99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

[Esox_Madness]

Hello to all. I?m new here an looking for some expert advice please. Ok I?ll admit, I'm new to the boat ownership business too and now have come across my first issue with my motor I do believe.

I purchased my boat just this past spring and have been putting a fair amount of time on the engine (40 hours running time so far probably). I was given some standard mfg Johnson 2-Stroke motor oil with the boat purchase and have been using that up as necessary (probably have burnt up a 2 gal of Johnson oil so far in probably 100gal of gas approximately). My boat has an oil reservoir tank outside of the motor and I typ am running WOT at about 5200-5600 rpm.

I was using up what I thought was a normal amount of oil for how much running I was doing (actually I thought it was using very little oil compared to other boat motors I know). Anyway, once I used up my Johnson oil I thought it was a good idea to ?clean? the system up by using better oil, along with running a can of Sea Foam through a full gas tank once and I have now switched to strictly use ethanol-free premium gas?.trying to get the most of the motor, ya know. I switched up to AMSoil HP Injector Oil. Bought a gal of it and poured it in the reservoir when she was just about low. Since then I?ve been out three times (motor running prob 3 hours total) and just last night my ?low oil? alarm sounds off. I check the reservoir and sure sh@t... I was almost out of oil!!? I have no idea how it could of possible burnt it up that fast? Any thoughts.

To add to all of this and even more problem some and annoying is that my motor can no longer idle it seems. It will idle for a bit and then the rpms will drop and it will eventually sputter out? I?ve noticed too that it appears to be smoking bad compared to the stock oil (and I thought going to AMS HP Infector it would do just the opposite?) It seems as if it?s just eating the oil up and it?s running too rich or something?

Can?t idle at low rpm/speed now and it used up a gal of high end oil in just a few hours of boating??? Help from anyone please?

 

[JB]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

Who in the world told you to put Amsoil Injector oil in your carbed outboard, Esox?? Bad, bad idea, which you have probably already guessed.

Go back to TC-W3 outboard oil, dino or synthetic. There is no "better" oil for your outboard. Full synthetic (Pennzoil, for example) will smoke, smell, pollute and build carbon a lot less than dino oil but cost a lot more. It will not increase performance or life of a well maintained outboard.

I used WalMart Super Tech TC-W3 in my last 3 2stroke outboards and could not have dreamed of better performance.

Get rid of the injector oil and go back to good old TC-W3 oil.

 

[hidef]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

You should also switch back to 87 octane gasoline. Running premium in your outboard will do nothing for it. It was design to run on 87 octane with or without ethanol. If you are concerned about the ethanol use Sta-bil or another fuel conditioner but it won't hurt your outboard.

 

[Esox_Madness]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

No doubt I have found out that AMS HP Injector oil is not the way to go for my setup. I was told by a couple of people and read more so online that this is what people are using with their 2-stoke outboards with great results?. So I gave it a shot and instantly seen crappy performance. I will def go back to the mfg Johnson XD30 stock oil.

I hope that nothing was damaged in the few outings using it and I makes total sense why it was so boggy now.

Thanks for your comments and responses!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

I do not think the Amsoil itself caused the dramatic increase in consumption. I think you have another issue. Run the TC-WIII oil and post back with the results (positive or negative). I think your fuel system has issues like an air leak.

 

[Esox_Madness]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

So I purchased some new mfg Johnson/Evinrude XD30 TC-W3 oil the other day and refill the 1 gal reservoir. Got on the water last night and just wanted to run her again to get the old AMSoil out and new TC-W3 back in there.... she ran like crap! It always pops right off cold (typ. without even priming her) and it seems to run just fine at mid to wide open throttle. But when it comes to idling/trolling she won't stay running and smokes like a beast. Still seems to be burning very rich. It will idle for a bit and then the rpms will drop and eventually just die if I don?t keep giving her gas/throttle.

So after getting in out and cruising around for 45 min or so i checked the oil res again and sure enough, the damn thing went through a 1/4 gal of oil I just put in! So not sure if I did some damage to her when I ran AMS HP injector through it or is something else is at fault and it is finally causing problems. I will admit, my boat motor knowledge is slim to none....but I'm thinking I have to take it in for service now.... and a bit scared what the tech may tell me.

I just find it odd that I've ran the **** out of this motor over the past couple of months.... never a problem with normal oil consumption and now she is eating more oil than gas!

