Freezing Temperature And Cold Weather Operation; Drain Plug And Bilge Pump; Drive Unit Impact Protection - Mercury D4.2L Manual

CE8

Freezing Temperature And Cold Weather Operation

IMPORTANT: If boat is operated during periods of freezing temperature, precautions must be taken to
prevent freezing damage to power package. Refer to the following and to "Cold Weather or Extended
Storage" for related information and draining instructions.
Seawater (raw water) section of cooling system MUST BE COMPLETELY drained for winter storage or
immediately after cold weather use, if the possibility of freezing temperatures exist. Failure to comply
may result in trapped water causing freeze and/or corrosion damage to engine.
In order to operate the engine in temperatures of 32
•
At the end of each daily operation, COMPLETELY drain seawater section of cooling system to protect against
damage by freezing.
•
At the end of each daily operation, drain water from water separator, if equipped. Fill fuel tank at end of daily
operation to prevent condensation.
•
Use required permanent-type antifreeze solution to protect components against damage by freezing.
•
Be sure to use proper cold weather lubrication oil, and be sure the crankcase contains a sufficient amount.
•
Make certain that the battery is of sufficient size and is fully charged. Check that all other electrical equipment
is in optimum condition.
•
At temperatures of –4
cold starting.
•
If operating in arctic temperatures of –20
cial cold weather equipment and precautions.
CA408

Drain Plug and Bilge Pump

The engine compartment in your boat is a natural place for water to collect. For this reason, boats are normally
equipped with a drain plug and/or a bilge pump. It is very important to check these items on a regular basis to
ensure that the water level does not rise to come in contact with your power package. Components on your
engine will be damaged if submerged. Damage caused by submersion is not covered by the MerCruiser Limited
Warranty.
CA17

Drive Unit Impact Protection

The Power Trim hydraulic system is designed to provide impact protection for drive unit. If a submerged object
is struck while boat is moving forward, the hydraulic system will cushion kick-up of drive unit as it clears the object,
reducing damage to unit. After drive unit has cleared object, the hydraulic system allows drive unit to return to
original operating position, preventing loss of steering control and engine over speed.
Use extreme caution when operating in shallow water or where underwater objects are known to be present.
Use extreme care to prevent striking submerged objects while operating in REVERSE. No impact protection is
provided in REVERSE.
If drive unit should strike a submerged object, stop engine as soon as possible and inspect drive unit for damage.
If damage is present or suspected, boat should be taken to an Authorized MerCruiser Dealer for thorough inspec-
tion and necessary repair. Operating a damaged drive unit could cause additional damage to other parts of drive
unit, or could affect control of boat. If continued running is necessary, do so at greatly reduced speeds.
IMPORTANT: Impact protection system cannot be designed to ensure total protection from impact dam-
age under all conditions.
° °
F (–20 C) and below, it is recommended that you use a coolant heater to improve
°
F (–29
CAUTION
° °
F (0 C) or lower, observe the following instructions:
°
C) or lower, consult your dealer for information about spe-
27