How much oil is used per tank?

[Cam]

1987 V20 fish (cuddy) with 1996 V6 Johnson Oceanpro 150. Just replaced VRO pump on this new to me boat and was just wondering what kind of distance/hours does 2 stroke oil generally last? First time out in boat with family, I burned 45 gallons of fuel (took a trip around Staten Island and visited Statue of Liberty). I put the boat, I feel, through it's paces. and after I fueled up, I forgot to check the VRO tank. I know I physically put in 1 gallon before trip at first fillup. Just wondering if I should refill before using again. Thanks. (no pics yet)

[cterrebonne]

you should be close between 40-1 and 50-1. so for every gallon of tcw-3 you put in the tank you should burn around 40-50 gallons of fuel.

[THEFERMANATOR]

And ALWAYS fill up your oil tank every time you get fuel. This is just a safety precaution as you never know if the low oil alarm will sound or not.

[Stillrunning]

You sould also keep an extra gallon on the boat as a back up.

[reelapeelin]

You sould also keep an extra gallon on the boat as a back up.

Bingo!!...great suggestion...I wouldn't leave the dock w/out lookin' at that oil tank

[macojoe]

The best thing you could have done and saved money was to never replaced the pump and mixed gas from now on!
O well good luck!

[Seacrets]

It's a 96, I think they got the bad pump issues taken care of by now. I'm sure the new pump is a current manufactured one. If you slow troll enough, you'll foul the plugs with premix. Maybe I was one of the fortunate few, but when I ran 2 strokes, I never had a pump related problem. There are a bunch of flats and bass boats still running two strokes (due to 4 stroke weight) with no problems with newer design oil pumps. Just my $.02.

[cterrebonne]

i need to post pics of the vro pump i have apart here at the shop.

[nipper]

I had a 1985 Evinrude 90 h.p. with VRO and never had a problem with it. Perhaps I was just lucky. I loved not having to do the premix thing.

[Cam]

Wish I had known that before the $600.00 repair, plus the time down. The pump was also replaced by the previous owner in 1994. It seems odd that it wouldn't last that long. Don't worry, if it ever craps out again, out it goes and I'll go to mixing myself. Thanks for the replies. I tried to figure out in my head at 50:1 ratio, giving me a full 60 gallons plus before refilling, but being the anal annie that I am, it will be filled again before the motor gets turned on again. And I do carry a spare quart under the port seat, just in case. Thanks again.

[Seacrets]

1 pint (16 oz.) per 6 gal x 10 (60 gal)= 160 oz. divided by 128 oz. (oz. per gallon) = 1.25 gal of oil to pre mix 60 gal of gas. Sounds like the pump was replaced 2 years prior to the motor being built (only kidding). Cterr., hopefully the oil alarm saved the day. I had a 185 Evinrude, 2 ea. 225 Mercs and 2 ea. 150 Mercs and never had a oil pump related issue. One of the 225's had over 900 hrs on it when sold. For every pump failure, how many are running fine?? There's a ton more people that've lost a powerhead from a water pump failure than an oil pump. Best bet is make sure your alarm system (low oil or no oil flow) is working. Just the thoughts of a tired, semi old man.

[cterrebonne]

1 pint (16 oz.) per 6 gal x 10 (60 gal)= 160 oz. divided by 128 oz. (oz. per gallon) = 1.25 gal of oil to pre mix 60 gal of gas. Sounds like the pump was replaced 2 years prior to the motor being built (only kidding). Cterr., hopefully the oil alarm saved the day. I had a 185 Evinrude, 2 ea. 225 Mercs and 2 ea. 150 Mercs and never had a oil pump related issue. One of the 225's had over 900 hrs on it when sold. For every pump failure, how many are running fine?? There's a ton more people that've lost a powerhead from a water pump failure than an oil pump. Best bet is make sure your alarm system (low oil or no oil flow) is working. Just the thoughts of a tired, semi old man.


im not saying they dont work. you cant test the no oil system on the vro systems, thats the problem i have with them. they do work and i have seen some work for decades.

[Chomper]

I was out on a friends boat this weekend and had the low level alarm go off. we were on our way back to the dock and could see the oil was low in the tank so we continued on back, but it sure does wake you up when that alarm goes off.

