VRO YES or NO

[dozerII]

Okay, I have spent hours on this site searching and reading about the three types of oiling systems on OMC outboards. I read the article in the FAQ section but still have doubts. I am not sure if my 1993 90hp has the VRO2 or the OMS system and I have never run an outboard with the either one, but have always premixed on other outboards I have owned. What do you the people who have run these engines for years say?

 

[mak747]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Can only tell you my own personal experience regarding the VRO. I bought my Johnson GT 150 new in 1986. It came with the VRO pump and ran without any problems until two years ago, at which time the fuel portion of it went out. I replaced it with the new OMS pump and it has worked flawlessly for the last two years. I periodically check the warning horn to ensure its operable, but other than that I have complete peace of mind in using the OMS. By premixing your gas/oil you would take out the possibility of a pump failure causing a loss of lubrication but I personally just don't see the need in it.

 

[jonesg]

Re: VRO YES or NO

The vro/oms system also protects against fuel line leaks which allow air into the system, without the oms system the whole engine would run lean til death. But the oms system will detect the air in the fuel line and start pumping extra oil to protect against lean runs and seizing.
If the system was bad they would have abandoned it long ago.

Clean your pump and read the serial number, then just go to evinrude.com and look it up.

 

[ezeke]

Re: VRO YES or NO

My 1988 140 came with a VRO2 which is still operational. When I was no longer confident that the oil side was reliable, I closed the oil side and began using premix.

Switching to premix is a no cost way to put your mind at ease with older VRO, VRO2 or OMS if you are not comfortable with the mixing system.

More information here: http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/OMCvMERC.html

BTW, if the pump has a brown outlet, it's a VRO2, otherwise it's an OMS. Basically the VRO2 ended with the 1992 models.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: VRO YES or NO

well they abandoned VRO and VRO2 which the 1993 90 has. the OMS pump has proven to be much more reliable.

if i was running VRO or VRO2, i would either got to premix, or to OMS.

"The vro/oms system also protects against fuel line leaks which allow air into the system" i disagree, if you have an air leak the motor is going to run like poo.

 

[Brew2]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Count me for a YES. Ran the VRO on my 1986 140 and never had any significant issues. I did upgrade to the OMS pump a number of years ago for peace of mind given the original pump was so old.

Only ever had two issues with the system in all the years it was run....

1. the low oil sensor in the oil tank went bad and caused a false alarm.
2. the warning horn itself shorted out and died/melted.

Neither was a difficult fix.

 

[threedogs333]

Re: VRO YES or NO

trust it, but for peace of mind put a small amount of oil in the fuel tank as well, so if it does fail you won't damage the engine. I have just bought a 94 115hp johnson and the first thing i did was reconnect the oil.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: VRO YES or NO

trust it, but for peace of mind put a small amount of oil in the fuel tank as well, so if it does fail you won't damage the engine.

Small amount like what ??? if you are putting oil with fuel then just premix anyway. If the "small amount" is less than 50 to 1 then it is not going to save much if you have an OMS / VRO failure.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: VRO YES or NO

agree with Kenmyfam.

 

[bktheking]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Small amount like what ??? if you are putting oil with fuel then just premix anyway. If the "small amount" is less than 50 to 1 then it is not going to save much if you have an OMS / VRO failure.

Burn out 2 pistons instead of 4 right, great cost saving for something built by the lowest bidder. VRO got my no vote as usual. Dumbest thing ever invented besides Ficht DI. A $500 option to make boating simpler or a scheme to sell more motors.VRO on my chainsaw, weedeater, lawnboy??? Why not? Cause I value my motors. My 50 had it but the gent who owned the boat had it disconnected,why you ask? The $3000 rebuild job created by a faulty VRO. OMS from what I know is light years better but I still wouldn't trust it.

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Well I gave it a no vote simply because I disabled the OMS system on my 95 rude. Why did I do it? Because I would rather control the amount of oil that is mixed in my fuel. I had invested so much time and money in this motor I didn't want to take the chance, however small it may be.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Ran a J140 '85 for over twenty years and never an issue with the VRO2. They are incorrectly blamed for lots of failures by lazy or ignorant mechanics. They are very reliable, period.

BTW, there's no bypassing the the oil pump on E-Tecs, since fuel never goes thru the crankcase and the oil pump use is mandatory. I suspect all other DI motors are the same deal for the same reasons. I'm sure there will be a few smoked motors from those "that don't trust oil pumps" and killed their motors.

 

[EN2]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Back in 1998 upgraded to OMS due to phantom beeps on my 1988 40 VRO2.It only did it while idling, would come and go every so often I think the electronic part of it was snafu. But it was still taking oil.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: VRO YES or NO

I have the OMS system om my '98 Johnny. It is very convenient, and appears to have the proper alarms so I can make sure it continues to work.

 

[honald112]

Re: VRO YES or NO

I prefer premixed. I have a 24 gallon tank so 1 quart to every 12 gallons. She barely smokes and I know that there is no way for it to not get the oil she needs to live lol.

 

[dozerII]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Thanks everyone for the replies. Like I said I spent a lot of time reading the content on this subject on the forum, but was still unsure. The poll is running pretty close, so I will have to see which system my motor has on it, as it was just rebuilt, with a waranty so I would imagine the marine repair shop made sure it was upto date.
Glen

 

[bob johnson]

Re: VRO YES or NO

seems to me that there are a lot of places the oil pump system can fail and cause problems.

oil tank leak...oil line leak or clog, warning horn go bad...pump section go bad...



all are used at the convienence of not having to put oil in your gas...

which I personally hate...at 4 dark thirty before going out in my boat i am trying to look at the worn sticker of the oil container I have had in my truck for 2 months( I buy several and keep them handy) and i am trying to read the volume left to figure how much i have to pour!!!

but....it does give peace of mind.

that said there are many systems on the motor no one circumvents, that cause engine failures!!

bad ignition timing......bad water pump, bad thermostats....dirty gas getting into the system, or even the ethanol gas sitting in there...

you just got to be diligent

bob

 

[bob johnson]

Re: VRO YES or NO

what kind of pump do the 95 and later Ocean pro and Ocean Runner 60 degree OSI motors use????


bob

 

[oldgradywhite]

Re: VRO YES or NO

95 ocean runner is and oms system I think your 93 is oms system too. I voted keep the vro if it where to fail the alarm system will tell you something is wrong.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: VRO YES or NO

Premixing is inconvenient but as long as you remember to mix it you are getting lubrication. I have an "OIL" sticker on the boat gas tank filler since I converted to premix. Never forgotten to do it but it kind of hits you in the face at the gas pump as a reminder. When I am filling cans to take to the boat I always put the oil in for next time as soon as I have emptied them into the boat tank. I have run the lawn mower on 50 to 1 for as long as I can remember.