Go Cart Engines – Where Does the Power Come From?

If your only goal in life is to take a trip down to the nearest family fun center, hop in a go cart, and get it up to 10 mph, you really don’t need to know anything about go cart engines. However, if your wish is to race fast go karts, you will be able to improve your success by knowing a few important differences between go cart engines. Understanding the basics about 2-stroke and 4-stroke go cart engines, as well as electric motors, can only boost your success as a racer. Plus, learning about other go cart parts such as go cart tires will help you enjoy your sport even more.

Have you ever watched a professional open-wheel race? Indy Car racers such as Helio Castroneves, Scott Dixon, and Danica Patrick are exciting to watch as they complete laps at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at greater than 220 mph. But if you think that’s exciting, you should get behind the wheel of a fast go cart. Some go cart engines may only produce speeds of 30 mph, but even at these slower speeds, it’s still more exciting than watching someone else race at much greater speeds. Getting behind the wheel yourself can be a big thrill at any speed.

Go Cart Engines Can Produce Some Very Fast Speeds

There is a great difference between various go carts. Some may reach maximum speeds of 10 mph while others can top 200 mph. Recreational go karts found at family fun centers and amusement parks may only hit 10 or 15 mph, but Formula One karts reach speeds in excess of 200 mph. And, while other factors such as go cart tires and the quality of the go cart frame will contribute to the overall speed, it’s the go cart engines that are most responsible for the amount of power produced. So no matter what speeds are exciting to you, there’s a go cart that fulfill your needs.

Go karts that are used for racing generally have 2-stroke or 4-stroke go cart engines. The 2-stroke varieties are more powerful and make for faster go carts, while the 4-storke engines are extremely popular in recreational fun centers. However, as battery-powered electric go carts increase their speeds and ranges, they are steadily becoming the vehicle of choice for family fun center go karts.

Go Cart Engines and Electric Motors

Electric motors have many benefits over gas go cart engines which make them ideal for small family tracks. There is no expensive fuel to buy which makes them inexpensive to operate. Plus, without a gas engine to break down they are also very cheap to maintain because they have fewer mechanical problems. Another advantage is that they are quiet and produce no hazardous emissions, thus making them perfect for indoor tracks. The only negatives are their power and range, but these are improving all the time.

Electric go carts can only operate on a fun center track for about 20 minutes before needing a battery recharge, but as battery technology improves, the times will improve. The only other negative is their top speeds. They cannot move as fast as gas engine karts, but top speeds are not necessary on family fun tracks.

Honda, Briggs and Stratton, and Tecumseh are three top manufacturers of 4-stroke go cart engines. And if it’s not an electric motor being used at a short fun track, it’ll be the 4-stroke motor. Most motors of this type will produce up to 20 hp and are used by beginning racers or at family fun centers. But don’t underestimate these low-power engines because they can propel karts up to 50 mph in some cases.

4-strokes are used in low-power go cart engines, but they can also be modified to produce up to 50 hp or more. These higher-powered go cart engines are often used in National Championship class races. 2-stroke go cart engines, on the other hand, will furnish you with more than 90 hp and are capable of producing speeds in excess of 160 mph.

Video: Some Go Cart Engines Are More Powerful Than Others