You do not need to use ethanol-free “Rec‑90" gas in your cart
 

Two of my neighbors just bought new Yamaha carts, and their dealer told them they have to use Rec 90 fuel. Now they’re driving 25 minutes just to fill up.

These carts are built to run on regular 87-octane gas with up to 10% ethanol, which is exactly what every gas station in Florida sells.

The only time Rec 90 might make sense is if you’re planning to store the cart for several months without using it. Even then, you can stick with regular gas, just add a fuel stabilizer and you're good to go.

I ran 87 octane gas in my cart for 10 years never had problem, but my cart never sets for over couple weeks. About twice year I get new non ethanol gas for my Yamaha C3 scooter cause I rarely ride it now. And I dump scooters old gas and what left in can in my golf cart.

I tried doing searches for the science behind this, or at least to come up with a summary explanation. There was a lot of science, not much explanation that a non-mechanic would understand.

But what I did find is a general "concept" of the gas needs: using ethanol-free gas may add another year to the life of your engine, assuming you follow up on all the other recommended maintenance, oil changes, belt replacements, tire inflation settings, and so on.

But if you plan on replacing your gas cart in just a dozen years after it was manufactured, then that year won't make any difference to you. These engines are built to last 20 years or more.

Same here, That's all we have ever ran in our carts. Since they both are fuel injected I have on occasion when I drive from the northern villages to the south end and back put about 3 ounces of fuel injector cleaner on the fill up. Both carts still run like new.

Much debated topic. My opinion is that if you’re a full timer, and your cart never sits for extended periods of time, 10% ethanol is fine. If you periodically leave your cart for three months or longer, you either need to add a good quality stabilizer or use ethanol free gas. Although a good stabilizer is typically adequate, it’s most definitely not as fool proof as using ethanol free gas. Think about it, fuel stabilizer treats the problems associated with ethanol. It’s always a better option to eliminate the problem rather than treating it.

I will add that modern fuel injected carts are less likely to experience ethanol related problems than older carbureted carts, but they are not totally risk free. Trust me on this, I have torn apart and rebuilt many carburetors on small engines that have been stored for extended periods of time with 10% ethanol gas, some treated with stabilizer. Using ethanol free gas is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with knowing your cart will be good to go when returning to your Villages home after being away for an extended period of time.

Ethanol collects moisture. That alone is an issue.
But consider a cart that is used sparingly. Every month it gets down to half a tank, and owner fills the tank with 10% ethanol. That means half of the ethanol remaining in the tank is beginning to get old.
Another month goes by, another half tank fill, and now a quarter of the tank is getting very old.
Next month they go on vacation. Tank sits longer.

Now problems start to fester. They think "I fill it every month"

Now consider if the tank only needs a gallon or two. The old gas is only partially diluted with fresh gas.

Blanket statements of fuel type use often leads to long debates that lack factual reasoning. For the original "it's fine" to use theory, keep in mind that applies to fuel injected carts, getting enough use to significantly turn over the tank contents within a couple months, that is not left sitting for long periods of time, etc.
Every case is different.

100% gas if your cart has any Plowman's parts or kits on it or is otherwise "tuned."

Unleaded 87 octane with up to 10% ethanol has worked well in my cart for the 5+ years I've owned it.

It has set three or four months without use a few times with no problems.

The same fuel has set in the tank for over six months with no problems. I filled the tank and used a little, let it set for three months then used a little, and repeated that a couple of times before I had used enough to fill it up again.

I have never experienced problems due to ethanol in the fuel in any vehicle I have owned.

I have had problems with carbureted engines when they have set for over a year without any use but after sitting that long the problem wasn't due to the type of fuel.

The science behind it is that ethanol left in gas residue can clog up your fuel system as it degrades. This applies to all types of engines. If you're using your golf cart or lawnmower frequently enough, the fuel residue will be cycled through with the new fuel so it's less of a problem.

This is a much bigger problem in places where items like lawnmowers and chainsaws are not used year round. Better to completely run your engine out of gas and drain your tank or add fuel stabilizer at least if storing things with an engine.

