!996 16 Ft. Vanguard Barretta Fuel Tank Size

[Tcapper]

Hi everybody. I have an odd question. Is there anybody out there that would happen to know the fuel tank capacity of the above mentioned boat. I bought this boat in October and it started fine in the driveway, but when I put it in the water yesterday, it would go into gear but when throttling up, it would die. I drained a bit of fuel and there doesn't seem to be any water in it, but the Merc. Force I have requires a 50:1 fuel mixture and it doesn't look like there's any oil in the fuel. Compression is good, but I want to drain the fuel and have a look. Therefore if anybody knows the fuel tank size it would be greatly appreciated. ( I hope I posted in the proper forum). Thanks, Troy.

 

[jimmbo]

I have never seen a Vanguard Barretta with a built-in Tank. Likely about 10 Gal(Imp).

You suspect there is no Oil it the Fuel? No residual Oil after Evaporation?

 

[airshot]

Not a bad idea to pump it dry anyway, just to be safe. I bought a small 12v fuel pump off Amazon for 12 bucks, added a long suction line and can pump about a 5 gallon can in about 5-8 minutes.. All the two stroke oils I know of will turn the gas blue....is your fuel blue ?

 

[Chris1956]

Different 2 cycle oils have different color dyes. The Wallyworld and Pennzoil turn the fuel green (oil is blue). I had some Johnson oil which made the fuel light purple. Texaco oil was red. etc. The bottom line is that the fuel should be some color.

 

[Tcapper]

The guy i bought it from had the interior completely redone with all new flooring, pedestal seats and a casting deck. So I really don't know if the tank was added, but it looks factory. And ya, I drained about 1/2 liter/quart of fuel to look for water and there no no tell tale dye coloring in the fuel. He told me he filled it with premium, but didn't think I had to ask if it was mixed. My bad. I'm thinking it's a good thing that it kept stalling in gear so I couldn't give it a run. Thankfully compression is still really good. I just wanted to know tank size to see how many containers I need, but I'll just go 5 gallons at a time and put it in my old truck and then refill the boat with fresh. LOL

 

[Chris1956]

A 16 footer will have a fuel tank of 25-30 gal, I would expect. If you get on the OEM website or kelly blue book, they may know for sure.

 

[Tcapper]

Hey thanks, I was looking for some sort of info and couldn't find anything. Doing it the hard way right now. 5 gallons at a time.

 

[airshot]

Different 2 cycle oils have different color dyes. The Wallyworld and Pennzoil turn the fuel green (oil is blue). I had some Johnson oil which made the fuel light purple. Texaco oil was red. etc. The bottom line is that the fuel should be some color.

My wife always says I am colorblind anyway, so to me the Pennzoil looks blue but it might well be green. When I look back, I haven't used anything except Pennzoil for the past almost 50 years now, so didn't realize other brands were a different color. Is Texaco even in business anymore ?? When I was a kid, I remember them giving away the paper Texaco hats...yep I had a couple and wore them proudly !! Ahhhh...fond memories !!

 

[Tcapper]

I'm using Castrol and now with draining the tank today and filling with fresh mixed fuel there's a nice blue color to the fuel and the boat is running great.

 

[nola mike]

The guy i bought it from had the interior completely redone with all new flooring, pedestal seats and a casting deck. So I really don't know if the tank was added, but it looks factory. And ya, I drained about 1/2 liter/quart of fuel to look for water and there no no tell tale dye coloring in the fuel. He told me he filled it with premium, but didn't think I had to ask if it was mixed. My bad. I'm thinking it's a good thing that it kept stalling in gear so I couldn't give it a run. Thankfully compression is still really good. I just wanted to know tank size to see how many containers I need, but I'll just go 5 gallons at a time and put it in my old truck and then refill the boat with fresh. LOL

Does that motor have oil injection?

 

[Tcapper]

Nope pre-mix. My Merc on my pontoon boat is oil injected. Should've just drained the fuel when I got it and not trust the seller's word. Live and learn I guess. All good now tho.

 

[Tcapper]

Just a couple of pics.

 

[Chris1956]

I don't think a lot (maybe none) of the Force motors had oil injection. Is it possible the Force was put on just before it was sold to you?

 

[Tcapper]

Have no idea when he put the motor on. The '88 U.S. Marine Force that I had in '90 wasn't oil injected. Not an expert on Force, so I don't know if any were oil injected, but the '88 motor was run in salt water the entire time when I lived in the Caribbean and I had zero issues with it. This one is only going to be run in fresh water. With all the 2 stroke engines that I've had between sleds, yard equipment and boats, I have no problems mixing fuel. At least you know the engine is getting lubricated.