Have you ever invited your friends over for a scenic tour around the golf course on your golf cart? Then, a short while into the ride, the cart becomes noisier and noisier by the minute.
While frustrating, having a noisy cart is not uncommon.
Luckily, the solution is pretty easy: install a golf cart muffler silencer.
Yet, before you get carried away or make any modifications to your cart, you have to be 100% certain the noises you hear aren’t caused by any mechanical issues.
Now that’s that out of the way, let’s take a look at how you can make your cart quieter and more efficient.
What Is a Golf Cart Muffler Silencer?
Mufflers help dissipate noises coming from the engine, golf carts included. Yet, sometimes, a muffler may also need a silencer to help it keep down the noises even more.
So, what is a muffler silencer anyway?
In short, an exhaust pipe, or muffler, silencer works by canceling out sound waves coming from the engine. They’re a great way to make your cart ride quietly and smoothly on almost any surface.
You’ll notice that muffler silencers are required more for gas carts than electric ones. The reason is that the engines on electric carts don’t produce as much noise as gas-powered models.
Read more: Gas vs Electric Golf Carts: How to Choose
2 Top Ways to Reduce Golf Cart Noises
There are two primary ways to make your golf cart quieter: adding a muffler or insulation. Let’s take a closer look at how one works.
Golf Cart Muffler
On any vehicle, the noise made by the engine escapes through the exhaust pipes. All that noise is then absorbed by the muffler and dispersed. As a result, you hear less noise.
The problem is that older carts may not even have a muffler. So, that could be why you’re probably hearing so many loud sounds coming from it.
Sometimes, carts may have a muffler installed, but it’s cracked or hasn’t been adequately maintained, so it’s started to show signs of rust and corrosion. Either way, you have to replace it with a new, shiny, sound-absorbing muffler to silence all those noises coming from your cart.
Alternatively, if you have a new cart, you can easily purchase a model-specific muffler if it doesn’t come with one already pre-installed.
The good news is that installing it is pretty straightforward. Still, if you’re unsure about what to do, you can always go to a mechanic to get it installed.
If you want to take things a step further, you can also add a muffler silencer. As mentioned above, silencers are great at canceling out sound waves coming from the engine, thus effectively quieting down the cart.
Golf Cart Insulation
We mentioned that golf carts could get pretty loud. We also noted that silencers are one of the two possible ways you can use to make your cart quieter.
So, what’s the second thing? Insulation, of course!
High-density foam insulation, to be exact.
Experts say you can reduce engine noise by almost 50% using high-density foam soundproofing material. All you have to do is use it to line the engine compartment. You can also apply it to the underside of the seats to take in as many unwanted loud sounds as possible.
Another benefit to adding insulation is that it makes the cart vibrate less. So, you get a smoother, more stable ride.
Why Are Golf Carts Noisy?
Golf carts make all kinds of sounds and noises. These noises can either come from the engine or the exhaust, with gas golf carts being noisier than their electric counterparts.
Even if sounds from the engine of a gas cart are fairly low-key, exhaust pipes can amplify the engine sounds.
The irony is that they’re also the best place to set up a feature that can help with noise reduction, like a silencer.
Below are some of the most common reasons causing your cart to sound noisy. If you try and fix all these potential problems, and the noise persists, you should consider upgrading to an electric golf cart.
Despite coming with a higher price tag, electric carts are quieter, more fuel-efficient, and cheaper to run in the long term.
Yet, first, let’s check out why your gas golf cart is making such a racket.
Motor
Gas motors are louder than electric engines. Even brand-new gas carts tend to make more noise.
Yet, on average, they’re more efficient and way less noisy than older carts. So, if you have a new cart that sounds louder than usual, get it checked out by a mechanic before adding insulation or a silencer.
Controller
On a golf cart, the controller adjusts how fast the cart goes. People who want their cart to go faster install a large controller. Unfortunately, the bigger the controller, the noisier the cart.
So, while tempting, it’s probably better to go with a small controller. It might make the motor less powerful, but at least you’ll enjoy some peace and quiet on your ride.
Transmission
The transmission is responsible for utilizing the power coming from the engine and sending it to the wheels. It also helps stabilize the ratio between the engine and the drive wheels.
If the transmission on the cart is run down, you’ll notice more sounds than before. Also, the ride will be bumpier and more jostling.
Shock Absorbers
Do you notice weird sounds when the cart runs over uneven terrain? This could be due to faulty shock absorbers. These are a primary part of your cart’s suspension system, and they usually take a great deal of stress.
Thus, they need to be replaced more often than other parts of the cart
Final Thoughts
Once you’ve maintained that there are no transmission or mechanical issues, then it’s time to add a golf cart muffler silencer. You can always try to install it yourself.
However, if you prefer, you can always ask a mechanic for help. Of course, you’ll pay a bit extra, but you’ll get not only a quieter cart but some tips and suggestions on how to keep your ride smooth and in optimal condition.