[willy]

Always have a spare gallon in the boat, I keep mine right next to the oil reservoir and don't use it to top off, get another gallon when you think it is time.
Get two extra fuel water seperator filters and keep them on the boat also.
Keep two super models in reserve
And a bottle of Evan Williams in the cuddy for emergency's

[phatdaddy]

i'm still running oil injection on a 94 150 merc w /1250 hours, but i have been waiting for the pin to be pulled any minute. i carry 2 gallons of oil, one for the oil tank and one for the fuel tank. if i have any hint of trouble, i'm dumping a gallon on the fuel tank.

[spareparts]

cterrebone(or Ferm), I have a vro question for you. I'm working on a late model 70(Johnrude) carb 3 cylinder, the fuel pump died, the oil side was disconected long ago, any cheaper fixes for this. I've used teh old standard pre oil injection pumps with a home made bracket, just figured you have run into this before, I know bomb has a fuel only round pump, but I believe its pretty expensive.

AS far as oil injections go, they all have their faults. I rebuilt the pump on my V4 looper with all factory parts and it lasted for about 10 minutes before the alarm went off(it go changed to an old style pump, still running today as far as I know). With Mercurys, the weak point is the crank gear as its made out of plastic, every one blames the gear for mysteriously coming apart. Mercury has eliminated the shaft sensor and coupler on the later model carb and EFI engines as they found out teh coupler was swelling and sticking up the shaft, casuing the gear to fail. I have also noticed that I run into gear failures on boats that have recently been run hot, Its not like you can easily pop the power head apart to inspect the gear just to be safe($$$$), you go that far on a merc, you might as well rebuild the thing whi;le you have it down. had one melt a gear on a mercury reman power head that had 4 hours on it, can't believe it stayed together(double oil for break in saved his but), it got so hot it melted wires to the head. I removed the oil system, kept premix in the tank and sent him on his way, the boat continued to run till he sold it two years later( don't know after that). And as far as Yamahas go, they do have a pretty good system, but neglect it and the inline filter will clog, the hoses will become brittle, and the pump can fail, just like any other piece of machinery that isn't treated well. If Mercury had have used a bronze gear, they wouldn't have half the issues they are know for

[THEFERMANATOR]

cterrebone(or Ferm), I have a vro question for you. I'm working on a late model 70(Johnrude) carb 3 cylinder, the fuel pump died, the oil side was disconected long ago, any cheaper fixes for this. I've used teh old standard pre oil injection pumps with a home made bracket, just figured you have run into this before, I know bomb has a fuel only round pump, but I believe its pretty expensive.

I don't see why you can't use one of the early 70's style remote fuel pumps that came on the early 3 cylinder engines. They were remote mounted and used a 1/4" line that hooked to the crankcase. I know that my 140 looper wouldn't run with one though, it couldn't pump enough fuel at high RPM's because of the lack of crankcase pressure that a looper has at high RPM's.

[HookedOnMarsh]

Cterrebonne, please post those pics of the VRO pump you have. I just got one of these motors, a '86 175 BlackMax. It has a new pump just put on last summer. I have been tossing up the idea of scrapping the VRO and going premix too. Seeing what one is made of might help that decision.
On another note, I love going to Thibodaux when I get called to do refrigeration work down there. Long ride from Bay Saint Louis, MS, to there, but I don't mind. Besides I can't get cracklins like they have at the GeauxBears store by the canal. That is some good stuff, my friend. If you haven't tried them you have to go there and get some.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Cterrebonne, please post those pics of the VRO pump you have. I just got one of these motors, a '86 175 BlackMax. It has a new pump just put on last summer. I have been tossing up the idea of scrapping the VRO and going premix too. Seeing what one is made of might help that decision.
On another note, I love going to Thibodaux when I get called to do refrigeration work down there. Long ride from Bay Saint Louis, MS, to there, but I don't mind. Besides I can't get cracklins like they have at the GeauxBears store by the canal. That is some good stuff, my friend. If you haven't tried them you have to go there and get some.

MERCURY's oil injection is an entirely different animal all together.