Golf Cart Gasoline Leak

[downeaster]

My neighbor/friend awoke at 1:00 AM yesterday to the smell of gasoline fumes. He found gas leaking from his 2 year old Yamaha. Dealer said it was caused by ethanol in the gas which caused some part (float valve?) to malfunction (not covered under warranty). All of his gas purchases were at a Shell station on 466.

It seems ethanol is causing a lot of grief, real and imagined.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Ethanol's not good stuff for some plastic and rubber fuel system parts. I wonder if it ate into the carb float or if it just caused the float to hang up? I'd think most gasoline powered items manufactured that recently would have the parts built to be more ethanol-resistant. Maybe not!

Bill :)

[rhood]

Probably the needle valve either worn or sticking. Not an expensive repair.

[BigLew]

My neighbor/friend awoke at 1:00 AM yesterday to the smell of gasoline fumes. He found gas leaking from his 2 year old Yamaha. Dealer said it was caused by ethanol in the gas which caused some part (float valve?) to malfunction (not covered under warranty). All of his gas purchases were at a Shell station on 466.

It seems ethanol is causing a lot of grief, real and imagined.

hmmm only 2 years old and virtually all gas in the US has ethanol in it to stretch it. Well I'd either say that the designer of the fuel system is an idiot or more likely the dealer is full of fecal matter!

:censored:

[ijusluvit]

I also seriously doubt that ethanol caused the problem with the 2-year old cart. But ethanol does have a long term negative effect on small gas engines. When I read about that a few years ago I started using premium fuel in my Club car. The price difference for a golf cart is negligible, but I have noticed consistently better performance. No more occasional backfires, hesitation, etc. I change the filters and spark plug regularly but notice no real difference before or after a tuneup.

[BigLew]

I also seriously doubt that ethanol caused the problem with the 2-year old cart. But ethanol does have a long term negative effect on small gas engines. When I read about that a few years ago I started using premium fuel in my Club car. The price difference for a golf cart is negligible, but I have noticed consistently better performance. No more occasional backfires, hesitation, etc. I change the filters and spark plug regularly but notice no real difference before or after a tuneup.

well taken, for a few cents more go premium!
:agree:

[philnpat]

I believe premium gas also includes up to 10% ethanol...it has a higher octane rating (and price) but the negative aspects of ethanol are still there.

[Paperboy]

Ask any GOOD mechanic, they will tell U to use MARINE STABIL in your ethanol gas to prevent carb & inner hose damage. A big bottle costs $10.00 @ Wally - World & treats up to 80 gal. of gas. It also cleans the carb for BETTER PERFORMANCE!

[TommyT]

Ask any GOOD mechanic, they will tell U to use MARINE STABIL in your ethanol gas to prevent carb & inner hose damage. A big bottle costs $10.00 @ Wally - World & treats up to 80 gal. of gas. It also cleans the carb for BETTER PERFORMANCE!

Been using it since day one on our Yamaha. Hope it works :spoken:

[Whatever]

It is usually the piscus that gets caught up in the modat. This in turn causes the frimmframm to swell and deflate causing a unexorable leak through the thigamajig. While not an alarm for danger in and of itself, it can cause a usurption in the rodecki. Usually a mechanic can fix it for a few bucks or try to sell you a new golf cart. No need to thank me.

[mrfixit]

It is usually the piscus that gets caught up in the modat. This in turn causes the frimmframm to swell and deflate causing a unexorable leak through the thigamajig. While not an alarm for danger in and of itself, it can cause a usurption in the rodecki. Usually a mechanic can fix it for a few bucks or try to sell you a new golf cart. No need to thank me.

In my NOT so humble opinion .......... thar bees big problums wit duh GIZINDA's and GOZONDA's.

YA no how dem tings werk......Dis wun GIZINDA that wun......AND.....Dat dare wun GOZONDA duh itty-bitty wun on duh udder side.

.......Whazza matta izz, iffen wee firgits tuh plum um up goot, Den dare bees trubble.
Haid problums sucha dat evir sins me bin puttin' KNUTE VALVES in dem thar Cushman Scooters.
....
..... I am sorry for the problem caused with the leaking fuel...Thankfully no one was was hurt..... or worse.