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[hidef]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

The VRO unit is acting up you have two options. One is to disable the oil injection (look in the top secret files for info on how to do it) and use premix then you know the outboard is getting 50:1 the other option is to rebuild the VRO pump. I would disable the VRO and run premix personally as it is cheaper and easier than either rebuilding or buying another pump.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

hidef, I do not think it has been sufficiently narrowed down to the OMS Pump.
Esox, check your fuel line for air leaks and internal damage. Check the main gasoline strainer (if you have one) for clogs.

 

[Esox_Madness]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

So to wrap this up and to shed some daylight on my issue, I finally got my motor into a mechanic and to not much of a surprise, it was a bad VRO pump going out (as I kind of expected after doing some research). I could have dropped nearly $350 for a new pump (not including installation labor) to get it installed or I had the option of disconnecting it all together?. I opted for just disconnecting it and now have to pre-mix my gas instead. Not the biggest pain in the world but it was the most reasonable approach without dropping big bucks on my motor.

Had it completely checked out; compression test was great, had carbs cleaned (which were just oil drenched) and put new plugs in. Took here for a test run and she ran GREAT!... and very little smoke. I was told to pre-mix my gas to 40:1 instead of 50:1 as motor calls for so I will give that a try.

As many have stated, I was told those VRO pumps are notorious for going out/problematic especially on older engines. Some pumps can last for ever with no issues others can go out yearly. I just chose the cheaper route.

As for the AMSoil I put in, I think it was pure coincidental when she started to go on me. However, I was told that you can run synthetics in your older two strokes if that is what you were always running but DO NOT switch it up from the standard TC-W3 oil to a high performance synthetic? you will be asking for issues/problem.

I appreciate everyone comments and hope others can learn from this. Back in action here, just a bummer that I missed almost 2.5 weeks of good fishing.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

OK a few things from your last post.

50:1 is the correct oil ratio...not 40:1

Over oiling may be caused by an OMS (VRO) system failing, but it's normally caused by an air leak in the fuel line on the suction side.

The oil injection systems are very reliable, some very early units had some issues, but those units are more than ten years older than yours.

You can switch between oils without problems.

 

[Esox_Madness]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

One thing that I did forget to mention in my post is that the mechanic did find a hair line crack in my fuel filter. Could that have possibly been the culprit as well, sucking in air? Not sure if that is on the "suction side" of the fuel system but regardless he replaced it. I still opted for having my VRO disconnected and just pre-mix my fuel.

Oh he also mentioned to save your $ on premium gas. Run no-ethanol normal octane if you can find it locally but premium is not necessary.

Thanks again for your guys input...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

A hair line crack can certainely suck air. This will certainely cause over oiling. I am glad your happy with your choice of premix. It is quite possible the OMS pump is fine.... Fuel mix is 50::1. For a mechanic to suggest otherwise is just ignorant or stupid (not sure which he is).

 

[nwcove]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

if you do a substantial amount of running at wot, id go with 40:1......plugs are cheaper than pistons. i had the same year motor, 25 hp (i think it was a 25 lol) and the manual recommended adding oil to the fuel if the motor was being used in a " high performance application". a bit more oil wont hurt anything, and you wont notice any difference in top rpm.....idle may suffer....but slightly.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

if you do a substantial amount of running at wot, id go with 40:1......plugs are cheaper than pistons. i had the same year motor, 25 hp (i think it was a 25 lol) and the manual recommended adding oil to the fuel if the motor was being used in a " high performance application". a bit more oil wont hurt anything, and you wont notice any difference in top rpm.....idle may suffer....but slightly.

What do you have to back up your suggestion of 40:1 on this motor and what makes you think this is a "high performance application"?

If 40:1 was needed it would be recommened over the 50:1 which is standard for every motor in the entire line of products.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 99' Johnson 40hp 2-Stroke - Oil Issue???

I've ran the **** out of this motor over the past couple of months. (quote) I have now switched to strictly use ethanol-free premium gas?.trying to get the most of the motor, ya know. (quote)
the owners manual went with my motor, but it clearly stated to add oil to the fuel if it was going to be used in high performance applications......i dont know what the literal definition of high performance is , but "ran the **** out of" and "tryin to get the most out of the motor" could fit the bill! unless "tryin to get the most out of".....refers to parts that exit the block. a little bit more oil is NOT gunna hurt!