# Gas vs. diesel **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 20, 2008, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959 "2008-10-20T13:48:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DODGEMAN1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@DODGEMAN1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DODGEMAN1)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/1 "2008-10-20T13:48:43Z")
I have to remotor my two people golfcart.In order to keep the rearend rpm`s the same, I have to go back with a 3600rpm engine. By size, weight and ofcourse money I have narrowed it to either a 16hp single cyl. gas or a 10hp single cyl. diesel engine, both aircooled. Question: can I expect the same power output and quick response from smaller diesel engine than I can get from a gas engine? I’m stuck with the original beltdrive system, so reaching the high rpm range is critical. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks, dodgeman1 ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/2 "2008-10-20T14:16:23Z")
Diesels usually have more torque…So from a dead stop it should be faster. But a gas engine usually revs higher so the top-end of the diesel may not be there. For a golf cart…I suspect either will do fine. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/3 "2008-10-20T14:21:34Z")
Knowing nothing about diesel golf carts, my only question is - don’t diesels stink? Do you want to live with that? ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/4 "2008-10-20T14:46:49Z")
I would swap in a Suzuki Hayabusa engine. You’d have the fastest golf cart on the course. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/5 "2008-10-20T15:17:29Z")
I have never heard of a diesel golf cart and I can’t really imagine a golf cart application really takes advantage of any of diesel’s strengths, other than maybe the ability to run it on the french fry grease from the pro-shop cafe. I’d definitely go for the gas engine. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/6 "2008-10-20T15:39:32Z")
Good point - OP, have you seen this type of diesel engine in a cart? I would think a small diesel engine would be for running a generator, something like that, not something that’s constantly starting and stopping. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/7 "2008-10-20T16:07:31Z")
Forget the diesel in a golf cart…All you will get is more noise, more vibration and more weight. Also, achieving 3600 rpm will push a diesel to it’s upper operating limits. Single cylinder diesels have a heavy flywheel which means very slow throttle response… They are made to power generators and pumps, not vehicles. Having said that, I have a 10hp Yanmar air-cooled diesel engine I will sell you cheap. It was used as a marine engine in a sailboat which was wrecked in a storm. The engine was never under water, the boat went up on the rocks high and dry… ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/8 "2008-10-20T19:31:08Z")
I don’t golf, but are petroleum fueled golf carts allowed on the courses? I always assumed they allowed only electrics to keep noise to a minimum and prevent damage to the fairways. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/9 "2008-10-20T20:19:49Z")
> I have never heard of a diesel golf cart and I can’t really imagine a golf cart application really takes advantage of any of diesel’s strengths, other than maybe the ability to run it on the french fry grease from the pro-shop cafe. I’d definitely go for the gas engine. Diesel golf carts are very popular in Mountain or very hilly Golf couses. ---
**Author:** ![oldschool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e19adc/32.png) [@oldschool](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldschool)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/10 "2008-10-20T20:57:28Z")
In the “Old Folks” sub-divison I live in, people use golf carts for basic short range transportation, no golf courses within miles. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/11 "2008-10-20T21:06:40Z")
Cool. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 1:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/12 "2008-10-21T01:47:52Z")
Tim Allen! What are you doing here!? ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/13 "2008-10-21T02:00:36Z")
Most golf courses I play at have the electric carts. (Although I always walk and carry). But for very hilly courses the electrics can’t hold a charge long enough to go 18 holes. And some of the VERY HILLY have diesel for the added torque and gas mileage. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/14 "2008-10-21T05:37:30Z")
You don’t want to deal with diesel fuel because it makes a mess wherever you use it. It also leaks from any fitting that isn’t perfect. If it’s gasoline driven now, then it will be a lot easier to stay with it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/15 "2008-10-21T14:19:05Z")
The more I’ve thought about this…the last time I ever saw a diesel golf cart was probably 20 years ago. I’ll bet they’ve made improvements with the gas versions that diesels aren’t needed anymore. Personally I’d stick with gas. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/16 "2008-10-21T14:21:32Z")
My brother-in-law who lives in a nice community in Georgia has trails for people to use golf-carts on. You’ll find several of these communities around…NOT just in the “Old Folks” sub-divisions. ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gas-vs-diesel/20959/17 "2008-10-21T14:57:10Z")
If it is only being used inside a sub-division, wouldn’t an electric golf cart be good enough?