1996 Evinrude 130HP VRO related issues, help please

[aok47]

I posted a couple weeks ago about a NO OIL alarm i was getting at low RPM.
I've done some troubleshooting since then and found that regardless of tacho warning light my audible alarm is the same so the NO OIL alarm i am getting is real.

I disconnected fuel line and ran from a premix jerry can, I disconnected my oil line and filled a 1/4" clear tube with oil to see if oil is getting sucked into VRO like i read on the forums.

https://youtu.be/rYpecSl23ys

I started at engine idle and waited, waited, waited... oil level in tube didnt move at all and i never felt any "pulsing" when i held the tube.
I then went to 1500-2000RPM and saw very little consumption, in the video at 38seconds you can see one "pulse" and a slight drop but nothing like what i have read in the forums here...

Is it worth backing the boat in the water and repeating the oil consumption test at higher RPM or is what i have done enough to conclude i have an issue at low RPM (which is the RPM range i get the alarm when on the water, never when i'm cruising at >3500RPM)?

Does having the engine in neutral or in gear make any difference for this test?

I'm thinking i've either got a faulty VRO, or a vaccum leak.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Appreciate your help guys

AK

 

[racerone]

The VRO pump pulses.------And drops oil in the hose in gulps.------I would take the pump apart and see what is going on with the oil piston / bore and o-ring.-----Might be a simple fix.

 

[aok47]

Before i start disassembly of the pump are there any other checks i should do?
Vacuum check, or dont bother?

 

[racerone]

When you hear the pump " click " you should see a drop in oil level in your oil tube.----About 3" for 6 to 8 cycles of the pump.------There is a filter in the oil tank , you might look at the condition of it and the oil in the bottom of the tank.---Perhaps check / clean pulse limiter ( flow fuse ) for the VRO.

 

[aok47]

Racerone - i've checked the oil tank and filter was clean, bottom tank excellent and free of contaminants.
No noticeable "click" or feel of "pulse" in the line as i held it between my fingers.... you can probably see in the video that the oil level hardly drops, maybe once "slightly" for the duration of the clip.
I'll check the pulse limiter.

 

[racerone]

If fuel pump does not cycle there is a problem.-----Check valves in the air motor side .-----Possibly crankcase compression.----Just for interest post your cylinder compression values.

 

[aok47]

sorry its taken a while to respond, was waiting for weather to go out and testing equipment to arrive.

Checked pulse limiter fitting in crankcase, all clean.

Applied 15psi to air motor inlet hose and VRO maintained the 15psi with no drop after 10mins.

Cylinder compressions are #1 @120psi, #2 @117.5psi, #3 @ 115psi, #4 122.5psi

Next course of action is to check vacuum at fuel pump inlet, then outlet. I cant run it at WOT though so this may be a waste of time, thoughts?

If none of that shows any anomalies i may have to just bite the bullet and pull apart the VRO to check the inside.

Any other suggestions or have i missed any steps?
Appreciate the help from these boards, i'd be lost without your knowledge shares!

Cheers
AK

 

[aok47]

Ok, so I ran pressure check between vro and carburetor.
At idle (1,000RPM according to the tacho) the pressure was fluctuating between 1.5 - 2psi.
At 2,000RPM pressure was fluctuating from 1 - 2psi, needle was vibrating and hard to see...

Slight twist to all of this, i noticed a significant drop in the the oil level in the clear tube i used to test oil consumption (which showed there was none at 2,500RPM, you can see in previous video). To verify i ran engine at 2,000RPM and can clearly see the oil drop multiple times, look at video.

https://youtu.be/8hzJIr27GAw

But still no drop in oil level at idle...

aaaargh! i've gone from no noticable consumption, to pump working at 2,000RPM but not at idle... this change happened after the tests i performed in previous post.

Got me stumped

AK

 

[aok47]

Any thoughts on why i'm seeing oil consumption at 2,000RPM but not when engine is idling?
thanks in advance
AK

 

[jakedaawg]

I think you need a nee VRO

 

[James R]

I am sorry but I have no faith whatsoever in the VRO system. I have seen so many engines fail because of the VRO that I wont waste time and money on them. Cut the oil hose and plug the end of the hose engine end and go to 50:1 mix.and use the VRO fuel pump only. There are in field repair kits for the fuel side but none for the oil side to my knowledge. You will need to disconnect the electrical plug coming from the VRO oil side.

 

[aok47]

GOOD NEWS!!!!

I pulled apart the VRO pump and found the air motor diaphragm was damaged.

So happens i have the exact same model outboard in the shed for cannibalizing parts so i pulled the VRO off and bench tests showed it was behaving. Pulled it apart and found the air motor diaphragm was undamaged but dry, so rubbed a bit of lubrcaiton oil and replaced the damaged air motor diaphragm.

Reinstalled VRO and ran engine on pre mix and PRESTO!!!! We have oil consumption at idle:

https://youtu.be/ysgB3vqwQA0

I'll order a rebuild kit and change all the diaphragms for peace of mind.

Hope this helps anyone else who may have had a NO OIL alarm at low RPM but not at HIGH RPM.

Cheers
AK