All driving enthusiasts can appreciate the karting’s exhilarating experience. Whether you are new or pro in this sport, the thrill it offers is unmatched. It provides the remarkable reminiscing memories over the years. For this, everyone strives to operate the best go kart engines that offer speed and adrenaline rush.
Since go karting has become a tremendous sport in the USA, finding the engine to replace or building your go kart at home is a remarkable hobby. However, the best engine for a go kart should be low maintenance, high efficiency, and low fuel consumption. These characteristics are significant features of DuroMax 16HP 420cc, Honda GX390 standard, and Honda GX160 General Purpose.
Building a go kart on your own is a nice side hustle as it helps you utilize your energies positively. Moreover, it is cost efficient and gives you something extra to work on besides your routine chores. But if you plan on racing in your DIY kart, it is not recommended.
- Recoil start 420 cc engine.
- EPA and CARB approved.
- 30 days Amazon return warranty and 3 years manufacturer’s warranty.
- Top pick for multipurpose usage.
- Electric start.
- Quiet and fuel efficient
- 6.1 L gas tank (86 octane & higher)
7 Best Go Kart Engines
If you are someone looking to build their go kart at home or need to replace the engines for a better customized high speed kart, I got you. Over the years, I have raced on several custom made karts and driven various engines. Among those, the best engines for go karts that I personally like are listed below.
- Duromax 16 hp 420cc – Multi Use Go Kart Motor
- Honda Gx390 Standard – Best Electric Start Engine For Go Karts
- Honda Gx160 General Purpose – Durable Engine For Adult Go Kart
- Predator Horizontal Shaft – Overall Best Recoil Start to Go Kart Motor
- Duromax Xp18 hpe – Electric And Ez Pull Start Racing Go Kart Engine
- Loyal Heartdy 7.5 hp Gas Powered – 7500 Watts Powerful Go Kart Engine
- Tfcfl 4 Stroke – Pull Start Go Kart Racing Engine
All of the above mentioned engines are reliable, covered with warranty and are refundable vai amazon in case it won’t fulfil the intended purpose. Here are few more reasons why you should get one of these.
for Karts
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1. Duromax 16 HP 420cc – Best Multi Use Go Kart Motor Engine
- Engine: Four stroke engine
- Engine Type: Gas powered
- Power: 16 hp, 420cc
- Useability: Useable in both off road and on road racing go karts
- Speed: 60mph speed
- Weight: Weighs about 47 lbs
DuroMax has pushed the industry to new heights with its unmatched innovative engines. It has reduced carbon emissions by shifting towards dual fuel engines and expanding to tri fuel, lowering the carbon footprint. Today, as we shift towards global warming, Duromax is focusing on designing engines that can lower this impact.
Duromax 16HP engine with 420 cc capacity gives it all the necessary run to power almost anything that moves. You can make this engine run by pulling the easy recoil cord. Moreover, it is useable in both off and on road go kart racing. It is also applicable in log splitter water craft and air splitter.
It provides 240 volts with 5.5 watts of power running all the heavy appliances. This XP16HP is a gas powered engine with a fuel tank capacity of about 1.75 gallons, giving an output of 3600 rpm. It comes with some tools to help you fix it in your kart.
In short, the Duromax XP16HP engine is the fine choice for go karts either for racing or off road ones. It powers the karts and gives a dynamic feel to the rider, filling their adrenaline rush addiction.
- Approved in 50 states
- Counter clockwise shaft rotation
- Easy pull recoil starter
- It is useable for almost every motor based equipment
- 87+ octane gasoline
- Lacks electric or key turn start
2. Honda Gx390 Standard – Best Electric Start Engine For Go Kart
- Engine type: Gas powered
- Useability: Useful for racing karts
- Engine: 4 stroke single cylinder
- Speed: 40 mph top speed
- Speed: Weighs about 90 lbs.
- Special Feature: Electric ignition start
- Compression ratio: 8.2:1 compression ratio
Honda started offering general purpose engines in the 1990s, which they later installed in their products. They started to focus their sales in Europe in 1994 with their R&D department in Japan, guaranteeing customer services.
Honda GX390 features a super quiet fuel powered engine with a tank capacity of 6 liters. With a cast iron sleeve cylinder, it serves energy efficiency and little engine knocking, making it durable and reliable for heavy use. It is also the best electric start engine you can buy from the market.
Honda GX390, with its 389cc engine displacement, offers power output, giving 8700 watts of power, pulling go kart with a top speed of 40mph. In addition, Honda offers 3 year warranty, reliability and quality to its products to a significant extent.
In summary, Honda GX390 is the best go kart engine, which provides a top speed of 40 mph and 11.7 HP. Its adequate displacement and super quiet features make it durable to use.
