VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

[CharlesW]

The VRO system seems to be working fine on my 1986 40 hp, but.... All the talk about how unreliable it is causes me some worry.<br />Just an idea for some comments. I have two 6.5 gallon tanks. I use one with straight gas and it is the one I run on most of the time. We have a small lake so keeping it topped off is not a problem. The other tank has 50:1 gas/oil mix with some OMC 2+4 in it. If the VRO fails, hopefully giving an alarm, I can switch to thje other tank and make it back to my dock. If I run out of gas in my normal tank, I can still use the back-up supply until I can top it off.<br />If nothing else, it gives me some peace of mind. As long as the VRO works, I really don't want to go to 50:1 mix. The oil injection systems are awfully convenient and have to be much more efficient than the straight mix. The same gas cans I use for my I/O work for the O/B.<br />Anyone see a downside to this?<br /><br />Charles

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Thats a great idea..except...VRO's tend to not really give much notice if any at all when their is a problem. <br /><br />Kind of like the lottery...I have had many customers that had NO warning at all <br /><br />TMD

 

[Solittle]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

The downside of this is that if your VRO continues to work properly, your premix fuel will get old and will become unusable.

 

[Skyhigh]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Sorry for the stupid post, But what is a VRO. I think i have a VRO ? I have a 86 Jonhson 60hp VRO.<br />What is VRO....

 

[CharlesW]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Doc: Evidently you feel the alarm horn won't give sufficient warning. That really adds to my sense of security. <br /><br />SoLittle: The OMC 2+4 is a fuel stabilizer. Hopefully the fuel mix would last the season and I could run it out as my last tank of the year. As an upside, if the VRO continues to work, 6 gallon of mix would be a great investment. <br /><br />Skyhigh: VRO = Variable Ratio Oiling, a great idea that seems to have had lots of problems in its early years. 1986 is an early year.<br /><br />Charles

 

[OBJ]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Charles....<br /><br />I got two motors....one is a 84" 50hp on my toon and a 86' 90hp on my 16' StarCraft. The 90 is equipped with a VRO pump and I would not be without it. Of course I have the newest VRO pump on it, the four wire version, and I do test the alarms periodically just for MY piece of mind. If you want to keep the VRO, I would suggest a OEM service manual for your engine. They are still available through any Johnny/Rude dealer. It will give you all the info on performing the test to verify that your alarm system is working. Just my opinion...The newer VRO pumps are a hech of a lot better than the originals and will do the job if you take care of the engine.

 

[CharlesW]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

OBJ:<br />Like you, I believe in manuals. I do have the Clymer and the Seloc manuals that cover the motor in question. Both the alarm and the VRO test procedures are covered in them. I did find it interesting that they made no mention of the VRO system being bad news and should be by-passed. I didn't even know they had a problem until I read it here.<br />Where would I find the 4 wire/3 wire connections to determine if I happen to have a new style pump? In 17 years, the original may possibly have been replaced. <br /><br />Charles

 

[OBJ]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Charles...<br /><br />There will be a wire harnes coming from the VRO pump. It will have either three or four wires in the bundle. The newer pumps have the four wires in the bundle.<br /><br />VRO's have gotten a bad rap for a long time. The early or originals didn't have the alrams we have now and yes, some engines were wasted because the pumps failed and the owners didn't know it until it was to late. But again, the newer pumps are much more reliable and if the arlarms are tested occasionally, I don't you should have any problems.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

And the new pumps are a straight 50:1 pump all the time. Thats why they havent called them "VRO" pumps for about 10 years.

 

[Bill Stock]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Charlesw if all systems working everything is great. But I found out my alarm horn didn't work,so when was over heating no temp alarm,luckily no damage done. I removed my vro and premix now just peace of mind. If my vro would have failed and no alarm horn I would have found out the hard way. Just my 2 cents. Bill

 

[CharlesW]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

Dhadley:<br />The new pumps being straight 50:1 rather than a variable ratio is something I have never heard before. The systems capability of supplying only what oil was needed has a big bearing on my wanting to retain it. If I still will have a 50:1 ratio, even with the so called VRO, I just as well premix my fuel.<br /><br />Charles

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

If you are only using the 6 gallon tanks premixing is not that much of a hassle. Even though I have never had any problems with any of my VRO or regular oil pumps I would probably premix 6 gallons of gas as well.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

The new VRO pumps are called oil metering systems (OMS) and have been around since '92. They are NOT a constant mix pump, but vary from about 75:1 at idle to 50:1 at WOT. Most boaters will average about 60:1 depending on rpms and usage.

 

[capebill]

Re: VRO Back-up, Peace of Mind?

How do you suggest by passing a VRO<br /><br />Bill