[PJackpot]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

There is probably one or two pumps with non ethanol.
The 7-11 by brownwood has at least 1 - it is marked non ethanol.

Did your ‘friend” check all the pumps or just 1 or 2.

The 7-11 at Colony plaza also has the non-ethanol (recreational) gas.. I use it in my motorcycle as that does not get a lot of use.

[rsmurano]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

The myth continues. Only should prefer non ethanol if you don’t drive cart on a regular basis

We use regular gas in our 2021 Yamaha drive2 cart with no issues. We used the golf cart gas for the 1st 6 months and switched to regular unleaded. Runs perfect, got 7000 miles on it in 1.5 years

[maistocars]

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki

There is probably one or two pumps with non ethanol.
The 7-11 by brownwood has at least 1 - it is marked non ethanol.

Did your ‘friend” check all the pumps or just 1 or 2.

Didn't think the 7-11 by Brownwood was golf cart accessible.

[Kenswing]

Originally Posted by maistocars

Didn't think the 7-11 by Brownwood was golf cart accessible.

It is. It’s kind of hidden though. If you’re leaving Brownwood head towards Eisenhower. Once you clear the roundabout and tunnel take the first left. Not a very well identified path. It will take you down to Shooters World and the 7-11.

Disclaimer: I mapped this from memory. Use The Villages app to be sure-lol.

[vintageogauge]

Originally Posted by GizmoWhiskers

Golf Cart Gas... funny, a "secret potion" sold by T V.

Been using regular unleaded gas in my Yamaha G C for years with no problems.

There are a huge number of golf cars that sit idle for 6 to 9 months down here and the "golf car gas" won't go bad in that period of time so it's not a Villages thing.

[jarodrig]

Originally Posted by FenneyFanatic

From the Villages Golf Cart website:

How does Ethanol affect my Golf Car?
Ethanol attracts and absorbs water from the air and can lead to rust and contamination in your engine. If ethanol gas sits for a period of time, it can separate (gas from water) and cause the engine to suck up water instead of fuel, leading to serious engine damage.

Yes , of course they would give you that recommendation.

Why, you ask ?? BECAUSE THEY SELL NON-ETHANOL FUEL AND MAKE A PRETTY GOOD PROFIT ON IT !!!

Using regular unleaded with no more than 10% ethanol in your cart will have NO impact on the warranty.

If anyone would care to look in the MFG OWNER MANUAL, they specifically recommend REGULAR unleaded fuel with NO MORE than 10% ethanol.

You will find NOWHERE in your manual where non ethanol fuel is specifically recommended. In fact , nothing is said AT ALL about ethanol free fuel .

I’ve owned 3 Yamaha gas carts, my first being a carbureted 2003, second was a carbureted 2010 and my current is a fuel injected 2019 Quie-Tec (Currently, I have 8,073 miles on it).

ALL owner manuals have had the same recommendation as listed above . I’ve run all of my carts following the MFG’s recommendation.

So, it is pure BS that following the MFG’s recommendation is going to “ruin” or “damage” your engine !

All that being said ….. there is NOTHING WRONG with using non-ethanol fuel in your golf cart. However , you’re paying more for it than 10 % ethanol when it’s not necessary….other than somehow making you feel better ! Your engine won’t know the difference.

[Sunflower33]

Originally Posted by bsloan1960

Haven't moved to TV yet. Do golf carts take special gas?

No tge carts take regular unleaded. I’ve been here 15 years and that’s what I use. We didn’t have special gas until the golf cart stores were built. My cart runs fine

[jarodrig]

Originally Posted by Sunflower33

We didn’t have special gas until the golf cart stores were built.

BINGO !!

They discovered that there was a profit to be made by selling “recreational fuel” and of course, launched a campaign recommending it by using the “fear factor” in trying to convince you that you would ruin your motor if you didn’t use it !

[Chi-Town]

The Villages Golf Car store said to add a small amount of STA-BIL at fill up. That was some time ago, but I still own that particular cart.

' BIL

[Larchap49]

Originally Posted by ohioshooter

You put it in your automobile every time you fill up, what’s the difference?

Why do you think the dealerships recommend fuel injection services and additives to remove water from the fuel systems

[Steve]

Originally Posted by FenneyFanatic

A gentlemen just posted that he looked at the pumps and found no sign of golf cart gas. I hope this is not true. Thoughts?

Golf carts can use the same gas as your car, although some people prefer what's known as "Marine Gas", gas that is Ethanol-free. I know, you thought "Marine Gas" was the result of eating at the mess hall at Camp Lejeune.

[NoMoSno]

I only put about 200 miles a year on my cart. It and my zero-turn get non-ethanol.
Edger/weed wacker, blower and hedge trimmer get canned fuel with no Benzine.
Benzine is a killer on small rubber diaphragm based carbs.
Regular 10% Ethanol is fine in a cart if you use it regularly.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Robbb

Are you sure about that? All the small Yamaha engines that I am familiar with are all designed to use ethanol. In fact non-ethanol fuels are very difficult to find in many areas.

I don't know all the factors involved, but ethanol is alcohol that can mess up the vibrating plastic/rubber discs that are supposed to function as a carburetor in the small gas engines.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by mrf0151

Actually, on page 6-2 of the Yamaha owner's manual it only states unleaded fuel. Non-ethanol is smart for sure or if using regular 87 octane recommended fuel then one is wise to use the Star-Tron ethanol additive. Note that these Yamaha engines are LOW compression and that use of octane higher than 87 can leave carbon deposits in the engine. This eventually will lead to a poor power issue.


Since 2017, increasingly more opinions have been expressed that ethanol fuels may not be the best fuel for golf carts. This has come around due to mechanical issues seen in golf carts like stalling, exhaust smoke, clogged carburetors, damaged fuel pumps, and dissolving of rubber components.

Ethanol attracts water, and if your cart doesn’t burn through it within about three months of filling, the ethanol can be corrosive in the engine, and this can cause performance and mechanical issues.

Not only that, but when the water suspended in the gas experiences rapid temperature changes and does separate from the gas, it lowers the octane level by around 4 points, so can 87 octane is now only an 83 octane.

Smaller engines with carburetors like golf carts were not designed to work with the 10% ethanol (E-10) content, reducing fuel efficiency considerably. It affects efficient combustion in the engine, causing stalling and a rough-running engine.

As ethanol in the fuel tank ages, it promotes the build of gum, leading to clogging in the carburetor and fuel filter, which will decrease the power and performance.

Ethanol is a poor additive and has no REAL justification in ANY IC engine. It was a marketing campaign designed to keep up the price of corn for corn farmers in the Midwest.

[ohioshooter]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

I don't know all the factors involved, but ethanol is alcohol that can mess up the vibrating plastic/rubber discs that are supposed to function as a carburetor in the small gas engines.

They don’t have carburetors anymore. This is 2023. Oh I better be careful or I’ll offend someone.