Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

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CaptainHook

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Mar 18, 2010
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I am currently working on a johnson 115hp V4 with VRO. Got it running. Has new plugs and powerpack so spark is no issue. When I fire it up it smokes unbelievbly. Like the vro pump is just constantly dumping oil.

i have had 2 stroke O/B's my whole life so I know they all smoke a bit. But this one will honestly fill an acre lot with smoke in about 5 seconds!

I am wondering if I can just disconnect the oil side of the pump and pre mix this? Or will the pump completely fail if the oil side is left dry?
 
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dc095

Seaman Apprentice
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Aug 17, 2011
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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

mine is a 1994 johnson 115 hp, it was changed to a pulse fuelpump on the side of the block. the VRO was taken off so i premix. also i'm new to outboards so wait for some one that really knows these things.
 
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hidef

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

Yes you can disconnect the oil side of the pump. Take a look in the top secret files for the instructions. You will want to premix 50:1.
 
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CaptainHook

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

I am assuming your telling me to just search the topic.....I did. I can never ever find what I am looking for with the search here. It gives me everything but!!!!
 
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ohioriverat

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

I think all you need to worry about is your alarm for the oil and i believe you just unplug it ,plug the oil lines. pretty simple i have seen several boats running on their vro. i would convert it over and remove the vro myself, i trust the older fuel pumps more than the vro pump.
 
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boobie

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

If your mtr is smoking that much you could have a fuel restriction or a bad air leak in the fuel system.
 
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CaptainHook

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

boobie said:
If your mtr is smoking that much you could have a fuel restriction or a bad air leak in the fuel system.
Click to expand...

I don't think that is the case. It is literally dumping tons of oil. So much that it is coming out of the prop hub by the loads in a nasty burnt glob.
 
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hidef

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

Listen to Boobie he knows more about these things than anyone else. An air leak on the fuel side can cause an increase in oil consumption. Check out you fuel lines.
 
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CaptainHook

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

I will look everything over before writing the pump off. This motor has sat for a couple seasons so I guess anything is possible!

But when I say this thing is dumping tons of oil I mean it!!! So much I have to basically hold it at WOT to keep it running or the plugs wil just plain foul! i will got over the fuel lines tomorrow. I would be nice to not have to rig the motor up!
 
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CaptainHook

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

Well.....I did some work this afternoon between the tremors from the earthquake!!! Anyway, I totally disconnected the oil side of the VRO and fired it up. Runs, idles like it should, and still smoke. Not alot, normal 2 stroke smoke. I know this could have been bad, but I had to try for a few seconds.

Anyway, I then decided to pull the fuel fitting from the fuel line and pump some gas into a clear container. First it was really cloudy. Emptied it and filled again. The fuel is greenish blue.

My buddy says he is pretty sure he didn't mix oil in but then why the coloring?

Will a 2 stroke still smoke if you tried to run it with no oil mixed in the fuel? (I KNOW IT WILL BLOW UP, I RAN IT FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AT IDLE)
 
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hidef

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

If the gas is blue / green it is has had oil mixed into it. With the VRO hooked up you would have been running 24:1 if he mixed the fuel tank 50:1 so she would be smoking. I never tried running a two stroke with out oil so I have no idea if it would smoke. Running your outboard with premix in the tank and the VRO hooked up wont hurt the engine any and is the proper way to test if the VRO is working correctly.
 
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CaptainHook

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

So the VRO must be over oiling still....if your saying that it could still run withthat heavy of a mix. This thing would stall if I wasn't holding the carbs wide open because of the overwhelming amount of oil.

Or.....if my buddy doesn't even remember mixing, who knows what the mix is in the tank. I think I will try some fresh gas with the VRO again.....can't hurt right?
 
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hidef

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

If you can hookup a portable tank with 6 gallons of gas in it go for it. I would drain the float bowls first though to make sure you get the heavy oil and gas mix out of them. Also have you made sure you have no air leaks in your fuel lines.
 
Chinewalker

Chinewalker

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8,902
Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

Definitely check for air leaks. It doesn't take much of an air draw for the VRO to pump more oil than gas....
 
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boobie

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Re: Johnson 115hp VRO smoking like a chimney!!!

Dumb question. Is this the first time you fired this mtr up after sitting for some time or did it just happen??
 
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