No Golf Cart Gas

[dewilson58]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

[Bill14564]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

Regular unleaded? Only thing I use.

(remember when "regular gas" was not ambiguous?)

[biker1]

As per the owner's manual, regular gas with up to 10% ethanol. 2000 hours on the engine and no issues. You will be fine.

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

[4$ALE]

As per the owner's manual, regular gas with up to 10% ethanol. 2000 hours on the engine and no issues. You will be fine.
I agree!
:gc: Us with every cart we have owned for 20 years. No problems.

[CarlR33]

I agree!
:gc: Us with every cart we have owned for 20 years. No problems.Be careful the cart might like it so much it will pass other carts:)

[dewilson58]

Thanks

:gc:

[Topspinmo]

When I filled up my cart just before Milton there was no regular octane, so I filled up with premium. Otherwise my lawnmower engine runs just fine on regular 10% corn gas. I’ve been averaging 49 to 52 MPG we see what tank full premium does?

[biker1]

I run non-ethanol in my lawnmower and pressure washer since they have carburetors and the gas can sometimes sit for a bit. The golf cart has fuel injection and we run through gas pretty quick. Probably overkill for the lawnmower and pressure washer but no issues to date.

When I filled up my cart just before Milton there was no regular octane, so I filled up with premium. Otherwise my lawnmower engine runs just fine on regular 10% corn gas. I’ve been averaging 49 to 52 MPH we see what tank full premium does?

[Topspinmo]

I run non-ethanol in my lawnmower and pressure washer since they have carburetors and the gas can sometimes sit for a bit. The golf cart has fuel injection and we run through gas pretty quick. Probably overkill for the lawnmower and pressure washer but no issues to date.

As long as you remove corn gas and run pressure washer/lawnmower out of gas you shouldn’t have problem. But if I stored more than couple months or more I would add additive to prevent minute rust in carb, bowl, sea foam, marvels, similar. When storing to long time I put small amount marvels down spark plug hole keep rings/bore lubricated. Or transmission fluid does same thing. Transmission fluid and additives don’t smoke as bad as oil when fire it up after storage. I had 410 mercury engine in late 70s I stored for 6 years. Put marvels in each cylinder and in carb. After I ran it out of gas. When I stated it up 6 years later I again put marvels down cylinders, turned engine over by hand, and let set over night. Put curb cleaner down the carb vents it fired right up. Smoked for awhile but idled and ran fine.

[tophcfa]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

By regular gas I assume you mean 10% ethanol. If you’re full time and use your cart on a regular basis that shouldn’t be a problem. The problem occurs when a cart sits for an extended period unused. The gas in the fuel delivery system eventually evaporates and with ethanol fuel it leaves behind a gummy varnish like deposit that can clog up the fuel delivery system. Problems are much more common with a carburetor, but a fuel injection system can also get effected. Carburetors have very small jets (which are basically holes) that easily get clogged up. I’ve disassembled and cleaned out several gummed up carburetors over the years and hope to never have to do it again.

[ElDiabloJoe]

When I filled up my cart just before Milton there was no regular octane, so I filled up with premium. Otherwise my lawnmower engine runs just fine on regular 10% corn gas. I’ve been averaging 49 to 52 MPH we see what tank full premium does?

Guessing you meant 49-52 MPG?

[rustyp]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

I pump it into mine ! I've never "thrown" gas in my life unless violently passing it counts as throwing it.

[Teed_Off]

The gas tank on my 2018 Yamaha (purchased new) has an E10 sticker, so I use regular gas and have had no problems.

[JakeW]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

We have a 2015 and 2021 Yamaha gas carts and use Regular with 10% Ethanol same as the car.

[NoMo50]

Regular E10 gas is all we have ever used in both of our carts, with no problems. Plus, that is what Yamaha calls for in the owner's manual.

[mkjelenbaas]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???
I am not “throwing” the gas in but have always used regular gas with no problems - have over 20k miles on the current cart!