- Dual oil drains
- Butterfly float type ignition
- Air cooled engine
- 48 states shipping availability
- Multi chamber exhaust system
- Relatively costly
- High maintenance
3. Honda Gx160 General Purpose – Durable And Reliable Go Kart Engine For Adults
- Engine Type: Gas powered
- Useability: Useable in racing go karts
- Feature: Cast iron cylinder
- Speed: About 27mph top speed
- weight: Weighs about 33 lbs
- Rotation: Counter clockwise shaft rotation
Honda is the leading engine company since the 1990s. It features remarkable quality and reliable engines with an extensive guarantee. This has built trust and customer satisfaction in them.
Honda GX160 is one of the best engine for go karts, featuring 3600 watts and 4.8HP output. Its recoil start system and optimized design make it fuel efficient while meeting with the world’s environmental legislations.
The compression ratio of 9:1 and 163cc displacement offers sufficient output power to make it useable for all heavy equipment like construction, welding, generators, and other industrial applications. Thus making it reliable to use for years.
Honda is a reputable Japanese company but it has been found that they are assembling their engines in Thailand as I received the one with a tag hanging saying this. Another thing, the air cleaner they are using is of low quality and flimsy which curbs some plastic running into the engine and wreaking havoc there.
In conclusion, Honda GX160 is among the best engines for go karts as it provides a 27 mph top speed with 3600 watts and 4.8HP output. This makes it a suitable choice for kids racing or off road go kart.
- 3.1 litres tank capacity
- Transistorized ignition system
- High power to displacement ratio
- Air cooled engine
- High power to displacement ratio
- Pull recoil starter
- Filmsy air cleaner design flaw
- Assembled in thailand
4. Predator Horizontal Shaft – Overall Best Recoil Start Go Kart Motor
- Engine type: Gas Powered
- Useability: For racing go karts and domestic use
- Feature: Cast iron cylinder
- Speed: 39 mph top speed
- Displacement: 212cc engine displacement
- Shaft rotation: counterclockwise
- Weight: Weighs about 34 lbs
The Harbor Freights coin predator engines are much more than tools hammering them down. Since 1977, they have been dedicated and committed to serving customers with high quality products. Moreover, they have continued to provide quality tools for competitive prices.
Predator Horizontal Shaft is the 212cc displacement gasoline engine that gives a cleaner performance with its durable cast iron design. However, it is designed with a low oil sensor engine shut down for safe operations.
The 6.5HP and 8.5:1 compression ratio gives sufficient output to make it reliable for almost every commercial item. The updated engineering and designs make it fuel efficient, improving the engine lifespan. Evidently making it the overall best engine for go karts.
According to a Reddit user:
“The 212s are stout engines. You want the hemi head if you can find one. We always race them on flat ovals and turn them stock to 5400. Work well enough for racing, so it should be fine for that.” latemodel24.
Where the Predator engine is a fantastic go kart motor, it is hard to get it working, and you wouldn’t find any better and quieter engine than this one.
In summary, the Predator Horizontal Shaft is the best go kart motor featuring lasting and durable operations, with 6.5HP. Furthermore, it provides sufficient power output with its 212cc engine displacement.
- User friendly controls for operations
- Low oil sensor engine shut down
- Ball Bearing support shaft for longer life
- 8.5:1 compression ratio
- Pull start cord that makes it hard to get started
5. Duromax XP18HPE – Electric And Ez Pull Start Go Kart Racing Engine
- Engine Type: Gas powered
- Useability: For racing and off road go karts
- Tank: 1.7 gallons fuel tank
- Speed: 60 mph top speed
- Power: 18 HP output
- Feature: Electric and cord pull start
Duromax features a remarkable replica of Honda engines at cost effective prices. It is shifting from dual fuel technology to triple fuel, aiming for less carbon emission.
DuroMax XP18 HPE is one of the best motors for go karts providing 18 horsepower output through its 440cc engine displacement. Moreover, it is served with a 1.7 gallon fuel tank to make it work longer.
DuroMax XP18 has an electric switch start, making it easier to kick off your engine. Moreover, the 4 stroke engine is lined with cast iron steel, providing fuel efficiency with an average run time of half a gallon per hour. Additionally, you can use Honda GX390 or Predator 420 spare parts to replace any faulty parts in this engine.
You will find the Duromax XP18HPE engine, 12V battery leads, and owner’s manual in the package. If you find any missing, kindly contact the manufacturer or your dealer for replacement.
In short, the Duromax XP18 HPE go kart racing engine offers the best power output with a speed of 60 mph and an easy switch turn start feature, making it a perfect choice for gas powered go karts.
