VRO and premix

[tramsdell]

Vro has been beaten and flogged here im sure but my particular idea didn't come up in a couple hours searching so here it goes: is it gonna be ok to run amzoil 100:1 premix in addition to a working 1987 VRO system?





reason(because yall are gonna ask), if the VRO system fails without warning, i will still be running at 100:1 and I am observant enough to notice the less smokage. Then i can limp it in to fix the VRO, or i can block it off and dump more oil in the fuel if i deem that to be necessary.

 

[racerone]

Another " oil topic " ----Ask 10 owners and you will get 15 different opinions.

 

[Chris1956]

gee, why not carry a gallon of oil. When the smoke stops, dump it into the fuel tank....

 

[Faztbullet]

If its the original VRO from 1987 ,I would bypass it and just run Amsoil.premix.

 

[dingbat]

How Ive dealt with OMS issues for the past 20 years

1. check oil level in remote tank
2. check that alarm works
3. go boating

 

[tramsdell]

gee, why not carry a gallon of oil. When the smoke stops, dump it into the fuel tank....

Thats a great idea! Im sure ill sense the lack of smoke at WOT and be able to shut err down before it grenades!




thanks for the real answers guys, I'll probly just bypass it altogether as many have done.

 

[Vic.S]

If its the original VRO from 1987 ,I would bypass it and just run Amsoil.premix.

Thats a great idea! Im sure ill sense the lack of smoke at WOT and be able to shut err down before it grenades!
thanks for the real answers guys, I'll probly just bypass it altogether as many have done.

If it is a 1987 model isn't it a VRO-2

Interesting article on VRO http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html

 

[tramsdell]

If it is a 1987 model isn't it a VRO-2

Interesting article on VRO http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html

I read that , and it seams like as a vro 2 setup i should just verify that it works and send it... so it just comes down to my paranoia. Im thinking is it cheap insurance, or a one way ticket to stuck rings?

 

[oldboat1]

Think the solution to your discomfort is just to convert to premix (50:1 with the 2-cycle of your choice). Block the oil line and unplug the harness. Says nothing about the reliability of the VRO system, just a matter of your comfort zone.

 

[tramsdell]

Think the solution to your discomfort is just to convert to premix (50:1 with the 2-cycle of your choice). Block the oil line and unplug the harness. Says nothing about the reliability of the VRO system, just a matter of your comfort zone.

Ya know, i probably will do that. Not like this boats ever gonna putter around smoking anyway, as i have a very nice trolling motor for that kind of shenanigans.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, you either trust your oil injection or you don't. Running 100::1 plus oil injection doesn't change that.

In your case, go with premix....

 

[82rude]

I just don't get it .What makes you think after working all this time its suddenly going to fail?

 

[tramsdell]

I just don't get it .What makes you think after working all this time its suddenly going to fail?

1.Its new to me, and ive no idea wether it works or not
2. Everything that works its whole service life can be broken without notice at any time due to wear/abuse.
3. It's 30 years old
4. Its not the likelyhood of failure that worries me, its the magnitude of damage that would bs caused by such a failure.



5. Premix isn't inconvenient to me

 

[82rude]

Then go total premix and be done with it .

 

[Bosunsmate]

Whats your VRO mix at? i think they vary with rpm but i cant remember exactly
But if it mixes at 100/1 for most of it range and you are only doing 100/1 mix yourself then that makes it 50/1 in total which wont matter or gum up pistons.
If it mixes at 50/1 which would seem rich then you would with your 100/1 mix on top be running on about 33/1 which would be rich.
Ive a inkling they run richer VRO at higher rpm.
But id give your method a go anyway.
Sounds safe enough and saves buying a premix pump

 

[tramsdell]

Whats your VRO mix at? i think they vary with rpm but i cant remember exactly
But if it mixes at 100/1 for most of it range and you are only doing 100/1 mix yourself then that makes it 50/1 in total which wont matter or gum up pistons.
If it mixes at 50/1 which would seem rich then you would with your 100/1 mix on top be running on about 33/1 which would be rich.
Ive a inkling they run richer VRO at higher rpm.
But id give your method a go anyway.
Sounds safe enough and saves buying a premix pump

Yeah, i beat it varies to 50:1 at wot, so id be oil rich up top which generally is ok because your burning it off... unless you go to the point of being fuel lean, again i dont think that can be damaging as i know exactly zero people who have melted an engine from too much oil

 

[tramsdell]

Then go total premix and be done with it .

I might.

 

[jimmbo]

Yeah, i beat it varies to 50:1 at wot, so id be oil rich up top which generally is ok because your burning it off... unless you go to the point of being fuel lean, again i dont think that can be damaging as i know exactly zero people who have melted an engine from too much oil

Too much Oil can cause carbon build up and the resulting stuck rings. Bearings that operate smoothly at the recommended/VRO ratios will not run smoother with more oil.
The VRO system, over all, has been a reliable system. A lot of Mechanics had their minds made up about it before they ever saw one, Thus they never even made an attempt to understand how operated. let alone how to diagnose it. More VRO pumps have been blamed and replaced for problems that they weren't the cause of.
Running Premix during the Break In period did insure lubrication if the VRO didn't work(usually because of lazy or incompetent installation). Part of the Break In protocol was to verify the Oil level in tank was dropping.

Switching to Premix is one way of Guaranteeing lubrication, unless you 'Forget' to add the oil or can't calculate the quantity needed...

Use a good TCW-3 Oil and you will be fine

 

[tramsdell]

Too much Oil can cause carbon build up and the resulting stuck rings. Bearings that operate smoothly at the recommended/VRO ratios will not run smoother with more oil.
The VRO system, over all, has been a reliable system. A lot of Mechanics had their minds made up about it before they ever saw one, Thus they never even made an attempt to understand how operated. let alone how to diagnose it. More VRO pumps have been blamed and replaced for problems that they weren't the cause of.
Running Premix during the Break In period did insure lubrication if the VRO didn't work(usually because of lazy or incompetent installation). Part of the Break In protocol was to verify the Oil level in tank was dropping.

Switching to Premix is one way of Guaranteeing lubrication, unless you 'Forget' to add the oil or can't calculate the quantity needed...

Use a good TCW-3 Oil and you will be fine

Heres my take on it, after extensive reading online. It probably works, and 90% of the VRO horror stories are a crock of $hizzle. Personally, after having injected and premix toys and tools over the years, i would rather make oil part of every fuel up than to try and remember to check and top off a resevoir that is somewhere else. OPONION: i dont feel that 100:1 is adequate for lubrication in the long run, and if 50:1 fouls plugs its only 10bux to replace them and spares stash easily on board


One issue I'm seeing is that VRO parts of that vintage are drying up, starting with the oil reservoir filter.

big advantage to premix is that quality oils will include fuel stabilizers. You wont get the advantage of such with the oil being stored separately.


lastly, and this is petty, on a repower its allot easier to block off VRO than to run an oil line and mount a reservoir hahahaha...


I thank you guys for the responses, as always a super useful forum. I can say that after research you guys helped me find, I would trust a VRO boat... and i am able to make the decision purely on personal preference. I will be using amzoil premix as i have in the past in everything else.

 

[racerone]

A properly tuned engine at 50:1 does NOT foul any sparkplugs.