VRO or Not

[little.boat]

I am buying a Evanrude with the VRO. I planed on unhooking it and premixing fuel. I have read on here as many comments of others saying not to unhook it and just as many to unhook it. I guess I just want to know why? I see the benefit of unhooking it no blown power head. I would like to know why so many are also dead set against it. All I have seen is people say not to unhook it but never why. Also will it change fuel consumption by having a VRO v/s mixed gas? I will be trolling frequently. About 2 months of the fishing season. Would VRO or mixed be more ideal for this situation and why? Thanks in advance!

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: VRO or Not

I've NEVER unhooked one. Five oil injected John/Rude engines. But, I also maintained them.

I still, as of yet, have been able to have a mechanic explain to me how the oil injection system can wipe out one or two cylinders when the oil is mixed BEFORE it gets to the carbs.

The usual issues with oil injection are:

1. Dirty or water contaminated oil, in the tank. Water doesn't lubricate cylinders well.
2. No working alarms.

Service the tank. Make sure hoses are good and connections are tight. Replace the oil and mix 50:1 until you see the oil level dropping.

It's a good system that has been grossly maligned by hack mechanics.

 

[WernerF]

Re: VRO or Not

Also will it change fuel consumption by having a VRO v/s mixed gas?

No difference in fuel consumption.

I will be trolling frequently.

The VRO can give you some benefits then: less oil consumption, less carbon, longer spark plug life, less smoke/smell/pollution (lake/river).

If you have an older VRO without alarm or the oil tank is exposed to rain or spray water, I'd say it's better to premix. Else you can take the advantages above.

 

[boobie]

Re: VRO or Not

IMHO, I'd disconnect it and use premix fuel. I've seen to many problems with the oil side of it mainly do to lack of good maintaince.

 

[pn]

Re: VRO or Not

id say the difference is economic. a vro is hundreds of dollars to rebuild and a standard rebuild is 10.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: VRO or Not

What year motor? The VRO (now named OMS) system from the mid-90s to present is real good. Older ones do not have the same alarms, so can fail and you would not know.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: VRO or Not

VRO (Variable Ratio Oiling) is a misnomer. Only the early versions actually "adjusted" the oil input.

The later versions were set at 50:1.

You forget to add oil ONCE and you're cooked.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: VRO or Not

Gees, I'm with boobie on this one....pre-mix....having your gas AND oil pre-mixed is an extra step BUT having major problems with that engine is another. Your call....

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: VRO or Not

Gees, I'm with boobie on this one....pre-mix....having your gas AND oil pre-mixed is an extra step BUT having major problems with that engine is another. Your call....

NEVER had a problem. See my first post.

Mixing leads to over and under oiling. IMHO.

 

[anzomcik]

Re: VRO or Not

You are going to have people on both sides saying their way is the best. I hav had two 2 johnsons with VRO pumps, both I have removed.

Let me explain why I removed them, I do some trolling and go on HP restricted lakes so I have a kicker 10hp. I hav had this kicker for a very long time its a 2 cycle that requires premixing. I do not want to carry a separate tank of fuel just for that motor, I yanked the VRO on the main motor(s) and run the whole system premix. It works perfect for my set up.

I am sure some VRO pumps have caused motors to blow, anyone who says they all (meaning every one ever built) work or have worked perfect is full of it. But the same can be said about all of them break and blow the motors, that isn't true either. Its a machine, and every machine can and will break.

So suggestion is look at your set up, (you never said the size of the motor, or how much use it will be used ex: 14 hours a day for 2 months solid) if this motor is a larger motor possibly getting a kicker would be a good solution, just like myself if its 2 stroke then premix the whole tank, but if the kicker is 4 stroke keep the VRO (making sure it works first).

Do not do something based on what you read on internet posts, do what makes sence to your set up and intended use. If YOU feel that you will feel better mixing gas to know you got oil take it off, if your ok with letting the machine do what its designed to do then do it.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: VRO or Not

Here is why we disabled ours after an engine rebuild.

Our VRO pump failed in the middle of the lake. From the time the alarm went off until the time the engine seized was about two minutes. All three cylinders were scored and had to be bored to .30 over after.

Running premix I wouldn't have had to worry about the VRO going in the middle of the lake.

Do I trust the VRO sure that same engine ran like a clock for 18 years without trouble. Regardless of what anyone says there is no preventatvie maintenance you can do to a VRO pump to make sure it stays realiably working.

I disabled it because I never want to worry about the VRO going at the worst possible time again. Running premix I don't have to worry about that. Additionally I use an easy measuring thing that I bought it cost me $2.50 and I get a 50:1 mix everytime.

For heavy trolling I like to mix my oil closer to 40:1 though

 

[dingbat]

Re: VRO or Not

Regardless of what anyone says there is no preventatvie maintenance you can do to a VRO pump to make sure it stays realiably working.

Humm...changing it more than once every 18 years would have gone a long way?

I get 5-6 season out of one. Keep a spare on board just in case.

 

[lexer440]

Re: VRO or Not

My engine is an Evinrude 140 with vro, my kicker is a four stroke. I like the VRO because I can share the fuel tank and not have a separate one. I check oil flow before I go out always and I would not disable it. Engines can and will fail at times, that's just a fact and it doesn't matter what the vehicle its in. It should also be noted that the pump will pump whatever is in the tank and if that's air then it will pump that, doesn't mean the vro failed? just means it had no oil.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: VRO or Not

Humm...changing it more than once every 18 years would have gone a long way?