[CarGuys]

Gates corporation has just announced a entire new line of ethanol proof gasoiline hose. And yes the float needle can stick and flood a carb,

All classic car owners or anyone with a mower chain saw or weed eater that parks it in your garage should be aware that ethanol will eat the hoses from the inside out, Peroid end of discussion. And nooooooooooooooo all the Stable in the world is not going to stop this.

So why do your think Yamaha has just announced the new fuel injected system for its faithful gas cart engine?

Simple. Emissions 1. Fuel economy 2. and Gas tanks and fuel hoses and injectors and fule pumps that are ethanol resistant 3.

Ethanol is not going away. To avoid damage to your carb you can treat your fuel with Amsoil Quick Shot or another fine product K 100. Change out your fuel lines to the new style if an older cart or next time consider electric.

FYI all-

[CarGuys]

Preminum has less British Therman Units of heat energy, Regular has the highest next to Diesel for a fuel.

The cart was designed to run on regular. Using high test is a waste of money. It's your wallet making you feel better. Or your druggin the preminum with addative that makes it work! That I cannot answer.

Aghhhhhhhh the smell of over dossed Carts running on Stabil! Makes the tunnels so plesant to drive through. NOT!

Wait till gas hit 4:25 again. Them preminum tanks will be sooooo full of ethanol because no one will pump it. It accumulates.

Thats why you buy at a high volumn station. How do I know its my busines to test it report it and work with Fuels.

Save your money, Use regular and a good fuel treatment once every 5 or 6 gallons if your running every day. The fuel treatments with regular will give you a better bang for the buck than preminum by itself.

We recently proved this. Preminum fuel was so degraded that BMW's were haveing acceleration problems. The preminum tanks had what we call wet Gas! That means it is so saturated with water absorbed by the ethanol that it cannot burn.

I also have had this problem with Harley Davidson that require preminum fuel.

Last good fuel produced was in 1966. Remember those years!

[hedoman]

Ask any GOOD mechanic, they will tell U to use MARINE STABIL in your ethanol gas to prevent carb & inner hose damage. A big bottle costs $10.00 @ Wally - World & treats up to 80 gal. of gas. It also cleans the carb for BETTER PERFORMANCE!

:agree:

Never miss a fillup without a small bit of Stabil......Dealer reccomended

[Gerald]

I totally do not believe that the leak was caused by the fuel. However you can believe what ever you like.

[bluedog103]

The cart was designed to run on regular. Using high test is a waste of money. It's your wallet making you feel better. Or your druggin the preminum with addative that makes it work! That I cannot answer.

Save your money, Use regular and a good fuel treatment once every 5 or 6 gallons if your running every day. The fuel treatments with regular will give you a better bang for the buck than preminum by itself.



Good luck CarGuys. I've been preaching this for awhile but still people insist on giving their money away. Might as well get a witch doc to chant and shake a few bones over the cart.

[goingtothevillages]

Hi CARGUYS - what you say makes a lot of sense - what kind of a "good fuel treatment " would you recommend? Like many others I've been told to use premium/Stabil but questioned that - so good to hear you support regular and a good fuel treatment. Thanks for keeping us mechanical clutzes informed!

[BigLew]

Preminum has less British Therman Units of heat energy, Regular has the highest next to Diesel for a fuel.

The cart was designed to run on regular. Using high test is a waste of money. It's your wallet making you feel better. Or your druggin the preminum with addative that makes it work! That I cannot answer.

Aghhhhhhhh the smell of over dossed Carts running on Stabil! Makes the tunnels so plesant to drive through. NOT!

Wait till gas hit 4:25 again. Them preminum tanks will be sooooo full of ethanol because no one will pump it. It accumulates.

Thats why you buy at a high volumn station. How do I know its my busines to test it report it and work with Fuels.

Save your money, Use regular and a good fuel treatment once every 5 or 6 gallons if your running every day. The fuel treatments with regular will give you a better bang for the buck than preminum by itself.

