1988 Johnson 70hp - VRO or not to VRO?

cyclops222

Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
2,904
Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,583
View attachment 411611

If anybody has any doubt left as to why Premixing is the better way to go...
This might help: A lot of these VRO using engines blew up because people forgot to refill their oil oil tank, or the connections had an air hole sucking air instead of oil.
There are simply too many things that can go wrong.
The vacuum fuel pump has been around since the 1950s, is cheap , easily repaired or replaced and works good.
So "Keep It simple and mix your own".
 
Last edited:

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,674
Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !
Going on year 28 with my second "VRO" pump.
Put 1,000 to 1,200 gallons fuel and oil a year thru the system w/o incidence.

I would rather/easier keep the 3 gallon oil tank full than premix 150 gallons of fuel every time I fill up.
 
Joined
Jul 8, 2024
Messages
26
Now I want you to do a P M inspection every year of all those parts. In areas with freezing weather. Atta boy !

Going on year 28 with my second "VRO" pump.
Put 1,000 to 1,200 gallons fuel and oil a year thru the system w/o incidence.

I would rather/easier keep the 3 gallon oil tank full than premix 150 gallons of fuel every time I fill up.
150 gallons is huge I'm only talking about a 12 gallon tank but 28 years has me scratching my head again. Being a 1988 motor I was thinking I would get an overwhelming get rid of it based on the age of the motor alone. I know the pump was replaced once already but I don't know when.
 
Joined
Jul 8, 2024
Messages
26
If anybody has any doubt left as to why Premixing is the better way to go...
This might help: A lot of these VRO using engines blew up because people forgot to refill their oil oil tank, or the connections had an air hole sucking air instead of oil.
There are simply too many things that can go wrong.
The vacuum fuel pump has been around since the 1950s, is cheap , easily repaired or replaced and works good.
So "Keep It simple and mix your own".
I felt like I was leaning this way initially and was the reason I asked on this forum. Looks like the VRO debate has no clear answer and its really just a personal choice type thing.
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
38,982
The 1988 models are excellent motors and will last many years with proper care / operation / maintenance.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,674
150 gallons is huge I'm only talking about a 12 gallon tank but 28 years has me scratching my head again. Being a 1988 motor I was thinking I would get an overwhelming get rid of it based on the age of the motor alone. I know the pump was replaced once already but I don't know when.
 

cyclops222

Commander
Joined
Mar 21, 2024
Messages
2,904
I varied the oil added to the fuel tank 1 time. Was unsure if I had done it at my boat dock. That tank had another load of oil into the gas tank at the gas dock. No harm. No smoky exhaust.
 
Top