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If you’re the proud owner of a gas-powered golf cart, you will have to regularly check and change the engine oil. As is the case with any type of vehicle, oil plays a crucial role in the engine.
But with so many different engine oils out there, it can be confusing to know which is the most appropriate for your golf cart. To help you out, we explain everything you need to know about oil for golf carts and provide you with the steps you need to follow to change the oil.
By the end of this article, you will have all the information you need to change the oil in your golf cart and be safe in the knowledge that your golf cart is operating at its peak.
Does a Golf Cart Need Oil?
Yes, for a golf cart to run at its peak, you need to regularly service it and change its oil. You need to check the oil of your golf cart every month or so, and it’s best practice to change the oil after every 125 hours of operation or after six months.
In other words, it’s best to service your golf cart like you service your car. The good news is that you can easily check and change the oil yourself on your golf cart, and you don’t need to take it to a repair shop to get the work done.
You can use different types of oil in your golf cart, and there are certain synthetic options available that work well in different makes and models. That being said, you should always check your instruction manual before changing the oil on your cart.
After all, if you put the wrong oil in your golf cart engine, you will be faced with an expensive repair bill to drain and clean the engine before you can get your golf cart back up and running!
What is the Best Oil for a Golf Cart?
Most golf carts use 10W-30 oil as stipulated in golf cart manuals. However, if you regularly operate the cart at near capacity loads, you can use 10W-40 oil. Another option is to use synthetic oil, which is suitable for some carts and utility vehicles, but it needs to be of the same viscosity.
We recommend Castrol GTX 10W-30 Motor Oil for most golf carts (click image):
However, you need to read your manual carefully, as some manufacturers recommend against using synthetic oils. For instance, Yamaha carts don’t run well on synthetic oils due to the splash systems used in their models.
While every golf cart is different, the good news is that each cart comes with detailed instructions about which oils to use, which to avoid, and how often you need to change the oil for your cart to run at its full capacity.
When you’re topping up or changing the oil on your golf cart, make sure you only use oil that has been recommended by the manufacturer.
Adding the wrong oil to your golf cart can have pretty bad consequences and may even render your cart unusable!
What Kind of Oil Do You Put in a Club Car Golf Cart?
Club Car golf cart engines hold between 1.25 and 1.5 quarts of 10W-30 engine oil. When your oil dips below the designated level, you can top your Club Car golf cart up with standard 10W-30 engine oil.
Again, you can use synthetic oils if you wish, but they’re typically not as effective in Club Car models. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, it’s so important to check your manual before changing or replacing the oil in your Club Car golf cart.
That being said, any 10W-30 engine oil from the leading brands should be perfectly fine for your Club Car golf cart. Some people also use 10W-40 engine oil for their Club Car carts, particularly if they regularly load them up.
When you’re preparing to change the oil in your golf cart, make sure you do your research and select the right oil for your Club Car cart.
If you have any issues when it comes to changing your oil, it’s best to take your cart to a repair shop and have someone look over it on your behalf.
What Type of Oil Do I Put in My EZ-Go Golf Cart?
You need to use 10W-30 engine oil in your EZ-Go golf cart in order to get the best performance from the vehicle. EZ-Go recommends changing the oil in your cart once every six months so that your cart can operate at its full capacity.
When it’s time to change the oil on your EZ Go golf cart, it’s best to warm your engine first before draining the oil. You can then drain the oil, clean the filter, and add the fresh 10W-30 oil to your EZ Go cart.
Although it might seem like a bit of a hassle, it’s really important not to neglect the engine oil on your EZ Go cart. If you don’t change the oil, you risk damaging your engine in the long run, as dirty oil isn’t good for the long-term health of your cart.
Most people change the oil on their cart at the start and end of the summer, as this is the time during which golf carts are most used.
No matter when you elect to change the oil on your golf cart, make sure you get into the routine of doing so to help your cart last long into the future.
What Oil Goes in A 4 Stroke Golf Cart?
Most 4 stroke golf carts require 10W-30 engine oil, but you should check the details of your operator’s manual before changing the oil on your cart.
In fact, lots of people don’t know if their cart is 2 or 4 strokes, as it’s not something that consumers are often concerned with! The easiest way to tell if your golf cart is four-stroke is to check if it has a dipstick and oil cap on the engine.
2 stroke engines have an oil tank instead and are typically older models. But the good news is that they require the same type of oil as 4 stroke models, so you don’t need to worry too much about which model you own.
Whether your golf cart is 2 or 4 strokes, you need to regularly check and replace the oil in its engine. Again, failing to do so will harm your golf cart in the long run, as you should never run a golf cart on dirty oil.
How Often Should You Change Golf Cart Oil?
Most golf cart manufacturers agree that you should change the oil on your golf cart every six months, so at least twice a year. EZ-Go is a little more specific than that, suggesting that you should change the oil after 125 hours of use for the best results.
But as most people don’t pay much attention to the 125-hour mark, it’s easier to schedule your cart in for a service and oil change after six months.
It’s relatively easy to change the oil in your golf cart yourself (as we explain below), but you can always take it to a repair shop if you’re not confident of doing it at home.
As well as changing your oil once every six months, we’d recommend checking your oil at least once a month. You can do this by removing the dipstick in the engine and checking that the oil is currently within the stipulated zone.
If you notice that your oil is leaking or the levels aren’t what you were expecting, you might have an issue with your cart, and it’s best to take it in to be looked at.
How Do You Change the Oil in a Golf Cart?
Changing the oil in a golf cart is relatively straightforward and can be safely completed in 5 steps.
- Switch on your golf cart and leave it running for a minute or so before shutting off the ignition.
- Clean the oil cap and the surrounding area with a rag.
- Place a drain pan underneath the oil filter and remove the bolts with a wrench. You can find the oil filter within a triangular metal housing attached to the engine.
- Clean the filter while the oil is draining from the engine, using an engine degreaser. Once clean, wipe the area surrounding the filter.
- Reattach the engine filter and slowly add the fresh 10-30W engine oil.
It’s best to leave your golf cart sitting for a short while before starting it up to give the engine oil sufficient time to settle. You’re then all set and ready to get back behind the wheel of your golf cart.
Conclusion
If you have a gas-powered golf cart, you will need to change its engine oil at least twice a year to ensure your cart runs at its full capacity.
Just like the oil in your car, it’s super important not to neglect the oil in your golf cart’s engine.
You can buy 10-30W from all garages and service stations, and it’s widely available, so you shouldn’t have any issues when it comes to finding the most appropriate oil for your golf cart.
If you aren’t confident when it comes to changing the oil in your golf cart, we’d recommend taking your cart to a repair shop to let a mechanic take care of it for you, as it’s not something you can afford to get wrong!