initially and was the reason I asked on this forum. Looks like the VRO debate has no clear answer and its really just a personal choice type thing.

 

[Jimmy Starcraft]

vro2 has 4 wires

This one has 3 wires so I guess that answers that, thx

 

[racerone]

The 1988 models are excellent motors and will last many years with proper care / operation / maintenance.

 

[dingbat]

150 gallons is huge I'm only talking about a 12 gallon tank but 28 years has me scratching my head again. Being a 1988 motor I was thinking I would get an overwhelming get rid of it based on the age of the motor alone. I know the pump was replaced once already but I don't know when.

 

[cyclops222]

I varied the oil added to the fuel tank 1 time. Was unsure if I had done it at my boat dock. That tank had another load of oil into the gas tank at the gas dock. No harm. No smoky exhaust.

 

[airshot]

The 1988 models are excellent motors and will last many years with proper care / operation / maintenance.

The ones I owned were earlier models with the old VRO system, I am sure the newer models have improved that system

 

[ct1762@gmail.com]

the VRO/OMS pumps are extremely easy to test. you dont even need to remove it from the motor! Just need to remove the fuel out hose, and pulse hose. its a simple series of pressure/vacuum tests as clearly charted out in the service manual. that way there is no guessing "hmm maybe ill replace it because its old" kinda stuff

 

[flyingscott]

Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !

I run mine in November with ice on the water, why should I check my VRO?

 

[racerone]

Oil may be thicker in cold , cold weather.----There may be a " gel " at the bottom of the tank.----This would limit oil flow through the filter in the bottom of the oil tank.

 

[redneck joe]

Where does the gel come from

 

[racerone]

Oil that has been stored in the tank for a long time.-----Possible a wee bit of water mixed in with it due to condensation.----Oil tank should be cleaned / flushed on occasion.

 

[tphoyt]

Unrelated really but I saw a new broadcast once late 70’s maybe in Alaska where it was so cold they opened a can of oil tipped it upside down and nothing came out.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Unrelated really but I saw a new broadcast once late 70’s maybe in Alaska where it was so cold they opened a can of oil tipped it upside down and nothing came out.

Yeah, an old employee of mine went north and became an operator for Chevron up there, equipment and trucks could never be shut off outside.