HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

[AntsGrady]

Rough day at sea yesterday. I have a 1998 225 Evinrude. The power head was replaced going on 3 yrs ago due to a failed pump. I have a strange warning system. A beep every couple of seconds usually indicates the VRO tank is running out of oil. With that said it was full and the primer bulb was solid so I think it was working correctly but not sure. With the engine off I was able to prime that bulb and the motor definately reacted when I started it up again. We decided to drive and and manually pump the bulb to ensure oil was going through. The engine ran fine but the alarm would go off pretty consistently and we just kept priming the bulb. The engine smoked like a normal 2 stroke so this says to me it is getting oil. At least I think. Well we made it in and I immediately changed the fuel filter and found deposits of rust in the container. Took the boat out for a ride and all seemed well for a little bit. Then the beeping started again. We happened to notice the fuel primer not oil primer was a little soft but not collapsed. Maybe it's going bad? I have been pretty much freakin out due to the fact I don't need to spen $4000 if the power head fails again do to an oil injection problem but not sure if that is the problem. One more thing on my alarm system, I notice sometimes when I heard the alarm and shut the motor off and then just turned the key on but did not start the motor the beeping would be consistent. Wait like 15 minutes or so and it would be ok. Motor seems to be breathing ok and there has been no apparent performance degradation. I know this is a lot of stuff here but if anyone has any ideas I'd like to hear them. I'd really like to be able to make sure the VRO pump is working correctly but have no clue how to. HELP!!!!!!!! Thanks in advance.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

You obviously have a fuel issue so keep checking and changing the filter/fuel water seperator.On the oil note I will leave you with this.My cousin is a merc.tech. he mixes his own oil in the fuel.He does not trust the system and how hard is it to mix the oil. Charlie

 

[AntsGrady]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

Thanks for the info!! I have been losing my head over it. I am going to look into getting rid of the VRO all together just for peace of mind. I can deal with checking the fuel filter and cleaning any congestion. I'll update the post when I know what happened!!

 

[Bradster941]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

I agree,<br />Get ride of the VRO ( Very Risky Oiling ) system.<br />I'ts no big labor job to add the oil with the gas. <br />Then you know for sure your safe.

 

[roscoe]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

Replace the entire fuel line, from tank to engine. Clean out your gas tank. If problem persists, put a fuel pump rebuild kit in.

 

[AntsGrady]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

roscoe thanks for the info. I'll keep it in mind. I'm not real mechanically inclined with these motors but how tough can it be. Not sure how to clean out the gas tank though. It's about 80 gallons I think. Any ideas? Thanks!!! This forum is very helpful. What else could one expect from fellow fishermen!!! hahaha

 

[willxuout]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

Hey, I know what you mean about a costly rebuild. I'm in the middle of a $5000 rebuild on a 1996 Evirunde 225 v6. I premixed my fuel at 40:1 to be on the safe side. It didn't work. It all boils down to taking it to a mechanic you trust and maintaining the motor. I'm going back to the VRO system. It works when you properly maintain it. If it has been 3 years since your system has been serviced I would replace the VRO pump and have the rest of the system checked out. DO NOT continue to run the motor until you have isolated the cause of the alarm. I'm speaking from experience here. Make sure you check out the fuel lines from the tank all the way to the motor. If they are even remotely worn, REPLACE THEM. This was the cause of my failure. There was a restriction in the one of the looper lines on the top port side which caused a lean condition.<br /><br />It also sounds like you need to check the inside of you fuel tank for rust.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[AntsGrady]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

Thanks for the advice cap!! I have a feeling there is some kind of fuel restriction issue here. Not a good way to start the season considering I've been out for sea bass 3 times and have killed them!! I need to keep fishin!!!

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

Ants..... A beep every other second (or every couple seconds as you put it) does not indicate a low level of oil in the oil tank. It indicates a much more serious problem. Warnings are as follows:<br /><br />(VRO Horn Warnings)<br /> <br />1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction waring which is also a steady constant beep.<br /><br />2 - A beep every 20 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank.<br /><br />3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).<br /><br />Should the fuel bulb start to collapse, that would indicate a fuel restriction, the usual cause of which would be as follows:<br /><br />(Anti Siphon Valve)<br /> <br />Check at the built in fuel tank connection where the rubber fuel line attaches for a "Anti Siphon Valve". It will be (usually) aluminum, about 2" long, and the inner components will consist of a "Ball", a "Spring", and a "Ball Seat".<br /><br />These valves are notorious for sticking and causing a fuel restriction. Remove the valve if it exists, knock out the inner components which converts it to a straight through fitting, then re-install it. If you're uneasy about converting that valve to a straight through fitting, then simply replace it.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

The '96 and later motors use the SystemCheck gauge with 4 lites. Yours should have that system on it. If not, someone may have jury rigged the alarm. It is even possible that the wrong oil tank is on the boat. '96 and later have different internal electronics in the oil pickup assembly.<br /><br />If so, most of the time an errant horn is due to a flakey pickup. To find out for sure, trace the wires from the tank to the motor and disconnect them. All they do is signal if the oil level is below 1/3.

 

[DIRTPOORE96]

Re: HELP!!! VRO oil injection problem or Fuel issue

HI ANTS, I HAVE A PAIR OF THESE MOTORS ON MY GRADY & I KNOW THEM QUITE WELL. THEY ARE 175HP, BUT THEY ARE THE SAME DESIGN. LAST YEAR I WAS HAVING THE SAME KINDS OF PROBLEMS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY HAVING. I PERSONNALY WOULD NOT DISCONNECT THE VRO AT THIS TIME! THE SYSTEM IS ONE OF THE BEST I KNOW OF. I WOULD CHECK A FEW THINGS OUT BEFORE I CHANGED ANYTHING.<br />1. CHECK THE VOLTAGE AT THE BATTERY, COULD BE THE RECTIFIER/REGULATOR IS GOING BAD & SENDING BAD SIGNALS TO THE ALARM SYSTEM. THE BATTERY COULD BE DISCHARGING & THIS WILL AFFECT THE ALARMS. THIS COULD BE WHY AFTER 15 MINUTES THE MOTOR WILL RUN FINE & THEN START ACTING UP AGAIN WHEN THE MOTOR HEATS UP.<br />2. THE FUEL FILTER ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR, NEEDS TO BE TIGHT. CHECK THAT THE O-RING & RUBBER GASKET IS NOT LEAKING AIR. IT WILL SET THE ALARM OFF FOR FUEL RESTRICTION PROBLEMS.<br />3. MAKE SURE ALL OF YOUR GAS LINE IS GOOD, WITH NO CRACKS. CHECK ALL OF THE HOSE CLAMPS & MAKE SURE THEY ARE TIGHT.<br />4. MAKE SURE THE GROUND TERMINALS ARE CLEAN ON THE BATTERY & THE GROUND CONNECTION ON THE MOTOR IS TIGHT. ANY OF THESE WILL SET OFF AN ALARM CONDITION. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION & THE ALARM IS STILL GOING OFF IT SOUNDS LIKE A GROUND PROBLEM. GROUND PROBLEMS CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT WITH THESE MOTORS. IT MAKES THEM ACT FUNNY WITH THE ALARMS.<br />I HOPE THAT THIS WILL GET YOU STARTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM.<br /><br />ONE OTHER SUGGESTION, STICK WITH JOE REEVES SUGGESTIONS, HE WILL ALWAYS POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. (HE KNOWS HIS STUFF ON THESE MOTORS)