Every 2-3 months I don't drive my golf cart for 3-5 days in a row. I don't drive it on days when it's raining hard. Other than that, I use my golf cart as my primary form of transportation, and take my car as my secondary form of transportation.

Check the owners manual and you will see use Regular (E10) gas, then look in the engine compartment and you will see an E10 sticker on the gas tank, at least this is what is on my Yamaha.

as others have stated the manufacturer recommends the same gas you put in your car (with ethanol). Why would the dealer recommend ethanol free gas? Well, look at what they sell at the dealership. Then compare the price they charge compared to the same gas at WaWa and others.

Always used regular gas, cars, motorcycles, golf carts, lawn mowers, and gas generators... never had a problem.

If you aren't filling your tank at least every 2 months then use Rec-90.

I used regular gas and had nothing but problems. The dealer said you to use Rec 90. Made the switch years ago and not a problem since.

The recommendation is there for a reason.

ethanol-free gas
 

If your not a year around resident, then you need ethanol-free gas. If you live here year around and drive your Village Kart all the time, then any fuel will work. Modern gas powered Village Karts are made to run on up to 10 percent ethanol-gas. I have a neighbor whose 2002 model is still running great and he only uses gas from one of the local gas stations.

Ethanol gasoline is recommended.
 

The salesman who sold us our new Yamaha told us we should not use E10 gasoline. He said it was in the owner’s manual. He was wrong. It says to use E10 gasoline in the manual and on the gas cap. In the manual it says do not use METHANOL in the gasoline. METHANOL (aka wood alcohol) is not ethanol! Use ethanol in your cocktails also.

I fill up the non oxygenated gas if available, otherwise regular. But I add about a half can of Sea Foam periodically and whenever the cart will be sitting for awhile. Also throw it in my older Yukon XL (Seems like it runs better).

From Goggle AI ---- Sea Foam Motor Treatment is safe and effective for use in Yamaha golf carts, both in the fuel and oil systems. It can help clean fuel residues, varnish, and deposits, improving performance and potentially addressing issues like rough idling or backfiring.

My family has been in the powersports business since 1975. All modern engines are deisigned to run on E10 gas. Non ethanol gas isn't even available everywhere.

Even if you're going to leave it sit for a while, E10 is still fine. I've let my dirtbikes and my Polaris SxS sit for months over the winter when we lived in Indiana. Never an issue. And they're much more complex and high tech than a simple golf cart.

Yamaha recommends 87 octane E10 gasoline for their golf cart engines, and that is all I have ever used. No fuel issues. I think their engineers know what is best.

The issues you hear about with ethanol blends date back over 20 years ago. Back then, ethanol was known to attack soft seals and fuel lines in some engines. However, vehicle manufacturers have addressed that issue long ago. It was also more apt to negatively affect a carburetor vs fuel injected motors. Again, modern engines successfully address any concerns.

Ethanol also has an affinity for moisture, and has a lower boiling point than gasoline. This combination led to the potential to vapor lock a fuel system in some applications. This problem has also been successfully handled by modern manufacturers.

In short, E10 fuel will not harm your golf cart. Any performance degradation related to ethanol blends will be hardly noticeable in a single-cylinder golf cart engine.

Now...the whole premise of using food for fuel? That's another soap box.

FWIW if you’re in Well Point, the 7/11 in Magnolia has ethanol free— 10 minutes away

The sell non-alcohol gas at extremely higher price that why. :22yikes:

And government subsidies for ethanol producers. Getting paid causing food prices increase.

The "recommendation" is because that's what they sell for $4.50 a gal.

Rec-90 fuel outside the bubble is about $1 less per gal.

From Yamaha's Patrick Busler, developer of technical training in Yamaha's service division -

Q. Are Yamaha engines compatible with E-10 fuel?
A. Yes, all current models as well as most engines built since the late 1980s have been designed with fuel system components that are tolerant to fresh fuel containing ethanol up to 10 percent.

