thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

[dkonrai]

i know this is a ford vs chevy question, but the 89 45hp merc i just picked up is a vro. mechanic tells me to throw away the vro and run straight 50 - 1.

comments? claim is that even though the merc has a separate tank and is the most reliable, he still doesnt like them. claim is that too much at risk and the units tend to run on the lean (100 - 1 ) side.

dino

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

That old?????? I'd disable it and pre-mix.
That way. Your for sure that it's OK.
Don't risk it unless you got lots of $$$

 

[dkonrai]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

That old?????? I'd disable it and pre-mix.
That way. Your for sure that it's OK.
Don't risk it unless you got lots of $$$

thank you jerry! seems that is the way im gonna go. sell the vro. need $$ for that stupid switch/stator
dino

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

Merc's dont have/use a VRO oiling system.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

Merc's dont have/use a VRO oiling system.

Ok sir, then what do you call it? Mine has a lever on it that connects via a rigid rod (did have) to the carburetors butterfly control linkage. Per the serv. man. the lever varies (V) the ratio (R) of the oil injection (O) from a lean 80:1 at idle thru 50:1 at WOT.

For Mr. "dk" I just removed mine and it is an '02. Just something less to worry about. Faz said that he has had few problems with this sized engine, but it's just too important a device, results of a malfunction are a complete engine power head rebuild, and there are no monitors to tell you if it is or isn't pumping, nor how much. I lost a powerhead to a frozen closed stat once on an OMC at WOT and that was before they had OT monitors. $1000 and a lot of work on my part and I don't want to do it again.

Mark

 

[dkonrai]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

thank you for all the replies. i dont know if its called VRO, all i know is there is a tank of oil that connects to the fuel line feeding the motor. mechanic tells me that its not so wise to use the oil tank and just premix @ 50-1. just wanted to see what the pro's had to say. kinda a comfort level
dino

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

The term VRO is a OMC/BRP term for a diaphragm driven fuel/oil pump , Merc is oil injection and cowlings sometimes state"oil injected" Big difference as in the way mixed and delivered. CCP the 90hp manual:
The oil pump injects oil into the fuel at the fuel pump, and is driven by the crankshaft.
A link rod is connected between the throttle linkage and oil pump lever. When the throttle position is changed, the link rod rotates the oil pump valve, which changes the fuel/oil ratio from approximately 80:1 at idle speed, to 50:1 at wide-open-throttle
If you have the oil tank that is in boat and spliced into fuel line that is a AutoBlend that works similar to a VRO, disconnect it and throw it away as they burnt up a many engines.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

If you have the oil tank that is in boat and spliced into fuel line that is a AutoBlend that works similar to a VRO, disconnect it and throw it away as they burnt up a many engines.

I had that on my '88 115 tower. Didn't have any problems with it, other than the first time the oil level got low and turned on the alarm I was cruising and started hearing the beeping and had no earthly idea what it was. Scared me till I followed the noise and found out what it was.

Mark

 

[dkonrai]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

i have the remote tank that is connected between the motor and fuel cell.

mark,
good to hear at least one yes. my guess is im going to try and sell the autoblend. or throw it in the garbage anyone interested in a nice used autoblend unit

 

[ronsealdeath]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

I removed my Autoblend unit and just hooked up a premixed 50:1 tank. Its funny how a lot of people on forums are adamant that whatever Mercury says, is the law i.e. if Merc designed something to work with an engine then who are we to argue with their team of engineers. Whilst this is absolutely true, the stories of blown up engines on forums does put you off the system. The caveat of removing the Autoblend is that you will be giving the engine 50:1 at low RPM and idle so it may smoke or foul the plugs more than it would have done with the variable blending Autoblend system. So as per Merc engineers/design team, they clearly designed the motor around the Autoblend system and not for premixed fuel. That way, if you do run premix then you are technically going against manufacturers recommendations.

BUT I'd rather a fouled plug than a seized engine! hence why mine got removed.

PS my mates run a big 115hp inline 6 on Autoblend and has been on it since the 80s. Still runs fine, no issues and they don't have to faff around mixing fuel all the time. They even ran it on chainsaw oil for a while until I pointed out this was not good for the engine. It still runs sweet (for now). Guess its luck of the draw what happens, just try and improve your odds where you can!