We recently proved this. Preminum fuel was so degraded that BMW's were haveing acceleration problems. The preminum tanks had what we call wet Gas! That means it is so saturated with water absorbed by the ethanol that it cannot burn.

I also have had this problem with Harley Davidson that require preminum fuel.

Last good fuel produced was in 1966. Remember those years!

great info from one who knows about these things...thanks
:bigbow:

[CaptJohn]

It is usually the piscus that gets caught up in the modat. This in turn causes the frimmframm to swell and deflate causing a unexorable leak through the thigamajig. While not an alarm for danger in and of itself, it can cause a usurption in the rodecki. Usually a mechanic can fix it for a few bucks or try to sell you a new golf cart. No need to thank me.

whatever.

[CaptJohn]

All classic car owners or anyone with a mower chain saw or weed eater that parks it in your garage should be aware that ethanol will eat the hoses from the inside out, Peroid end of discussion. And nooooooooooooooo all the Stable in the world is not going to stop this.



I can vouch for that. Quality counts too. I have had both a Skil chainsaw and a Stihl chainsaw (German made) for 30 years. The Skil had it's inside the tank hose eaten away years ago and I never could figure out why. The Stihl is still going strong.

[CarGuys]

BlueDog 103

I remember your previous posts and was drawn to support your knowledge of the subject.

I am going to suggest to all of you who are willing to listen.

This is very very simple. Google K-100 and AMSOIL Quick Shot!

If you are running regular fuel through your cart every couple of days you are fine. If you leave ethanol fuel untreated in your fuel tank, Any Tank that is not completely sealed from air then the fuel starts to immediately absorb mositure. This can degrade octane corrode internal carb circuits and degrade performance. And in a Florida garage you have MOISTURE!!!!!!

Why some people have been confused by the buy Preminum theory. Some Preminums have been degraded to Regular and some Regular degraded to less than. It is all very confusing to the poor consumer,

Now some fuel treatments will allow the water to pass through the engine. I did not say burn ,I said pass through. So we have miss fires and unburned fuel passing out the exhaust. NOT GOOD! And over addatives also add to the problem.

I know some people that still use dry gas that is full of denatured Alcohol. Thats like add more Alcohol to already over Alcohol fuel.

There are superior fuel treatments that will attract the water absorb it and really burn it. They will also help combustion restore performance and improve fuel economy.

I have worked with Marinas that have had entire fleets not start because of " Wet" fuel.

So what can you do.

Use regular fuel. When you fill your tank at " THAT TIME" while filling add a product called K-100 or AMSOIL Quick Shot. pm me if you need contacts.

It is important as others have stated mix when you fill not as a after thought. K 100 will work after the fact however when you fill it is still best. This is because the treatments will then encapsulate the water and allow it to burn " Poor mans Hydrogen" .

In your garage if you do not use five gallons of gas within a week get rid of that can and keep a one gallon sealed can. YES you generator people better listen up.

If your cart is stored for more than a month make sure the fuel has been treated and that the fuel treatment has made it through the carb into the float bowl and up through the circuits.

This is why fuel injected carts like cars are so superior. With fuel injection there is no float bowl full of sitting fuel no float no needle and seat to corrode. The new fuel pumps are Alcohol proof, Fuel Tanks are now made of Ethanol resistant plasic composit or even steel.

I was never going to have a Gas cart only Electric. Because of the ethanol fuel and emissions of a carb vehicle. However now Yamaha has brought out a Fuel Injected Cart and others are following.

Well enough of my blabber I gotta get up tomorrow for my Radio Show.

[hedoman]

Hi CARGUYS - what you say makes a lot of sense - what kind of a "good fuel treatment " would you recommend? Like many others I've been told to use premium/Stabil but questioned that - so good to hear you support regular and a good fuel treatment. Thanks for keeping us mechanical clutzes informed!

I've tried all types and find my Yamaha 2011 gas runs better and quieter on premium gas with a little Stabil. It doesn't pound going up hills with premium but does with regular. For me a few pennies is not a big deal...maybe for you...