Drain Plug And Bilge Pump; Trailering The Boat; Starting, Shifting, And Stopping; Before Starting The Engine - Mercury 4.2 Diesel Operation & Maintenance Manual

Section 2 - On the Water

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 or a bilge pump. It is important to check these items on a regular basis to ensure that the water level does not come
into contact with your power package. Components on your engine will be damaged if submerged. Damage caused by
submersion is not covered by the Mercury Marine Limited Warranty.

Trailering the Boat

Your boat can be trailered with the sterndrive in the up (out) or down (in) position. Adequate clearance is required between the
road and sterndrive when transporting.
If adequate road clearance is a problem, place the sterndrive in full trailer position and support it with an optional trailer kit,
which is available from your Mercury Marine authorized repair facility.

Starting, Shifting, and Stopping

Vapors can ignite and cause an explosion, resulting in engine damage or severe personal injury. Do not use volatile starting
aids such as ether, propane, or gasoline in the engine air intake system.
Fuel vapors trapped in the engine compartment may be an irritant, cause difficulty breathing, or may ignite resulting in a fire
or explosion. Always ventilate the engine compartment before servicing the power package.

Before Starting the Engine

Without sufficient cooling water, the engine, the water pump, and other components will overheat and suffer damage. Provide
a sufficient supply of water to the water inlets during operation.
IMPORTANT: Observe the following before starting the engine:
• Provide water to the seawater pickup pump.
• Ensure that the engine crankcase is filled to the correct level with the proper grade of oil for the prevailing temperature.
Refer to Section 4 ‑ Specifications.
• Ensure that all electrical connections are secure.
• Check all applicable items in the maintenance schedules and operation chart.
• Perform any other necessary checks as indicated by your Mercury Diesel authorized repair facility or specified in your boat
owner's and operation manual.
Important Information – SmartStart
IMPORTANT: This power package is equipped with SmartStart. SmartStart performs all appropriate starting operations upon
initial start switch actuation. To begin the SmartStart sequence, turn the ignition key switch to the "START" position and
release, or turn the ignition key switch to the run position and press and release the start/stop switch, if equipped.
SmartStart controls the starting process automatically. When the start switch is actuated, the system signals the engine's
electronic controller to start the engine. The starter will receive power until the engine starts and will time out after a few
seconds, or when the engine reaches 400 RPM. Attempting to start the engine with the engine running will turn the engine off.

Starting a Cold Engine

A spinning propeller, a moving boat, or any solid device attached to the boat can cause serious injury or death to swimmers.
Stop the engine immediately whenever anyone in the water is near your boat.
NOTE: Check the fluid levels before starting the engine. Refer to Section 5 ‑ Maintenance Schedule .
1. Turn on and run the engine compartment bilge blower (if equipped) for five minutes. Alternately, open the engine hatch to
air out the bilge before attempting to start the engine.
2. Place the control handle in neutral.
NOTE: If the engine has not been run for a period of time and will not readily start with the standard starting procedure, use
the fuel primer located on the fuel filter header. Cycle the primer plunger up and down four or five strokes before
attempting to start the engine.
3. Turn the ignition key to the "RUN" position.
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90-8M0113988 DECEMBER 2015
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