Yamaha golf cart oil change DIY
 

Good morning,
I would like to change the oil myself on a 2009 Yamaha cart and while I was at it replace the spark plug. Has anyone done this and would consider sharing the info on how to do it yourself?
Mike

You need one quart of oil. (10w30 or 10w40) A 17mm box end wrench for drain plug. There is no oil filter. Put wrench on drain plug from underneath the cart. The lift the seat a reach down an pull up on the wrench to loosen. Then remove the drain plug from down below. ( If you have never replaced a spark plug in a mower or car then don't do it. (If you cross thread or break off a spark plug your in deep stuff)

You can find a "how to" oil change video on youtube.

Where exactly is the drain plug? Is it on the bottom of the engine?If not which side? What size socket for the spark plug and what's the gap? What brand is best to use for the spark plug replacement ? Can I use full synthetic oil?

Yamaha DOES NOT recommend synthetic oil since it's a splash system. The also recommend 10/30 oil. Not 10/40. I texted them a couple of years ago about the oil velocity, and they said only 10/30. They should know. The drain plug is on the bottom of the engine on the side, underneath the clutch. Make sure you change the aluminum gasket on the drain bolt.

A Yamaha representative told me that synthetic is fine. I have been using Mobil 1 10w-30 for several years. The owner's manual only specifies 10w-30 and API Service SE, SF, SG (which are obsolete API ratings). Any contemporary 10w-30 oil is fine.

The Villages golf cart shops use 10w-40 according to the maintenance sheet I got from them when I purchased my cart.

That is not what Yamaha recommends but it probably doesn't make much, if any, difference. These engines are pretty much bullet-proof.

How/where will you dispose the waste oil?

Run the cart a few minutes to warm up the oil, to drain better.
Yamaha recommends "Yamaha Lube" which is not a "full" synthetic, however C&C also recommended Motorcraft 10/30 Synthetic Blend, or Mobile 1.
Have not replaced the oil plug washer yet. Anybody know what size or where to get them?
Spark plug gap .028-.031
Don't forget the air and fuel filter.
All the spec info is in the manual.

Walmart or any oil change shop will take it.
I take it to my recycle center in Weirsdale.

Again, I noticed when the Villages used 10-40 I questioned it. I emailed Yamaha. They said they recommend 10-30, not 10-40, especially in our temperature. The representative also said since it's a splash system (no oil pump) synthetic oil is to thin. He said use Yamalube 10-30.
They should know (I hope!)

You can get the aluminum gaskets at the Village Golf Cart shops or online. Part number is Yamaha gasket (812-11198-00). Make sure you change them every oil change. The block is aluminum and the bolt is steel. You can strip the block because the gaskets flatten once they are used. I know from experience I stripped a block once, expensive!

Autozone will take used oil. The other auto parts chain stores will also probably take used oil.

The viscosity range of an oil is indicated by a designation such as "10w-30". This indicates the viscosity at a low temperature (the 10) and at a high temperature (the 30). Synthetic 10w-30 will have essentially the same viscosity range as non-synthetic 10w-30. Synthetics also don't shear down like non-synthetics so they maintain their viscosity better over time. The Yamaha representative is, of course, pushing their own oil product. Any contemporary 10w-30 weight oil, whether synthetic or not, will be fine.

Agree with "replace the oil plug washer". I did not on a club car and had a drip.