1982 90HP Evinrude question

[broughj]

I'm a new to the forum as well as to boating and outboard motors. I have a 1982 whaler with an evinrude motor on it. The model number on the plate attached to the motor is E90MLCNB which I believe tells me that it is a 1982 model. However, it has an external approximately 1.5 gallon plastic oil tank that connects with a hard plastic tube and two wires to the engine. It appears to have an oil pump integrated with the fuel pump. My understanding is that the 1982 motors did not have an oil feed system on them. So, I don't know exactly what I have. The only other numbers that I could find on the power head were on the carbs. They are 393770 90 MX 8 C J and 393769 90 MX 11 B J. I'm wondering if somewhere in the past the power head was replaced with a later model VRO system power head. How can I figure out what I have so when I need to buy parts I can get the correct part?

Thanks for your help in advance,

John Brough

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: 1982 90HP Evinrude question

Someone could have added oil injection. It's a nice feature, if maintained.

If it were me, I would do this:

1. Remove and clean out the oil tank. Refill with fresh oil.
2. Mark a line on the tank to help determine that it is using oil.
3. Check the wiring on the tank. There should be a tan wire. That wire is the alarm. Make sure it does something by grounding it with the key on. Same for the tan wire at the pump.
4. MIX 50:1 oil/fuel until you determine that oil is being used.

I'm sure that most of the responses you receive will tell you to disconnect it and mix fuel/oil. That's your choice.

The system is reliable, when maintained. Few ever did. Maintenance just consists of making sure the alarms work, there is no water in the bottom of the oil tank and the lines are in good shape.

I've ran those systems for years and never had one issue. You'll read the horror storiues about it failing and burning up a piston. Nobody has ever been able to tell me, including so called mechanics, how a failed oil injection system burned up one piston. Especially considering it mixes oil BEFORE the carburetors!

 

[64osby]

Re: 1982 90HP Evinrude question

I have an '85 V90 with VRO. It continues to work great. The only issue it has ever had was the oil line that feeds the motor turned brittle and crack. It leaked air, lost pressure. The alarm went off. After nursing it home the line was replaced and the motor runs great.