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Golf Cart Service Tips & Essentials | Home Edition

Mar. 21 2023 Tips By RW

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Life happens fast, and sometimes that To-Do list becomes overwhelmingly backlogged. More often than not a golf cart service will fall to the wayside in favor of tasks with higher priority, and it's easy to forget about it until it's time to use it. Below are a few ideas to notate when maintaining your gas golf cart between your scheduled inspections to help improve its performance and increase its longevity!


How often should I have my golf cart serviced?

  • Generally speaking, it's recommended that your golf cart be serviced once every 12 months (1 year) or as close to that mark as possible. Both gas and electric golf carts both share common critical components, and it's important to insure these features are inspected regularly for safe operation. Keep in mind that new E-Z-GO and Yamaha gas golf carts come with “break in” oil, and it may need changed after the first 10 hours of use.

GAS

What Type of Gas Should I put in my Golf Cart?

  • Gas golf carts can take regular unleaded gasoline, however, to reduce the progression of build up, ethanol-free gasoline is recommended. Aside from that, gas golf carts are practically self-sustainable. Aside from any unusual performance issues, we recommend routine annual maintenance for your golf cart to stay healthy.


How much gas should a gas golf cart use monthly? About how far can my golf cart go on one tank?

  • Talk about efficiency! Gas golf carts typically have a 5 gallon tank, and taking into consideration the current market value of gasoline, you can expect each fill up to be about $12-$18. Gas golf carts are definitely built for marathons, and to bring it into perspective, 5 gallons can take you 240 miles and beyond. That's more than enough to run the entire Peachtree City path system twice! Since the debut of Yamaha's Quietech technology in 2017, gas golf carts have become more and more popular because of their reputation for longevity, range, and also their "quiet" nature.


ELECTRIC

How Long should a Golf Cart Last on a Full Charge?

  • First, it takes between 8-10 hours for a golf cart with deep cycle batteries to properly charge, and this typically takes place overnight for use the following day. With the introduction of newer technology in the last several years, range has taken on a whole new meaning! In 2016, E-Z-GO unveiled the Freedom TXT 72 Volt golf cart, and it has gained in popularity. Unlike its 48 volt predecessors, the 72 Volt has a range capable of 60 miles or more per charge compared to the Standard TXT and Freedom RXV which yield roughly 25-30 miles each per charge.


How Much Water Should I put in My Batteries?

  • The majority of electric golf carts in the market operate on deep cycle battery systems. There are some exceptions to that as of late, but we'll get into that later. Your batteries require periodic monitoring to ensure each one has plenty distilled water, and we recommend checking your water levels at least once every 3-4 weeks. The routine may vary depending on usage and time of year as warmer months tend to accelerate the evaporation process! Using anything other than distilled water will “contaminate” your batteries' electrolyte solution where foreign particles or minerals in other sources can attach to the metal plates inside your batteries. When this happens, it deteriorates battery health and reduces their effectiveness and life expectancy. Overfilling: It IS possible to overfill your batteries, and we advise our customers to fill batteries post-charge. During the charging process, the water inside the batteries boils, and if the reservoirs are full beforehand, it runs the risk of overflowing. This can cause your batteries to age prematurely, develop corrosion on and around the terminals and possibly damage the ground below the golf cart. Alternative Options: There are products available that regulate the water levels in your batteries, and it can make the process virtually hassle-free. Let us know if you would like more information, and we'll be more than happy to help!


Should I Leave My Golf Cart Plugged in all the Time?

  • This is HIGHLY ill-advised. Leaving your golf cart plugged in 24/7 is a bad idea. It may give you the peace of mind that it's “ready to go” at the drop of a hat, but what this does is open up room for a potential disaster. In the event of a thunderstorm, having your golf cart on charge provides a direct route for a power surge to catastrophically damage your charger and potentially other things. OEM items are not cheap, and replacing these all at once would be roughly $1,200 or more before tax. The best practice is to plan for inclement weather whenever possible by unplugging your charger from the cart AND the wall after a full charge.


How Much does it Cost to Charge My Golf Cart?

Surprisingly, the annual cost of charging your golf cart is comparable to what it costs to run a fan in your bedroom. Deep cycle battery powered golf carts take between 8-10 hours to complete a full charge cycle, and with newer chargers coming with an auto shut off mechanism, it will conserve power once the cart has completed its charge. Some key notes to consider before, during, and after charges:

  • Dedicate one power outlet to your golf cart
  • Avoid using extension cords when possible
  • Unplug your charger from the wall and the golf cart after charging. Leaving it plugged in opens risk to power surges and potentially damaging the charger and your cart.
  • Always store your charger in a cool dry area
  • Allow your cart to complete a full charge. Remember, charging your cart for an hour or two will not suffice


Can You Overcharge Golf Cart Batteries?

  • Yes, it is possible to overcharge your batteries. Overcharging your batteries can cause excessive gassing (water breakdown), heat builds, and battery aging. Fortunately new golf cart chargers have an auto-shutoff feature helping minimize this window of possibility. Regardless of whether you have a lithium powered golf cart or a traditional deep cycle lead battery powered golf cart, we recommend charging your golf cart after every use. On the flip side, undercharging your golf cart is something to be aware of, too. Undercharging your golf cart's batteries causes stratification which leads to premature aging. Charge Time: It takes between 8-10 hours for a golf cart with deep cycle batteries to properly charge. A common mistake among golf cart owners is charging golf carts multiple times throughout the day. This practice can sometimes produce a false charge reading on initial start up because all it does is “tickle” the system. You will likely see a significant decrease on your meter often reverting back to the original charge level within a mile of use. Advancements in golf cart charging: significant strides have been made to the charging process in part to introducing lithium battery-powered golf carts to the market. This technology has effectively cut average charge times in half which allows more time on the path. To learn more about lithium battery golf carts, you can visit E-Z-GO's website or take a peek at our current lithium-powered inventory!


My Golf Cart Won't Charge. What's Wrong?

  • There are infinite possibilities as to why your golf cart may not be taking a charge. Operating issues are quite often difficult to diagnose without surveying your golf cart first-hand. We highly recommend scheduling your golf cart for service. Click here to provide us your information, and we will be happy to help!


Why Does my Golf Cart Die so Fast?

  • This is a great question! There are several things to consider when addressing the effectiveness of your cart's batteries as they relate to performance like battery age, payload, usage, accessories and charging habits. The age of your batteries plays a significant role in why your run time is short. Believe it or not, even top-of-the-line Trojan golf cart batteries have a lifespan! On average, the life of a set of deep cycle batteries is between 3-5 years, and if properly maintained between routine services, you may be able to squeeze a few more years out of them. Consider an 80-100 minute discharge rating awesome. What this reflects is the potential continuous runtime of your golf cart, however, certain variables will cause this to fluctuate minimally or drastically depending on the circumstances. Here are some examples:
  • A golf cart carrying 4 grown adults will cause it to expend more energy than one adult and 3 children
  • Having several aftermarket accessories requiring power will draw from your batteries, and running them continuously will drain them quicker

A common mistake among golf cart owners is charging golf carts multiple times throughout the day. This practice can sometimes produce a false charge reading on initial start up because all it does is "tickle" the system. You will likely see a significant decrease on your meter often reverting back to the original charge level within a mile of use. Remember, deep cycle battery systems require roughly 8-10 hours of continuous charging for them to perform properly.

In short, be mindful of how you're using your golf cart, and if there are any minor adjustments you can make to prolong the life of your batteries, now is the time to start!