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I replaced the VRO pump on my port engine a few days ago because the oil consumption was way down on that engine compared to the other. I tried to find a definite answer to the question "how much oil should this VRO pump use an hour?" but was unable to find anything. Now I'm getting intermittent oil pressure failure alarms. I went to the local outboard shop which was a Johnson shop for thirty years and talked with them. They said that their mechanic (Passed away last year) disconnected them all because the system became unpredictable in the winter time. I'm disconecting the VRO today. I'm not a fan of mixing but I cannot afford to lose an engine in Alaska and especially not in the winter. Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?
I have no experience in cold weather, however everything have read about VRO pumps from knowledgeable people say they fail running oil rich. I wonder if your other oil pump is the one going... As for oil consumption I do a quick check, it should be going through more than 50 gallons of gas per 1 gallon of oil, 50:1 is the richest mixture the VRO will mix to.
The only thing I can think is because of the cold weather the oil becomes thick and the pump can not suck it as fast. You could try putting a heater/heating blanket, around the tank or heating the oil another way, put a larger dia. oil line, or just disconnect it (but I would do both engines)...good luck
Thanks for the link Finnegan. It brings up a lot of good issues to ponder but the problem is that I just don't have time to restore all of the fuel lines connections etc. this year but next year I might give it another look. dgoodhue, I have to agree that it seems that the higher consumption pump may well have been the bad one. I will go ahead with the mix for now. Heaters are just not practical on an island in Alaska with occasional generator provided power. Thanks for the suggestion though.
