2002 DS smoking, sputtering and loses power

[bamainhtown]

Hey guys,

So, I have an 02 Club Car DS FE290. It starts off running fine for a about 100 yards then suddenly loses power, belts out white smoke and dies. Sits for a couple seconds and does it all again. I have replaced the fuel pump, fuel filters, cleaned the carb multiple times, checked to make sure the float actually floats. The cart is lifted and I know I had overfilled it, so I drained the oil, replaced the oil filter and oil with a bit less than 1.5 quarts. I took the spark plug out and held my thumb over and it had good compression. I am not sure where to go from here. Thoughts?

Thanks for any and all help.

Jeff

[Mishael]

Compression really only matters when you have a plug in, although your method does lean towards your cylinder to be alright but to be completely sure, I'd also just put the plug in and manually crank the engine. For the fe290, it should be hard but not anywhere near impossible for the average person. How is your engine governed? (if it is at all)

[hunt4food]

your fuel fillters should be replaced. blow down your crank hose and I still think your oil lvl is high

[shadowman]

Originally Posted by bamainhtown

Hey guys,

So, I have an 02 Club Car DS FE290. It starts off running fine for a about 100 yards then suddenly loses power, belts out white smoke and dies. Sits for a couple seconds and does it all again. I have replaced the fuel pump, fuel filters, cleaned the carb multiple times, checked to make sure the float actually floats. The cart is lifted and I know I had overfilled it, so I drained the oil, replaced the oil filter and oil with a bit less than 1.5 quarts. I took the spark plug out and held my thumb over and it had good compression. I am not sure where to go from here. Thoughts?

Thanks for any and all help.

Jeff

you really need to get a compression gage and check it the right way.......................

[Mishael]

The only difference between doing it the right way and doing it the cheap way with the plug in is the right way gives you a number, but it doesnt take a $100 tool to tell you of you have no compression.

[camaroluvz28]

When these carts are lifted the motor does not sit level, getting anywhere close to the full line is not recommended, whenever there is slight incline oil dumps and will pour white smoke out of the muffler....recommend draining oil, filling to 1/8 inch under full mark, clean carb out and run cart in neutral till smoke clears...that assuming you have good compression of course.

[shadowman]

Originally Posted by Mishael

The only difference between doing it the right way and doing it the cheap way with the plug in is the right way gives you a number, but it doesnt take a $100 tool to tell you of you have no compression.

1st off you can get a nice gage for under 30 bucks......when we try and help someone we try and help them the right way, compression could be anywhere from 0 to say 125lbs......there is a difference, and depending what the compression is that tells me where i might want to start looking for whats going on not just guessing, if your way suits you thats fine............................

[Mishael]

I never thought of it that way. The philosophy I've always had working on engines is that if the simple, quick checks that can be done with minimal tools should be done first, then if those show problems then you move on to more advanced devices and methods. If one of my golf carts in my fleet has trouble starting or won't start at all but the engine turns over, I don't run and grab an ignition gap tester like the manuals and such say to do. I grab a wrench, ground the plug on my valve cover, and check for spark. I don't need a special tool to show me my spark, although that's just an example. When it comes to specific compression, you're right. Nothing can beat a gauge but in a pinch, the hand crank test works perfectly to say you have good, poor, or no compression. Can you quantify the compression without a gauge? No, but the quick check can point one in the right direction of what could be wrong. I don't try to lead people astray with my advice, but when I work and give someone a tip, I won't tell them something I wouldn't do first off before using a tool or method that required advanced knowledge or a purchase for a single use. I don't mean any disrespect when I say all of this either. I don't know everything or even near everything, but if I have a chance to offer help, I'm going to give the best I can.