CD16 Fuel Economy & Cruising Range

Pat Anderson

OK, Crabby Lou, our CD16 Angler, had a 6 gallon metal gas tank when we bought it. I switched that out for a 12 gallon plastic tank right out of the chute. On the recent Snohomish River cruise, we used 7 gallons over 39 statute miles, or ~5.5 smpg, with the 1991 oil injected Johnson 40 hp two stroke. Marty on Lizzy, a CD16 Cruiser, reported that he had used 6 gallons for the same cruise, and I ascribe the difference to the efficiency edge of the newer four stroke engines. This kind of makes me nervous about our range, and I am wondering how much gas most folks carry on their CD16s and what they consider their range to be with some reasonable reserve. I really don't have room under the motor well for another gas tank, since the battery, oil reservoir, kicker tank and main tank all live there now. I wonder if I would be better off taking the kicker off and sticking another 12 gallon tank in...if this were a new Honda 40 I might do that, but it just seems prudent to keep the kicker on with a 16 or 17 year old main outboard...thoughts?

dotnmarty · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:08 am Post subject:

The longest trip I've taken on the 16 was from Everett to Coupeville and back, probably 70 miles round trip. On that trip I carried 18 gallons in 3- 6 gallon tanks, two stored under the motor well and one behind the Garelick steps. I don't think we used any from the third tank on that trip. Also, I dont think there is any reason why you can't hook your main engine up to the 'kicker fuel tank'.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:46 am Post subject:

Marty - the kicker tank is 3 gallons, and it is mixed gas and oil, while the main is plain gas, since the Johnson 40 is oil injected from an oil reservoir tank. I certainly could take the 6 gallon metal tank in the cockpit, or buy a plastic 6 gallon tank, as the metal tanks leave nasty rust rings on the cockpit floor. I do think that I would rather have 18 gallons instead of 12 for sure, and am thinking, depending on what we do, that 24 gallons would be even better. But Patty probably is happy with the 12 gallon tank, she is not interested in going as far or staying out as long in Crabby Lou as I am!

dotnmarty · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 10:53 am Post subject:

There is a Moeller 20 gallon plastic tank that may fit. It measures 12.37 inches high by 15 inches wide and 28 inches long. It sells for about $150. You can find a picture in Overtons catalogue.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:10 am Post subject:

marvin4239 · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:10 am Post subject:

I used a 12 and a 6 gallon tank in my 16 and it took me about as far as I wanted to go between fuel stops. I think there would have been room between them for a 3. If you only use the kicker for emergency you could carry straight gas in the tank and add oil if you needed the kicker. Otherwise use the fuel in your main.

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:35 am Post subject:

I have a 16 gal for the 40hp Johnson, straight gas with VRO oiler and a 6 gal mixed for the kicker. I am going to get rid of the VRO oiler and replace the gas/oil pump with a gas pump only and use mixed. Then I can use wither tank for either engine. I use almost exactly a gallon per hour on the 40HP. Hasn't mattered whether I am running around at 3500 RPM or 1500 RPm, or maybe I always just average out about the same. I can use my engine hours meter to tell me how much gas I have used and have left.

Larry H · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 2:46 pm Post subject:

David,

Your 40 hp Johnson VRO motor (this applies to any VRO motor by Johnson or Evinrude) can run on pre-mix gas/oil by just capping off the VRO oil inlet on the motor pan. When the motor was new, Johnson supplied a rubber cap for the purpose. It was stored on a yellow plastic clip which is on the fuel line near the fuel pump.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Larry - when I get back to Fall City, I will look for this cap. I'll bet it is still there...Sounds like a better solution than changing the fuel pump out! I like the idea of running both the main and kicker off the same tanks, and I sure don't mind mixing the oil in the tanks!

Pat Anderson · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject:

Another question - does ~5.5 smpg sound about right for a Johnson 40 on a CD16? This was a combination of still water in sloughs, and against the current and with the current in the river, fast and slow speeds, so it should be a pretty good average of conditions...

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 4:21 pm Post subject:

Larry, I am not changing out the pump just to change to mixed gas. I have been having an issue with what we have decided is the fuel pump not pumping up to snuff at higher RPMS so I am replacing the combo fuel pump with just the straight gas pump.

DaveS

Larry H · Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:44 pm Post subject:

Pat,

A 40hp two stroke (carburated) outboard probably burns 4 gallons per hour if run at wide open throttle.

You didn't mention how many hours the trip took, but if you averaged 10 mph, thats 4 hours. Seven gallons over 4 hours is 1.75 gph. I think that is about right for part throttle operation.

Capn Jack

I've got an Evinrude VRO tank, a Loran-C antenna and module for a Coastal Navigator Intigrator ST Free Xmas Eek

to the first person that wants them and will pay the shipping from La Conner WA.