Basic Golf Cart Maintenance
In case you haven’t noticed, golf carts are becoming a new trend in neighborhoods. While some think of them strictly as golf course accessories, golf carts can actually help with yard maintenance or short trips around the neighborhood or to the supermarket. Plus, using a golf cart for these short trips can help reduce your carbon footprint.
Before you buy a golf cart from Ty’s Outdoor Power, here’s a list of what you should know to properly maintain your new toy’s health.
Read the owners manual
The owners manual specifies the needs of your specific vehicle. Golf carts can vary greatly based on brands, types, and models, so know what your cart needs. Make sure you use the proper way to maintain it rather than using general tips and maintenance techniques.
Check the batteries
The battery is vital for every type of vehicle. A faulty battery can reduce your golf cart’s efficiency and cause damage. Keep your batteries clean and free of corrosion by periodically washing the terminals—aim for a once a month cleaning. Make sure to wear gloves and eye protection when cleaning the battery.
Gas & Oil
If your cart is gas powered, only use regular grade field, avoid 10 percent ethanol. It may cost a few extra cents but will keep your cart running optimally and feed into its longevity. Plus, golf carts are incredibly fuel efficient and the extra cents will barely be noticed in your budget.
Read your owners manual to find out how often you should replace engine oil and what type of oil is recommended for optimal performance.
Tires
Like your vehicle, make sure your tires hold the recommended air pressure. Over or under inflated tires can affect performance and damage the tires, potentially leading to blowouts. Check your owners manual for proper PSI, not the labels on the tires as they often list the recommended PSI for the tires, not the golf cart. If the golf cart and tire PSI recommendations are conflicting, consider purchasing tires that match your golf cart recommended PSI levels.
Adjust your maintenance techniques based on the season
With the Midwest’s up-and-down weather patterns, golf cart owners must adjust their maintenance based on the current climate. The winter season means cart owners must winterize their golf cart in preparation for storage.
Completely clean the battery to minimize the amount of corrosion that will inevitably build up during the winter months. Make sure to inflate your tires to the highest recommended PSI levels. The tires will always deflate during storage, but tires that remain under-inflated for extended periods of time will eventually crack.
When spring rolls around, owners must immediately inspect their vehicle and conduct post-storage maintenance before using the cart. Check the tires for PSI levels and any damage that may have happened while in storage. Remove built-up corrosion from the battery and consider cleaning the battery again.
Schedule a weekly inspection
It’s a good idea to take a few minutes at the end of the week to briefly inspect your golf cart for any damage. Dedicating 15 minutes a week for an inspection will shorten your maintenance schedule in the long-term and can help you find any needed repairs before they turn into breakdowns.
Service your golf cart
Whether it’s once a month, once a season or once a year, all vehicles must be serviced. Find a local dealer to conduct a full service of your golf cart to keep it running in peak condition.