[JRcorvette]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

Use any grade of gas it will not hurt it one bit. The only reason for using ethanol free is because gas tends to sit in a golf cart tank for a much longer time. If you fill up with regular gas just keep adding ethanol free when it gets down to half tank. There are additives that you can use if your cart will be sitting for a long period of time.

[MX rider]

All modern engines are designed to run on E10. My Yamaha cart even has an E10 sticker on the gas tank. Ours sits for months at a time here, as does my Polaris side by side in Indiana, which by the way is much more complex than a cart. Never had a fuel related issue on either one.

As someone else mentioned, if it required non ethonal it would say that in the owners manual.

[bioman419]

Everyone that knows there isn't "Golf Cart Gas"

[Joe Mack]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

That's pretty much all I use. The issue as far as I understand is that old ethanol gas will gum up the carburetor, and I use mine enough that it never gets old.

[Jimmay]

I have for 10 years

[paulajr]

11 years living full time in The Villages, and have never once NOT used regular gas in our golf carts. No issues.[


QUOTE=dewilson58;2378710]So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???[/QUOTE]

[MrFlorida]

Regular here, cart, mower, motorcycle, and car.

[rsmurano]

for the 1st year, all we used for gas was e10. For the last 2.5 years, we just use regular gas. It runs as good or better on regular. We also have put on 12,000 miles on our cart since new in 2021. None of the issues that people will tell you about if you use regular gas, clogged carburetor, dirty burning, won't run as good, on and on. When we buy a new cart, it will be regular gas from the beginning.

[dadoiron]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

Been doing it for about twenty years. Inherited cart from Dad and other than regular maintenance it runs fine.

[ElDiabloJoe]

I have a Plowman's performance kit on my cart, and due to that he recommends boat gas aka 100% gas aka non-ethanol gas.

[Babufrick]

The additional money you spend on ethanol free gas over time will more than offset the cost of speculative damage to the cart

[OhioBuckeye]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

If I buy another cart I still would buy another gas cart. So has anybody throwing a Lithium battery in their cart, very expensive. Maybe I’m just old fashion but I just like gasoline carts just don’t like charging my cart up every night, not trying to argue with anybody about carts, just like gas carts.

[Bill14564]

If I buy another cart I still would buy another gas cart. So has anybody throwing a Lithium battery in their cart, very expensive. Maybe I’m just old fashion but I just like gasoline carts just don’t like charging my cart up every night, not trying to argue with anybody about carts, just like gas carts.

How much? How frequently? Personal experience? ANY experience?

My guess is fewer than three people on this board know how much it would cost to replace the lithium battery in a golf cart because fewer than three people on this board have had to do it. (I want to say zero but there's always one)

An eight-year warranty implies a battery that will last ten years at a minimum. Not likely to be many ten year old lithium carts out there yet.

[forebubba]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

Have been for 8 years along with Stabil as recommended by carts and clubs where I bought.. same as with my lawnmower

[Bonnie and Dave]

That’s all I’ve ever used!

[Rocksnap]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???

If you use up the gas, regular pump gas is all that’s needed. If the cart sits for any length of time, think snow birds, add fuel stabilizer to FRESH gas. Or buy the non-ethanol gas at TV Carts.

[Down Sized]

That’s all I’ve ever used!
13 years

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

When I bought our first cart (used, from The Villages Golf Cars), the sales guy said it had to be ethanol-free gas or it could take a year off the lifetime of the engine.

I didn't really think about that much, and paid the extra for the ethanol-free gas for a couple of months.

Then I realized - these engines can last 10 years or longer, and I was planning on replacing it before then. So who cares if it lasts a year less - it won't be mine then anyway.

So I switched to regular unleaded and I'm saving a small fortune, and my engine is fine.

[biker1]

When in doubt, consult the owner's manual. If it is a Yamaha, the owner's manual essentially states that 10% ethanol, or less, is OK. The knowledge of the sales guys can vary. One told be the Yamaha golf carts have a 2 cylinder engines (they don't).

