[Viking55]

I'm in the market for a used golf cart, and wonder if there is a substantial enough difference between a FI and carb'd cart to justify the extra bucks for the FI. Seems to me that while the FI is (probably) more reliable, it would be more costly when/if something goes wrong. So, FI: more reliable (starting wise), more expensive (purchase and repair). Is the extra expense of a FI cart worth it? Is FI so much more reliable than carb'd carts?

Thanks!

Gary
De Luna

[John_W]

...

[Malsua]

Definitely buy Fuel Injection.

Carb carts work, no doubt but onward and upward. You'll find your mileage is better, cold weather starting will be better, throttle response is better. It's just a much better system. I am not an advocate for Fuel injection on things like snow blowers or lawn mowers because a snow blower is only useful a few months of the year(up north of course) and the opposite applies to a lawn mower. An unattended battery will go flat in that in those down times(FI requires a battery and alternator). Of course, when we're talking about something you use all the time, your golf cart, the major downside, isn't a downside at all.

There's a reason there are no production cars built in the last 30 years that use carburetors.

Again, I'm not saying carbs don't work. They do, it's cheap and proven but FI is just better.

[Aw Man]

Originally Posted by Viking55

I'm in the market for a used golf cart, and wonder if there is a substantial enough difference between a FI and carb'd cart to justify the extra bucks for the FI. Seems to me that while the FI is (probably) more reliable, it would be more costly when/if something goes wrong. So, FI: more reliable (starting wise), more expensive (purchase and repair). Is the extra expense of a FI cart worth it? Is FI so much more reliable than carb'd carts?

Thanks!

Gary
De Luna

I bought a new Yamaha with carbureted engine in 2014.
I like the cart and it still performs very well with annual service by Willie’s Golf Cart Service.
However, most of my friends drive EFI Yamaha carts and the biggest difference I’ve seen, even with their older 2013-2014 cart models, is that the EFI engines run much quieter than my carbureted engine.
I grew to hate the noisy sound of the carbureted engine and eventually found it more acceptable after having the entire engine compartment and seat bottom insulated. (Even so, the EFI engines are still less noisy)
So, if engine noise bothers you, I’d suggest going with the EFI engine.

[Toymeister]

First let's talk fuel injection. There are two types throttle body injection (TBI) and direct injection.

Golf carts use TBI as most cars do. They do this because it is cheap, not some grand reliability effort. Cars with carburators can not be electronically controlled. There is some gain in reliability, don't get me wrong but in cars it is necessary and a great marketing ploy as most people do not understand the difference.

Because of that general ignorance I would get a TBI cart just to make it easier to resell when the time comes.

[John_W]

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[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

First let's talk fuel injection. There are two types throttle body injection (TBI) and direct injection.

Golf carts use TBI as most cars do. They do this because it is cheap, not some grand reliability effort. Cars with carburators can not be electronically controlled. There is some gain in reliability, don't get me wrong but in cars it is necessary and a great marketing ploy as most people do not understand the difference.

Because of that general ignorance I would get a TBI cart just to make it easier to resell when the time comes.

TBI systems in vehicles hasn’t been around since mid 1990’s. What I like about fuel injected golf carts I don’t have to worry about stale gas plugging up injection system cause there no fuel setting in fuel bowl and the start better, warm up better, run better, and I don’t have to fool with choke on cool mornings.

One more thing, FI hold tuneup longer, rarely have to change spark plug cause they better mix the fuel ratio. Where carburetor can run rich or lean and foul out spark plug. This also affects engine oil getting contaminated quicker.

[John_W]

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[Toymeister]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

TBI systems in vehicles hasn’t been around since mid 1990’s.

You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. VW was using TBI on even it's entry level Golf in 1985 onwards. Most Japanese models had it by 1989/90. It is the US automakers that hold onto archaic and cheap technology. My 2004 GM had a distributor cap over a decade after electronic ignition (no cap) was standard.

[JerryP]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. VW was using TBI on even it's entry level Golf in 1985 onwards. Most Japanese models had it by 1989/90. It is the US automakers that hold onto archaic and cheap technology. My 2004 GM had a distributor cap over a decade after electronic ignition (no cap) was standard.

Regretfully I had a Dodge Aries LE Wagon 2.2L EFi , which also was TBI injected motor.

[Malsua]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. VW was using TBI on even it's entry level Golf in 1985 onwards. Most Japanese models had it by 1989/90. It is the US automakers that hold onto archaic and cheap technology. My 2004 GM had a distributor cap over a decade after electronic ignition (no cap) was standard.

I had a 1986 Ford Tempo that had a throttle body injection. I know this for a couple reasons, one being that there was a recall on the injector and during the replacement, the dealer hosed up the harness and it turned into a week long fiasco. The other is that I worked my way through the 80s as a mechanic and engine builder and I know my cars.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Toymeister

You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts. VW was using TBI on even it's entry level Golf in 1985 onwards. Most Japanese models had it by 1989/90. It is the US automakers that hold onto archaic and cheap technology. My 2004 GM had a distributor cap over a decade after electronic ignition (no cap) was standard.

Not my opinion, look it up.

TBI is a type of fuel injection system that served as a segue between carburation and multiport fuel injection (MPI). Although TBI was phased out of production cars by the mid-90s, many vehicles that employ the technology are still on the road.Feb 1, 2021

Throttle Body Fuel Injection: Vintage Technology That Doesn't ...

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Malsua

I had a 1986 Ford Tempo that had a throttle body injection. I know this for a couple reasons, one being that there was a recall on the injector and during the replacement, the dealer hosed up the harness and it turned into a week long fiasco. The other is that I worked my way through the 80s as a mechanic and engine builder and I know my cars.

I had 89 tempo that ran like Swiss watch till it had recall, then every 10,000 mile or so the fuel pump went out. Had bullet proof 4 cylinder in it, it you could get fuel to it.

[Villages Kahuna]

FI for sure.

[richs631]

Originally Posted by Viking55

I'm in the market for a used golf cart, and wonder if there is a substantial enough difference between a FI and carb'd cart to justify the extra bucks for the FI. Seems to me that while the FI is (probably) more reliable, it would be more costly when/if something goes wrong. So, FI: more reliable (starting wise), more expensive (purchase and repair). Is the extra expense of a FI cart worth it? Is FI so much more reliable than carb'd carts?

Thanks!

Gary
De Luna

If you know how to work on small motors, get carbureted