Cheers

 

[bently]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

Keep in mind that when you switch to pre-mix you will have to increase fuel as the oil will lean out the mixture.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

I premix all my motors.

 

[JB]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

Keep in mind that when you switch to pre-mix you will have to increase fuel as the oil will lean out the mixture.

HUH??

 

[gwukena]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

Keep in mind that when you switch to pre-mix you will have to increase fuel as the oil will lean out the mixture.

At wot, won't make a diff, with oil injection operating, fuel oil mix was 50:1 anyways, used a little less oil at idle, (80:1), nothing to worry about though, may have to richen idle mixture a little, if it's even possible on that motor. I doubt it would even cause you any problems with the current setup.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

Keep in mind that when you switch to pre-mix you will have to increase fuel as the oil will lean out the mixture.

Scuse me? Autoblend has the fuel line (raw gas) run through it where it adds oil and the mix goes on to the engine. Even on Merc VRO's) I call it, the oil goes into the fuel right before the fuel pump. Regardless of the process (other than fuel injection or something else fancy) the fuel is premixed prior to being pumped into the fuel filter and onto the carbs.

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

At wot, won't make a diff, with oil injection operating, fuel oil mix was 50:1 anyways, used a little less oil at idle, (80:1), nothing to worry about though, may have to richen idle mixture a little, if it's even possible on that motor. I doubt it would even cause you any problems with the current setup.

A few days ago I took my boat out with my newly modified fuel system...premix rather than autoblend. Once I got my cold natured Merc warmed up, I couldn't tell the difference between idle smoke and WOT knowing full well that I was running 50:1 at idle not 80:1 per the pump.

And on what OEM's would and would never do, don't kid yourself. They are in business to make money and they have to live with government mandates. Besides you have the engineering staff and the marketing staff. Engineer wants to get everything perfect and the marketing dept. has quotas to meet. Happens all the time and stuff does get out the door "before it's time" (Paul Mason with respect to marketing his wine).

Mark

 

[dkonrai]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

I removed my Autoblend unit and just hooked up a premixed 50:1 tank. Its funny how a lot of people on forums are adamant that whatever Mercury says, is the law i.e. if Merc designed something to work with an engine then who are we to argue with their team of engineers. Whilst this is absolutely true, the stories of blown up engines on forums does put you off the system. The caveat of removing the Autoblend is that you will be giving the engine 50:1 at low RPM and idle so it may smoke or foul the plugs more than it would have done with the variable blending Autoblend system. So as per Merc engineers/design team, they clearly designed the motor around the Autoblend system and not for premixed fuel. That way, if you do run premix then you are technically going against manufacturers recommendations.

BUT I'd rather a fouled plug than a seized engine! hence why mine got removed.

PS my mates run a big 115hp inline 6 on Autoblend and has been on it since the 80s. Still runs fine, no issues and they don't have to faff around mixing fuel all the time. They even ran it on chainsaw oil for a while until I pointed out this was not good for the engine. It still runs sweet (for now). Guess its luck of the draw what happens, just try and improve your odds where you can!

Cheers

hahaha great line. so in deleting the autoblend, im bumming some poor engineer?? wonder if the engineers actually use thier own designs?

 

[dkonrai]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

i will be trolling alot. guess i will need to pull the lines and burn off some carbon once in a while

 

[Texasmark]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

i will be trolling alot. guess i will need to pull the lines and burn off some carbon once in a while

I used to do that. I'd troll for awhile and then spin her up, blow out all the smoke, and get back to it. Surface gap plugs are very tolerant of oil. Additionally, Faztbullet, Silvertip, or Steelspike put me onto a plug which he said was really tolerant of oil buildup like can come from trolling. It's an NGK and Bu8hw or something like that. Ping them and ask the question. I didn't install them, but they are an option. If you can't find them a mom-pop auto parts store can order them for you. NAPA is good at supplying marine parts here also as there are no dealers within 25 miles.

I noticed on a blurb the other day that Ameroil or whatever the synthetic "never change oil" has a full syn 2 cycle oil. Pennzoil at WW has a blended 2 cycle oil, which may be the same thing that Merc premium oil is. I use both Pen and Merc and have very little detectable smoke once the engine is warm.

Mark

 

[dkonrai]

Re: thoughts on vro? no? yes? 89 45hp

i use the ngk -2 plugs. motor is running fine! smokes a little at slow trolls.
thanks
dino