1997 club car smoking bad - cold weather only?

racinjason424

Hi guys/ gals.. I'm new here to this sight.. I bought a '97 gas club car about 3 years ago and really love it!! I've added a lift and some larger custom wheels and tires.. Last winter I noticed once in a while it would blow white smoke out of the exhaust and leave a black oily trail in the snow.. It kind of came and went, so I didnt give it much thought..

The warm weather came, I changed the oil and it worked and ran flawlessly all summer, except I noticed the oil light on the dash would come on if I ran wide open for any period of time.... Other than that, it ran pretty good..

Now here it is fall in Michigan and in the 40's.. Well, the smoke is back, almost constantly now and quite a bit worse.. Lots of white hanging smoke and smells real oily... Any ideas what could be causing it and a possible fix? Thanks in advance, Jason.

BGW

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mikesmotortoys

Sounds like your cart wants you to move to Florida? Sorry - Just had to say that...

I do not have an answer for this issue? Does it have something to do with choking the cart to get it running? If you're leaving oil on the ground thru your muffler, it would seem that there is too much oil in the cart and it's blowing thru?

racinjason424

We both would rather be in Flordia!!! Not sure about the choke. I only have to choke it once in a while when cold and hardly ever when warm.. It was smoking badly today a few times, and I wasnt choking it.. I just parked it..

And as far as the oil level, it's on the line, and it didnt smoke this summer either?? I was thinking the oil is blowing by a ring or valve/ valve seal maybe, but not sure and not sure what air temp would have to do with that?? Im not a master mechanic by an means, but I know a small amount about engines... I don't know much about this motor though, in fact, Ive only ever changed the oil and added gas..

crash12888

Change the oil to a 5w-30 and see if it clears up. What does the plug look like? If it is oily you might have an oil ring gummed up and smoking that way.
Done a compression test?
97 is 12 years old and depending on use/abuse might be ready for rings and seals.
How does the air filter look? any oil blown on it?

When you change the oil put just the amount the manual calls for, then check the dipstick, because of the lift and motor angle, you might be over filling it using the dipstick.

scottyb

I agree with Crash

racinjason424

Thanks for the great info! I will check all of that stuff and change the oil to 5w-30.. I think I used 10w-30 last time.. Do you happen to know how much oil is needed? I never got a manual with the machine, so I was relying on the dipstick line.. I will also check the filter too & do a comp. check.. Any way to clean the rings without removal, if they are gummed up?

invalidsession

There are many products on the shelf of your local "FLAPS" which claim to remove carbon etc from piston rings and other internal engine parts. Sea Foam is one I have used with some success. Reduce the amount required to suit your engine size, follow the instructions carefully and have at it. Another trick that was used back in the day was diesel fuel, you would dribble it in to the carburettor intake with the engine running for a little while and produce a lot of black smoke but it did work wonders for removing carbon deposits from the valves and rings.


Chris.