Oil injection

TerryH

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23
Hello,<br />I am a new boater 1st boat, it's a used lowe bass boat1989 with 70 hp johnson. 1st time on the lake I experianced an audible alarm at the shift/throttle area. took boat out of lake, talked to other boaters. deducted possible oil problem, put in lake and pumped up the hand bulb noise stopped. this reoccured several times during my weekend. I was paying close attention the whole time, the motor continued to smoke the entire time, Even smoked excessivly at times. I don't think that it is not oiling with the amount of smoke seen. Once home I removed the pump from the oil tank and checked it out. It was clean and pumped oil with the hand bulb.<br />1.Is there some sort of pressure sensor that may be causing the alarm?<br />2.Where does the audible alarm get its signal from? Any help would be fantastic! Thanks
 

WillyBWright

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
8,200
Re: Oil injection

The signal could be coming from an imbalance in fuel and oil supplies, check for kinks and visible leaks in the lines. It could also be low oil level in the tank. But it's not unusual for a motor to need that oil bulb squeezed a few times until it stops if the motor hasn't been run much in awhile. If it continues, it deserves a looksee. The beep beep beep alarm signal comes from the fuel pump or the oil tank. A contstant beeeeeeeep would indicate an overheat condition signalled by a sensor on the head.
 
Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
7
Re: Oil injection

Terry, how ironic….I too just purchased, well about 6 weeks ago. A ‘89 Lowe 1700 with a ‘89 70HP Johnson. Took it to a Johnson mech. for a “water ready” run thru, De carbon, pressurized test lower unit, compression test (110 #1, 110#2, 105#3), new (the expensive $ 7.99 ones) plugs, new on motor fuel lines, set timing/idle, found out that one carburetor had dropped ( Put hand over the intake no change in performance) thus three carburetor kits installed, disconnect the VRO, a couple of more checks I cant remember but one thing that popped up that might apply in your case. Did you buy fuel while you were on the water at a marina? My son did and even though he expressed he did not want pre-mix… when the mech. started their check they had to add 10 gallons of fuel to try and thin the tank out to get a right mixture to precede as it was smoking to bad with double oil.
 

TerryH

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23
Re: Oil injection

No I did not buy fuel at a Marina, It all started with the original fuel in the tank. I did get fuel at a station the third day. Many people have been telling me to add oil to the gas tank, but I am skeptical, due to the smoking already present. It's worse after trolling at slow speeds for a while. Once I speed up it goes away to a moderate smoking
 

TerryH

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23
Re: Oil injection

The alarm is a long constant BEEPING. It goes away after hand pumping the oil bulb on the oil tank. No lines are kinked I looked at those already. Oil tank is 3/4 full. This is getting more confusing, if what you say is true about the temp sensor.
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Oil injection

If pumping the oil primer bulb causes the horn to stop sounding, that indicates that the VRO is not being supplied oil for some reason.... oil restriction, oil leak in hose (pump draws air), or VRO failure. The following info, drawn from my database may be of some interest to you.<br /><br />(VRO Horn Warnings)<br />(J. Reeves)<br /> <br />1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.<br /><br />2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)<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 />NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.<br /><br /><br />(VRO Changeover Judgement Call) <br />(J. Reeves)<br /> <br /> The VROs first came out in 1984 and have been upgraded quite a few times. In my opinion, back around 1988, they had perfected them but I think that they were upgraded even more since then. As long as the warning system is operating as it should, I feel quite at ease with them.<br /><br />Some boaters have voiced their thoughts such as "What if that overpriced plastic horn should fail while I'm under way for some reason, and the VRO decides to fail five minutes later?" Obviously that would result in a big problem which really brings their fears into view.<br /><br />The word "ease" is the key word though. If one has the slightest feeling of being ill at ease with that setup, then they should take the route they feel more at ease with. A judgement call each individual would need to make on their own.<br /><br />********************<br />(VRO Pump Conversion To Straight Fuel Pump)<br />(J. Reeves)<br /><br />You can convert the VRO pump into a straight fuel pump, eliminating the oil tank and VRO pump warning system, but retain the overheat warning setup by doing the following:<br /><br />1 - Cut and plug the oil line at the engine so that the oil side of the VRO pump will not draw air into its system. Trace the wires from the back of the VRO to its rubber plug (electrical plug) and disconnect it.<br /><br />2 - Trace the two wires from the oil tank to the engine, disconnect those two wires, then remove them and the oil tank.<br /><br />3 - Mix the 50/1 oil in the proper amount with whatever quanity fuel you have. Disconnect the fuel line at the engine. Pump the fuel primer bulb until fuel exits that hose with the tint of whatever oil you used. Reconnect the fuel hose.<br /><br />That's it. If you want to test the heat warning system to ease your mind, have the key in the on position, then ground out the tan heat sensor wire that you'll find protruding from the cylinder head. The warning horn should sound off.
 

TerryH

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23
Re: Oil injection

Joe,<br />This is some good information, I am going to work on it today! Thanks a million<br />TH
 

TerryH

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23
Re: Oil injection

I found the oil injection pump (in the tank) had a small hole in the housing mounting piece. I cleaned it and sealed it with silicon. Do you think it was sucking air here? I hooked up the water hose and ran it for about 30 min. and it didn't alarm.
 

TerryH

Cadet
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
23
Re: Oil injection

To Captain Joe,<br />As I mentioned I found a hole in the oil pump mounting bracket where it connects to the oil tank. Dead Center right over the hose exit, it looked like a bad casting or someone had used something to clean it that eats plastic. I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol and sealed it with silicon. It was pretty grubby with dirt and oil.<br />I took her out today and NO alarms! GREAT <br />Thanks, it must have had an air inlet which I sealed.<br />I hope anyone with a similar problem can solve it with this information!
 
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