Should all 15 year old VRO/OMS motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

[Ppopps]

Just wondering what the overwhelming wisdom is on this issue. I have a 1996 VRO/OMS motor, 115hp looper V4, and from everything I can tell the oiler is still working fine and oil consumption is normal.

Should I be scared as hell that my nice little world is going to come crashing down sometime soon and bypass the VRO/OMS that I have no reason to doubt yet? Will my nice little red warning light that still comes on temporarily when I turn the key to show me the bulb isn't burned and the siren works ever give me enough warning to keep from blowing my motor if there's a problem or should I doubt that this will save me and just convert to premix now?

Just wondering if I'm the only guy running a 1996 these days the same way it came out of the factory....am I playing with fire?

Cheers.

 

[Ppopps]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

Edited my OP to clarify that I have OMS which I think is more reliable than early VRO....maybe that's a reason to worry less? Dunno....

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

No! The OMS pump is such a simple part. Almost nothing to go wrong.

I've got two 1995 150's - and a 140 gallon tank, and there is no way I'll premix that!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

I run the OMS system on my '98 Johnny 150HPV6. I like it.....

 

[wayne nicol]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

what about older motors i have a 1987 110 V4 what should i do there- the vro pump has been replaced once in its life- i have the invoice from the original owner.
thanks
wayne

 

[wayne nicol]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

ttt

 

[KVH]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO/OMS motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

I have a '96. The mechanics I deal with say that because I have a 200 hp, I'd better leave the VRO alone, and not switch to manual due to capacity concerns. The worst part of the VRO is that it's expensive. I just put a new one on. It works great but cost $520 dollars.

I tend to agree that if there's no burning reason to replace VRO pump, just leave it. I suppose there's another caveat. Your alarm should be working to warn you if the oil isn't being sucked properly. I wish there were another good test, but removing the oil line then forces you back to mixing again during the "test" period.

It's like a vicious cycle. My manual says that the alarm should go off right after disconnecting the oil line. Mine did not, but my mechanic said my alarm may be fine--but that I may not have run the motor long enough. Who knows?

The new pump is working and drawing oil from the oil reservoir, so I'm happy. I'll check that alarm again.

 

[emoney]

Re: Should all 15 year old VRO/OMS motors be converted to premix as a precaution?

I'm in the "leave it alone" camp, although on my last boat, I'm like you and was constantly thinking about it, to the point that every time I stopped and shut-off the engine I'd have a look at the tank to make sure it had moved, lol. Truth is, I never had a problem and the guy that bought it hasn't either....yet at least. Funny thing is, this was his 1st boat and he's enjoying the heck out of it and never worries about anything, just goes out and has a blast. Hmmmm.......maybe all this "wisdom" wasn't a good thing after all.