When I bought our first cart (used, from The Villages Golf Cars), the sales guy said it had to be ethanol-free gas or it could take a year off the lifetime of the engine.

I didn't really think about that much, and paid the extra for the ethanol-free gas for a couple of months.

Then I realized - these engines can last 10 years or longer, and I was planning on replacing it before then. So who cares if it lasts a year less - it won't be mine then anyway.

So I switched to regular unleaded and I'm saving a small fortune, and my engine is fine.

[DonH57]

That's all we've ever used for both our carts, regular unleaded.

[Diver Man]

By regular gas I assume you mean 10% ethanol. If you’re full time and use your cart on a regular basis that shouldn’t be a problem. The problem occurs when a cart sits for an extended period unused. The gas in the fuel delivery system eventually evaporates and with ethanol fuel it leaves behind a gummy varnish like deposit that can clog up the fuel delivery system. Problems are much more common with a carburetor, but a fuel injection system can also get effected. Carburetors have very small jets (which are basically holes) that easily get clogged up. I’ve disassembled and cleaned out several gummed up carburetors over the years and hope to never have to do it again.

100 percent correct, best answer. I have rebuilt or installed new carbs because of the gummy varnish left behind, cheap insurance. I have also torn apart fuel injectors that were.gummed up, due to vehicles gas sitting long periods of time.I have used non ethanol gas for over 10 years and have not had any issues unlike 10% ethanol gas.

[justjim]

We are Sunbirds (FL residents who own and go from the hot summer sun north for a while) and we have our “house watch” drive our carts weekly. Never had a problem using regular unleaded gasoline. My wife’s cart is a 2013. My cart was 10 years old when it was traded for a new quite-teck. Every fall we have the oil changed on our carts and any other maintenance needed.

[dewilson58]

100 percent correct, best answer. I have rebuilt or installed new carbs because of the gummy varnish left behind, cheap insurance. I have also torn apart fuel injectors that were.gummed up, due to vehicles gas sitting long periods of time.I have used non ethanol gas for over 10 years and have not had any issues unlike 10% ethanol gas.

Your definition of???

[tophcfa]

Your definition of???

The longer the time, the higher the risk. I guess once the damage is done, more time really doesn’t matter. My best guess is that under 3 months you’re typically good, 3-6 months is risky, over 6 months and you’re asking for trouble. Ethanol fuel treatment no doubt reduces risk and buys time, but ethanol free gas pretty much eliminates risk. I have also found that 2 cycle fuel mix generally tends to last longer than straight 10% ethanol fuel. The carburetor on my last motorcycle, a Kawasaki KLR650, would gum up every winter while being stored from early December until late April despite using fuel stabilizer and running it through the fuel delivery system. Once I started shutting off the fuel petcock valve and draining the carburetor/fuel bowl before storing it, the problem was solved. Whenever I use our generator, I shut off the fuel petcock valve and let it run until it runs out of fuel and stalls. That seems to empty out the carburetor enough to prevent issues also.

[JMintzer]

How much? How frequently? Personal experience? ANY experience?

My guess is fewer than three people on this board know how much it would cost to replace the lithium battery in a golf cart because fewer than three people on this board have had to do it. (I want to say zero but there's always one)

An eight-year warranty implies a battery that will last ten years at a minimum. Not likely to be many ten year old lithium carts out there yet.

Very first post after saying he isn't starting an argument and you try to start an argument... Classic ToTV...

[JMintzer]

Have been for 8 years along with Stabil as recommended by carts and clubs where I bought.. same as with my lawnmower

Since I'm still not full time, I use Stabil every time we're not in TV for a few months... No problems yet...

[Bill14564]

Very first post after saying he isn't starting an argument and you try to start an argument... Classic ToTV...

Not trying to start an argument at all, simply asking the basis for the specific assertion.

Classic ToTV you say? Then I have a good idea where the assertion came from.

