Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

[Knockerjoe]

I am having an excessive smoke problem with my 200hp Johnson Ocean Pro.<br />It has gotten progressively worse in my 3 years of ownership. It throws out clouds when first started and after it warms up it is smoking like it should when fisrt started.<br />Here is what I have done so far:<br />On my last trip out I measured oil consumption. It used up 1 gallon oil in approx 38 gallons of fuel. Next I inspected spark plugs (all good) and did a compression test on all cylinders. (all between 110-120). Also note engine is running fine. <br />After resarching other posts I inspected all fuel hoses for air leaks. All fuel hoses are new within 1-2 years and checked good. Only old parts are the primer bulb and fuel restriction hose.<br />My next question is should i continue looking for a air leak or start looking into a VRO problem?<br />Thanks in advance.......Joe

 

[Lakebacon]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

pumping too much oil into the system<br /><br />experience with VRO is sucks... have lost one engine to VRO failure and alarm failure... <br /><br />Now I just plug off the pump and mix the oil directly into the gas tank... no worries now.<br /><br />I'm not an expert, just sharing my experiences.

 

[Knockerjoe]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

I am going to keep my VRO. I have read many posts that suggest engine failure blamed on VRO is untrue.

 

[Captain Jeff]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

Joe- I just had a similar problem with a 115 HP Johnson Ocean Pro. I too went through and checked everything and when I thought it was the VRO I remembered seeing so many posts that everyone is too quick to blame the VRO. In my case it definitely was the VRO and I'm glad I replaced it although I wasted time checking a million other things because of what I had heard. When I replaced my VRO I noticed an almost immediate improvement and it now only smokes a little at startup like it should. I believe the fuel diaphram gets a leak and isn't pumping quite as much fuel as it should but still mixing the same amount of oil resulting in a mix just like your 38:1 when it should be 50:1. Not a huge difference but enough. Do your due diligence and check everything else but VROs do fail, my engine is a '99 and the VRO just went.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

It could be an internal leak as Fishonceo experienced. Or it could be that the pump senses a fuel restriction and pumps more oil to compensate, which is what its supposed to do. As it sits the gas will evaporate somewhat giving you the excessive smoke on start up.<br /><br />BTW -- heres where a lot of misconception comes in. Neither one of you have the VRO system. You have the OMS system.

 

[sycamore]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

I found my smoking problem in the thermostats. They were stuck open and the engine was continually running cold and not burning the mixture completely. I replaced the thermostats and the engine temp came up, it now idles and smoke free. This is on an 88spl, yours will be a little different, but just a thought.

 

[Knockerjoe]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

My thermostats are fairly new and my temp gauge is right at 168 which is normal. <br />Do they sell VRO (or OMS) rebuild kits. I have seen posts saying yes and no? But i guess that a rebuild kit will not help the comdition Dhadley suggests which would be electronic?<br />Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

If it is an internal leak there are rebuild kits available. If its sensing a fuel restriction then we have to find the restriction. If you dont have a warning horn (assuming it works) sounding for a fuel restriction then I would lean toward an internal leak. (Oil getting into the fuel side)

 

[Knockerjoe]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

I have ordered the fuel diaphram kit. My motor is now smoking like a crop duster on startup and does not get a whole lot better on warm up. I will post my results here when parts arrive.

 

[FAV453]

Re: Johnson 200 Excessive Smoke

Knockerjooe Any news on you problem? Also what's the part number for the diaphram kit and where did you get it?