I get 5-6 season out of one. Keep a spare on board just in case.

I've not had a regular fuel pump fail from just normal useage over the lifetime of an engine.

I would much rather premix oil on land, than to have to change a VRO pump in the middle of a lake. Last time I checked a spare VRO pump was about $235.00, and if it sits and doesn't get used than the pump can dry out as well so by the time you need it the spare may not be anygood.

When they fail it is always at the most inopportune time.

A VRO pump just doesn't financially make sense to me. I guess it does for some, and I am not disagreeing with those that do this is just my personal preferance. I prefer the peace of mind of knowing no matter what my engine is getting oil at all times. I change water pumps at minimum every two years, but a water pump impeller is only $18.00, I like the fact that for the most part older outboards are very minimal maintenance, and realiable.

Gear Lube and fuel filter every season, Water Pump and Plugs every two seasons. I appreciate the fact that simple is more reliable, on used motors I rebuild the carbs as soon as I buy them, and have run a few for 15 years and have never had to do it again.

 

[little.boat]

Re: VRO or Not

The motor is a 1989 evinrude 200XP. So I don't think it has the alarms on it or not. I have always ran 2 stroke engines and I am used to premixing gas so that is no biggie for me. I'm more than likely going to unhook the VRO for all the reasons stated above. It makes more sense to me just not worth the risk of blowing a motor. I just though that maybe the people that always say you should leave them had come up with some valid reasons why the VRO should be left on, other than mine has never failed. I thought that if there were actual benefits to having the VRO system then I might be persuaded. Probably just go with my gut and premix so that way I don't end up having to rebuild which would take much more time than just pouring in a little oil when I fill up.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: VRO or Not

Gee, I just carry a gal of 2 cycle oil in my boat. If the alarm goes off (never did yet), just pour the oil into the fuel tank and give the boat a good rocking. You guys overthink this stuff. If the VRO pump is good, carry the oil and use the VRO System. If it fails, premix.....JMHO

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: VRO or Not

This makes me want to go disable the A/C compressor in my car. Because the compressor WILL lock up (someday) and throw the belt-leaving me stranded.

Yes, normal fuel pumps DO fail. Otherwise, why would there be new ones and rebuild kits available.

BTW, going to 40:1 for trolling is going the WRONG way. If anything, you want to go lighter: 60:1, etc.

 

[rtek816]

Re: VRO or Not

Little boat, I vote for keeping the VRO. You say its an '89? It has an audible alarm. Lets you know when the oil in the resevoir is at 1/4 as well as overheat alarm and no oil alarm. When you first turn the key to on you should hear a chirp. You can test the alarm by turning the key on and grounding one of the overheat thermo sensors (tan wire, one on each head at the top).

Sig Saur, when you say your motor fried in two minutes after the alarm went off, why even have an alarm? Sounds to me like the system worked. Operator didn't listen.

BTw i have an '86 140hp with the vro still functioning as intended.

Bob

 

[bonz_d]

Re: VRO or Not

I currently have 3 Johnson outboards, one 1975 50hp, one 1983 60hp and one 1987 50hp VRO. All run very well and have good compression. The 50hp VRO was just aquired recently as a parts motor because it has working tilt n trim which I wanted to put on my 60hp. When I purchased this engine I was told it ran but had low compression on one cylinder.

After getting it home and out of curiosity I hooked it up to a battery and did my own compression test. To my amazement I came up with 145 lbs on both cylinders. Next I checked out the rest and found the VRO disconnected and the wire to the overheat alarm cut. I then connected a fuel tank, mixed, to it and tried again. This thing popped off and started faster than either of the other 2 Johnsons I have. It ran w/o the oil tank connected for a bit then shut down like it was out of fuel, which as I understand it should if out of oil. When spring finally arrives I plan on putting this engine on the boat and testing it again and also using the VRO. It may just replace the 60hp I'm using now.

Sense aquiring this engine I've done an extensive web search of the VRO systems and found a mix of about 50/50 mix of pro and con. Many of the cons are just folks in fear of failure and not because they have experienced a failure. Many of the stories of engine failure I read were not caused by the VRO system but by carb problems and a lean condition. Which can and does happen even with engines that are not VRO. Most had failure to only one cylinder and not all cylinders, which I believe would happen if there was a failure with the VRO system. So I'm not trying to say pump failure doesn't happen because I'm sure it does. I am just suggesting that many of the failures that are attributed to the oil system are really caused by a carb failure.

I have also aquired an OEM manual for this engine and in it there are 9 pages that goes through servicing and testing the VRO system and alarms. So with proper service and testing I believe it's more trustworthy than many give it credit for.

I also like the idea that I won't have to premix gas and if then I only want to add a few gallons of gas for a short outing then I don't have to worry about mix ratios.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: VRO or Not

Bonz-d, I am not an expert on a 1987 50HP Johnny, but question whether the engine is supposed to quit, if it runs out of oil. My '98 Johnny certainly doesn't have that feature. You might doublecheck.