[Topspinmo]

When I bought our first cart (used, from The Villages Golf Cars), the sales guy said it had to be ethanol-free gas or it could take a year off the lifetime of the engine.

I didn't really think about that much, and paid the extra for the ethanol-free gas for a couple of months.

Then I realized - these engines can last 10 years or longer, and I was planning on replacing it before then. So who cares if it lasts a year less - it won't be mine then anyway.

So I switched to regular unleaded and I'm saving a small fortune, and my engine is fine.


Changing your oil going save the lawnmower engine.

[jimmy o]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???
I use golf cart gas from the villages cart shops. It’s 86 octane as is called for by Yamaha, and 100% gasoline, no ethanol. 10% ethanol has less Btu’s and therefore not as good mileage. Some people mistakenly think higher octane gets better mileage but octane has zero effect on mileage. True that carts still get great mileage anyway even with ethanol , but why not get better? Plus, I love the convenience of villages garages golf cart gas stations.

[biker1]

The difference in mpg between fuel with 10% ethanol and 0% ethanol is about 3%. The price difference between fuel with 10% ethanol and 0% ethanol is greater than 3%. Regardless, it is all in the noise range and not worth worrying about.


I use golf cart gas from the villages cart shops. It’s 86 octane as is called for by Yamaha, and 100% gasoline, no ethanol. 10% ethanol has less Btu’s and therefore not as good mileage. Some people mistakenly think higher octane gets better mileage but octane has zero effect on mileage. True that carts still get great mileage anyway even with ethanol , but why not get better? Plus, I love the convenience of villages garages golf cart gas stations.

[JMintzer]

Not trying to start an argument at all, simply asking the basis for the specific assertion.

Classic ToTV you say? Then I have a good idea where the assertion came from.

He simply said "I like gas carts"... No basis for that statement is needed...

[Bill14564]

He simply said "I like gas carts"... No basis for that statement is needed...

That’s a heck of a summary but it misses some of the sentiment of the post, such as the words I highlighted in my reply.

[JMintzer]

That’s a heck of a summary but it misses some of the sentiment of the post, such as the words I highlighted in my reply.

Highlighting that one sentence doesn't help make your point...

Oh, and I found an interesting "signature" from a poster on ToTV...

It reads, "Why do people insist on making claims without looking them up first, do they really think no one will check? Proof by emphatic assertion rarely works."

Tis a shame that many don't follow this advice...

[Bill14564]

Highlighting that one sentence doesn't help make your point...

Oh, and I found an interesting "signature" from a poster on ToTV...

It reads, "Why do people insist on making claims without looking them up first, do they really think no one will check? Proof by emphatic assertion rarely works."

Tis a shame that many don't follow this advice...

For sure, ‘tis. ‘Tis also a shame that posters don’t exercise better reading comprehension skills but that’s just the world we have to deal with.

[JMintzer]

For sure, ‘tis. ‘Tis also a shame that posters don’t exercise better reading comprehension skills but that’s just the world we have to deal with.

Now, if we could also stop people from assuming they know what's in the mind of a poster, even when they state their reason clearly, that would be great...

But that's just the world we have do deal with...

[mrf6969]

So who is throwing regular gas in their carts???
Have in all the carts we have owned here in the last 20 years. Golf cart engines are a low compression engine designed to use regular gas. Using a fuel with a rating higher than 87 can over long term can cause poor running due to the fact that the low compression engine cannot burn all the fuel in its entirety. This will leave carbon deposits in the cylinder head, NOT GOOD.

[mrf6969]

Use any grade of gas it will not hurt it one bit. The only reason for using ethanol free is because gas tends to sit in a golf cart tank for a much longer time. If you fill up with regular gas just keep adding ethanol free when it gets down to half tank. There are additives that you can use if your cart will be sitting for a long period of time.

Fact, using high rated octane over time in these low compression engines will leave carbon in the cylinder head and eventually you will start to see the cart having lower power.