I have a 1991 cajun with the self mixing system on the gas how do you know it works without burning up the motor to see if it is using oil?

LunkerDave

Well what motor are we talking about here? The easiest is to put a mark on the side of the tank and see if it drops . The other thing is you won't get through 3 gallons if it's not!

There is a way to test the oil pumps. It depends on what motor you have to tell which way to test.

Its a 1990 60 hp Johnson.

I have heard alot of guys with a motor that old that change it over to premix. Some of the newer outboards i think have an alarm to tell you that the oil injection pump is not working so you can turn the motor off but i dont know if yours has an alarm. Some are scared that the oil pumps in the older motors will stop working causing it to run without oil and locking up. I know if i had a motor that old i would buy (if they have one for your motor) the conversion parts to where you have to premix the oil in the gas tank so that you dont have to worry.

DAve I will try to explain the test procedures for you.
1. Remove the oil supply hose to the VRO pump.
2. Connect a 1/4" x 10" clear hose to the VRO pump inlet. On the open end of the hose, about an inch from the opening start marking 1/2" increments for 4".
3.Fill clear hose all the way till it is full. Make sure there is no air inthe hose.
4. Run the motor at a fast idle, 1500 rpm, and monitor oil use. Try to feel the pulse line so you can monitor the oil usage. It should use about 3" of oil for 6 -8 pulses.
5. If it fails the test then the VRO pump is bad.

I have a 95 model Cajun w/ 200 Evinrude. After seeing my dad shell out almost $3000.00 I disconnected the VRO and premix my gas. I have been doing this for 3 years and have had no regrets. A little more trouble at the gas station but a lot of peace of mind on the water.

I bought my first bass boat five years ago...a '93 Champion w/ a 250 Mariner with an auto/self-mix system. I didn't know anything about bass boats/motors at the time. But I had two different guides and a terrific marine service tech all recommend that I disconnect the self-mix feature and switch to premixing each fillup. All told me horror stories about burning up motors when the oil pump failed in the auto-mix arrangement.

So I paid whatever the nominal cost was to have the auto mix feature disconnected and I've been self-mixing ever sense. It's just one less thing to go wrong/have to worry about.

switch to premix.. i hear too many horror stories about the oil pump failing.. including my $3,500 lesson

My dad has the same motor on his boat. If I was you, I would switch to premix and disconnect the VRO... his went out last summer and blew up his engine, now I have to take mine down there alot for him to fish. I premix mine at the gas station... kind of a pain, but peace of mind and my boat still runs and its older than his...

I have never understood what is so inconvenient about mixing. I grew up mixing and now that I have had an oil pump go out, didn't hurt my motor. I caught it in time, I smile everytime I gas up. I mean, really? How hard is it to open a pint for 6 gallons or 2 pints for 12 gallons? Really? Has the whole world wussed out on me?

Now the question is how do you disconnect the self oiling system?

LunkerDave

Can anyone tell me how to go about disconnecting this system?

LunkerDave

One thing for sure, every VRO will fail. When they do, how long does a motor run at 6000 rpm without oil. I can tell you for sure....not long at all. That is why I will never run a VRO beyond the warantee period.
I Mix oil and gas. That way it is always there when you need it.
And lets think about..what if I forget to give the oil on a gas buy. I would always fill tank at half full. So if I forget to put the oil in. It still has enough oil in the gas to likely do no damage till the next 1/2 fillup.
Well this is untill I got a 4stroke back in November. Now I know that changing oil in them is a beotch! I wish I could just pour it in with the gas.