" Mrpops,
If the oil system
" Mrpops,
If the oil system on a Merc is working, it should last forever, if you properly winterize the engine during the off season. Since it is a mechanical pump, driven by a gear on the crank shaft, there really isn't anything that can go wrong with it. It is a much simpler device than the VRO pumps on the Bombardier products, but it provides a varying ratio also. If it is working, you are better off letting it do its job, than mixing the oil yourself, and therefore using a fixed ratio.
If you don't fog the crank properly during a layoff, the driven gear can become sticky, and if you start up in the spring you can strip the gear, causing a failure. Then you would have to split the cranckcase to replace the plastic (?) gear that fits around the crank. In that case it is advisable to mix the oil yourself, and repair the gear when you rebuild the engine (if ever).
Tony "