Yamaha Talks Ethanol | SnoWest Magazine

Seriously all, next time consider a lithium ion cart. No gasoline concerns, and very little in terms of maintenance. They go up to 50 miles before needing to be charged. Who the heck wants to ride 50 miles at one time in a golf cart?

And I'm not an "EV fanboy". Having EV for your primary vehicle, unless you never travel far from home, is a pain I can do without. But for a golf cart that comes home every night? Makes alot of sense.

Also, I like to put alcohol-free in my car occasionally, due to the moisture issues with ethanol. Higher octane as well, which my car likes.

My Yamaha cart is 23 years old. I use regular gas and put in fuel stabilizer when I'm gone over 2 months. It runs like new. Never had a problem.

I have been using 87 octane e10 gasoline in my 2018 Yamaha golf cart for the past 8 years. The salesman, owner’s manual and e10 sticker are all in agreement. No problems whatsoever.

I think the shutoff for the gas pump is at the end of the hose where you put it into the gas tank. So when you pick a blend, how much of the previous person's selection is already in the hose? For example, if they pick 87 octane, then I pick 92, I get a hose full of 87 before 92. For a tank like my golf cart, it might be half of that gets the 87 before I get the 92 I'm paying for.

The key word in that answer is tolerant. Being able to tolerate something most certainly doesn’t mean it’s what is optimal. Many people don’t have problems using e10% fuel, right up until the point when they do. The only way to be certain you won’t have ethanol related issues is to use ethanol free fuel. I use ethanol free fuel because I can’t tolerate showing up at my Villages home, only to find out my carts fuel delivery system is gummed up with ethanol residue.

Regular gas
 

I bought a 2007 yamaha in 2007, and have used nothing but regular e87. I leave my cart in my garage from may to October every year. I do not fill tank when I leave, just add some stablll to my gas a couple days before I leave and run it to make sure all my gas has stabill in it. Have had no problems at all,and I'am still running that same 2007 Yamaha.

Rec 90 is too high an octane. Golf carts should only use 87 octane. Sure they’ll run on 90 octane, but 90 octane burns too slow for cart engines and cart will begin getting sludged up and start back firing after awhile.

Gas for golf cart
 

My cart is 22 years old. I have never used anything but regular 87 octane and have never added anything. The cart runs fine. No mechanical problems.

I’ve had over a dozen boats and I would follow this method:
* use regular gas in your cart
* fill your cart’s tank to max
* if you are leaving for months, add Stabil to your gas then run the cart for a couple miles to run the treated gas thru your gas lines and thru your engine (mandatory to treat your complete system)
* add Heat or Stabil Fast Fix to your cart’s tank that eliminates any moisture buildup in your gas tank
* take out the spark plugs and shoot a couple squirts of oil in the cylinder(s)

I never had any problems with rust/moisture in the tank after 5 months of sitting

Our 2010 Yamaha which has a carburetor, sits May to October. The octane of untreated gas degrades over time. Our routine is:
a few days before leaving fill it with premium gas and add marine grade stabilizer
shut off the valve at the tank
put cart in neutral, start it and run until it stops to remove the gas from the carburetor
Never had a problem except it does take some cranking to start on our return

no one has said anything about top tier gas , most of the cheap gas is not top tier gas. like wawa, Walmart . top tier gas stations will have a big sticker posted on the pump .

No need for that in a golf cart either.

If you follow the tankers they will go from WaWa to "top tier" stations and deliver the same gas. Gas is gas and there is no such thing as top tier except in advertisements.

False.

Gas as I can tell Base stock same, it’s the company additives added. On side of tankers you see long tubes that’s the additive they add when delivered. Who knows where Wawa or circle K buys gas from what company? Some companies claim there additives are better like chevron and shell. I do know chevron fuel injector cleaner rated over all other brands, but have no proof it works any better other than marketing and ratings? A guy on Utube named “Project Farm” does all sorts non bias tests on products I sure he’s covered this subject?

Maybe someone actually worked delivering fuels can post the facts?

Yes, the base is the same. Additives are added to brand specs.
I've found many stations don't charge more for top tier.
Costco also sells top tier.:
Non-biased explanation:
carfax.com