Test For Alcohol Content In Gasoline 1B-10; Power Steering Fluid; Coolant For Closed Cooling System - Mercury MerCruiser MCM 4.3L ALPHA Service Manual

MAINTENANCE
Test For Alcohol Content In Gasoline
The following is an acceptable and widely used field procedure for the detection of alcohol
in gasoline. Use any small transparent bottle or tube that can be capped and is, or can be,
provided with graduations or a mark at about 1/3 full. A pencil mark on a piece of adhesive
tape may be used.
PROCEDURE
1. Fill the container with water to the mark.
2. Add fuel almost to fill the container, leaving some air space, then cap the container. The
proportions of fuel to water are not critical, but there should be 2 to 3 times as much fuel
as water.
3. Shake container vigorously and allow it to sit upright for 3 to 5 minutes. If the volume
of water appears to have increased, alcohol is present. If you are not sure, there is no
need for concern. If the dividing line between water and fuel becomes cloudy, use the
middle of the cloudy band.

Power Steering Fluid

Use Quicksilver Power Trim and Steering Fluid or automatic transmission Fluid (ATF)
Dexron III.

Coolant for Closed Cooling System

Alcohol or Methanol base antifreeze or plain water, are not recommended for use
in fresh water section of cooling system at any time.
We recommend that the coolant section of closed cooling system be filled with Extended
Life Ethylene Glycol 5/100 Antifreeze/Coolant mixed 50/50 with purified water. In areas
where the possibility of freezing does not exist, it is permissible to use a solution of rust inhi-
bitor and water (mixed to manufacturer's recommendations).
If any non-compatible coolant is added to this coolant, coolant must be changed every 2
years or 400 hours, whichever occurs first. All coolants other than Extended Life 5/100
Ethylene Glycol Antifreeze/Coolant must be changed every 2 years or 400 hours, whichever
occurs first.
Mercury MerCruiser V-8 engines can use any type of permanent antifreeze or any brand
antifreeze solution that meets GM specification 1825M.
Index
Page 1B-10
CAUTION
SERVICE MANUAL NUMBER 25
90-861328--1 NOVEMBER 1999