No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

[capsnumber1]

Hi all, I just purchased a new fuel sending unit for my 89 Evinrude 120 HP. Whenever I turned the key on, without the engine even having to be started the alarm would continually sound. I finally isolated the problem down to the oil tank sensor. I bought a new tank sensor and installed and no more alarm. However, when I start the engine on a garden hose I can't see oil coming out, just clear water. After the engine is started for about 30 seconds the no oil alarm starts to go off. I disconnected the oil line at the midway point between the engine and the tank (which is where I connected the new line) and there was oil in the line. The oil ball is hard. This would make me think that the VRO pump went bad, however last fall when I started the engine with the alarm sounding (on the old sensor) there was oil in the water, which meant the pump was functioning. What could I have done wrong in the new sensor hookup to cause the engine not to get oil? It seems like all you should have to do is connect and tighten the hoses and plug in the wires, which is what I did. Could the pump have broken over the winter? What kind of tests can I run to see what exactly is wrong? Thanks!

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

Whenever that oil line is replaced, cut, lengthened, whatever, the VRO pump must be primed as follows.

Remove the oil line from the VRO fitting and have it situated so that whatever comes out of it flows into a container.

Now pump the oil primer bulb until you are absolutely sure that every bit of air is purged from that oil line. At that point re-atteched the oil line to the VRO and squeeze the oil primer bulb one time only to force oil into the VRO.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

And you might want to run 50:1 in the fuel tank until VRO pump operation is verified...

 

[capsnumber1]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

I did what you said and, sure enough there was no oil in the line at the pump. Started her up and she ran normal (on muffs) and smoked normal(white smoke). There were also no alarms going off. However, I still didn't see the oil slick I am used to seeing which kind of has me on edge a little. It must be getting oil if it is smoking though right?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

Caps, White smoke is usually steam. You want to see blue smoke, which is burning oil. You best hook up a 50::1 remote fuel tank until you get this sorted out.

 

[capsnumber1]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

Thanks Chris, but there is no way that the amount of smoke it is putting out is steam. I am very confident that it is getting oil, especially since I took it out and ran it today with no problems. I would imagine that if it was not getting oil I would have destroyed it this morning after running it for about 1/2 an hour. When it ran it sounded and acted like it always did, and for the first time since I have owned the boat, it is not sounding any alarms. I

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

As Chris states, white smoke is usually steam. This may not be the case BUT keep a close eye on the spark plug electrodes just in case. Salt water on the plug will resemble very small beads attached to the electrodes. Brackish water usually just looks like water itself.

The fact that the engine ran okay is a good sign but caution is always best.

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: No Oil! What Did I Do Wrong???

I agree with the sentiment that says" mix at 50:1 to be safe and disconect the VRO , have it checked out and only run the VRO when it is in perfect working oil, imagine what a sieze up cost to repair. I prefer to rum without the vro and run at 50:1 pre mix, we have a motor we use for training ( EVENRUDE 225 VRO)and we will rebuild the vro unit, if it is financially viable,
REGARDS WILLIAM WRIGHT