1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

[Epitome]

I have asked a few questions here already and everyone has been very helpful. I bought a boat and motor with relatively little use given their age. When I take the cover off the motor everything is so clean and new looking that it looks to only be a few years old (it's from 1988). I have been told that this motor wasn't built to handle fuel with ethanol in it and that if I wanted to use 87 octane I should think about rebuilding the 2 carbs with modern kits and then everything would be fine. Then he said that if I run any octane over 87 it won't have the ethanol in it. Is that true? The motor seems to run great, I hate to mess with it if it's running fine. Thanks

 

[iwombat]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

Bad advice, in my opinion.

All gas (around me anyway) has ethanol these days regardless of the octane rating. The internals of the carb aren't going to be harmed by the ethanol at all. What might need changing out is the fuel lines. Although, there was certainly widespread ethanol use in '88 and it most likely already has ethanol resistant fuel lines.

Stick with the 87 octane, and if your fuel lines feel hard and not flexible replace with some newer lines.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

Thank you for the fast reply I already plan on changing out the line from the tank to the motor, including the bulb. Should I check the fuel hoses on the motor itself too? I haven't even checked the air filter on this thing yet lol, I hope it's easy to clean/change. The only things that aren't mint looking are some peeling paint and the skeg is chewed up and a little bent. The prop looks brand new/rebuilt. Lower unit oil was changed and pressure checked fine. Should I worry about the chewed up skeg? My friend says no.

 

[iwombat]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

When you go to check the air filter, don't be surprised if you find it missing.




(there isn't one)



And yes, check the lines inside the motor. You'll most likely find them healthy and normal. How badly chewed up is the skeg? It's job is to protect the prop, if it can't do that it needs to be addressed.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

It just looks a little chewed up in the very front and it is slightly twisted, but the twist isn't that bad. Here is the only pic I have handy. You can see where the bottom half of the skep has lost some paint. Boat and motor have never seen saltwater.

 

[lyncraft_mechanic]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

gasoline with ethanol is know as gasohol, which is a mixture of 90% gasoline and no more than 10% ethanol or ethyl alcohol which is considered to be suitable for use in johnson / evinrude outboards, but do not use methyl alcohol or methanol, these types of alcohol will destroy your fuel system.
the major problem with any type of alcohol in fuel is that over time it gradually collects moisture and if left sitting in your gas tank for a while the alcohol along with the water it has collected will seperate from the gasoline and settle to the bottom of your tank. this mixture of water and alcohol could then be picked up and sent to one of the carburetors of a multiclyinder engine and since this mixture contains no oil it could wash down one of the cylinders causing internal damage.
johnson recommends rejetting your carburetor to larger jets to provide a richer mix to prevent such damage from accuring.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

Can rejetting the carbs be done right on the motor? Does anyone else agree that even when properly maintained I should rejet? Thanks

 

[iwombat]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

I'm assuming you've got a water separator in-line with your built-in tank. If not, put one in. And, I've never heard of any recommendations to rejet for ethanol. Maybe some of the certified techs can chime in on that one.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

This is the first "larger" sized boat I have owned (first with a steering wheel lol, I have been limited to 25hp tiller before this). How can I tell if there is a water separator? I am generally handy enough to figure this out with proper instruction. Thanks

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

I actually have the original owner's manual for the motor, it was still in great condition in the glove compartment of the boat. What is the best spark plug and gap for this motor? Or is the advice in the manual still best?

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

I actually have the original owner's manual for the motor, it was still in great condition in the glove compartment of the boat. What is the best spark plug and gap for this motor? Or is the advice in the manual still best?

Stick with the plugs and gap mentioned in the manual. I believe they're Champion QL77JC4 with a .030" gap.

 

[iwombat]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

Water separator is going to look like a big spin-on oil filter someplace between the motor and the gas tank.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

If I need to buy a water separator, which I suspect I do, any recommendations as to which one does the best job? How often does that filter get changed? Does it just get mounted and put in line with the regular fuel line between the tank and the motor with the bulb?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

this is what you need. http://www.iboats.com/Johnson_Fuel_...4059216--**********.119424185--view_id.271385

i just recently sold a boat with the same motor, excellant motor. the skeg is fine, just look for any deteriorating fuel hoses. install the separator between the tank and the bulb( fill canister with fuel before installing, will make repriming easier). you should be good to go.

you have a private message.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

Skeg looks great to me.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

As you can see from the picture, the boat has a motorwell. I can get into the center compartment, just behind the motorwell only by first disconnecting and removing the livewell, then unscrewing the center wooden panel. I am ok with that and the area behind this goes all the way down to the bottom of the boat, not just to the floor. My question now is, since this area looks to be the only place I can mount a water separator, how often does it get serviced/filter changed, or whatever you do to maintain one? Thanks

 

[iwombat]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

I change my separator out every season. I'm not sure what the recommended service hours on them are, honestly. I'm sure I'm nowhere near that after a season's use. Needless to say, it's not something you do a lot.

 

[Epitome]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

http://www.iboats.com/Sierra_18_785...4709911--**********.355325144--view_id.187573

This is what I ordered today....I got the right one, right?

I also ordered this new fuel line assembly...seems correct, right?

http://www.iboats.com/Sierra_18_805...4709911--**********.355325144--view_id.187540

Hopefully everything is right and I can install the water separator somewhere along this new line, most likely under the motorwell.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

looks good.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: 1988 V4 110hp Evinrude VRO Motor Question

I boat in saltwater so I got the sierra stainless head. I put mine in the motor well where it's easy to get to, and I can drain it if I see water in the bowl on the bottom of the filter.

I change it every a year (or two).