- Stainless ball bearing support
- Counter clockwise shaft rotation
- 3 years warranty
- Folding pedal extension
- No support from the company
- Limited manual help
6. Loyal Heartdy 7.5 HP Gas Powered – 7500 Watts Powerful Go Kart Engine
- Engine type: Gas powered
- Useability: Adult off road go kart
- DIsplacement: 212cc engine displacement
- Speed: Top speed about 30mph
- Tank: 1 gallon tank volume
- Filter: Large capacity air filter
- Start: One Button Start
Loyal Heartdy serves customers with various products, from weddings to automotive. It has a remarkable collection of electrical equipment for all the users. However, they are new to the engine business, so they lack variety in that department.
Loyal Heartdy 7.5HP gas powered is the cheap go kart engine available. It serves an output power of 7500 watts with a 212cc engine displacement.
They don’t ship installation manually, and the engine might have a 2-3 cm manual measurement error. In addition, if you are new to engine installation or handling, kindly ask for professional help as recommended by the company.
- Low operating temperature
- Improve air filtration performance
- Stable engine performance
- Easy to start
- Installation instructions not included
- have manual measurement error of 2-3 cm
7. TFCFL 4 Stroke – Pull Start Go Kart Racing Engine
- Engine type: Gas powered
- Useability: For racing go karts
- Engine: 4 stroke single cylinder
- Speed: 25mph top speed
- Output: 9700 watts
- Feature: Electric start
TFCFL is a remarkable electrical appliances brand serving a range of household equipment. Their 420cc displacement is a 4 stroke cylinder 15HP powered engine that is useable in different appliances, including go karts. Additionally, it is a pull start engine that can be used for racing.
With a 1.72 gallon capacity fuel tank, TFCFL’s engine provides a top speed of 25mph, enough to kick start your go kart with ease. Its modern engineering makes it fuel efficient, working for hours on a limited fuel amount.
TFCFL’s 4 stroke engine is silenced with a thick silencer, reducing the noise while using this. Furthermore, it has a wide snap ring that prevents the heat from damaging the tubing. While it has found its application in most home appliances, you can’t use it for lawnmowers
In summary, TFCL’s 4 stroke single cylinder is a 15 hp go kart engine durable for go karts, cutting machines, concrete trowels, and more.
- 420cc engine displacement
- Iron crankshaft
- Low noise working
- High power and speed
- Cord pull start
- Forced air engine cooling
What To Look For When Buying The Best Go Kart Engines?
Go karting is fun; it provides entertainment, thrillers, and memories. Therefore, purchasing an engine if you are building your go kart at home should be done carefully, whether buying a brand new or a second hand.
Here are a few things you should be cautious about when buying the best motor for go kart.
1. Age Group Classes
First, consider which class go kart you are building or need a replacement engine. Because myriad engines are available that work fine for almost all in between the classes. You will find the suitable engine after discovering the proper class for your go-kart.
The classes of go karts are divided into different age groups, which are categorized further qualifying for racing. These are as follows,
- Kids
- Junior (low performance and high performance) restricted and open categories
- Senior
2. Budget
Engines are relatively expensive than most other parts of go karts. Their price is relatively higher for electric ones compared to gas powered ones that are inexpensive. Gas powered engines can range up to or about $2000, but electric engines require more finance than gas ones. You can get go karts under 1000$, but they are made for kids.
Whatever your priority is, electric or gas, consider your budget before buying the engine because you might get the second hand engine falling within your range.
3. Second Hand Engines
Second hand engines are a nice catch for saving some cash. They are decent options as go kart motors. But before buying a second hand engine, thoroughly examine the engine for clutch gear and spark terminal, which often get burned with use. Check if the earth’s connectors are reliable and the health of the crankshaft.
These will help you negotiate a better deal if you get accustomed and find anything that needs replacing.
4. Maintenance
Lastly, before buying your best engine for go kart, consider the maintenance it will need. If it is gas powered you will need to replace its air filters, oil, and gas and clean it occasionally for better performance. Furthermore, you will also need to check the sprockets and chain because, over time, it start to show signs of wear and tear if not properly maintained.
Conclusion
To summarize, the best go kart engines feature low fuel consumption, higher efficiency, and better power output with little noise. While this is true for electric engines, some gas powered motors have followed the same principles; DuroMax 16HP 420cc, Honda GX390 standard, and Honda GX160 embody the reliable choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is The Best Go Kart Engine?
Each engine’s purpose and capacity can be classified as the best. However, Honda, Predator, and DuroMax engines are categorized as the best go kart engines.
2. What Are The Different Types of Gas Powered Engines?
Gas powered engines come in either 2 stroke or 4 stroke engines. Stroke engine is more energy efficient and provides more power output than 2 stroke engine.
3. What Is The Top Speed of Gas Powered Go Kart Engine?
A gas powered engine can reach the speed of 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds. But they are recorded to have a top speed above 200 mph.
About Author
I am Issac M., hailing from Atlanta, CA. I encountered several questions from people who wanted to buy go kart or build one from scratch. This led to the creation of gokartdude.com. I have written experimental guides and gear reviews to help go kart enthusiasts globally. Read more about me.
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