Mercury 2.8 Diesel, Operation & Maintenance Manual

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Section 2 - On the Water
Page 22 90-8M0113987
eng
DECEMBER 2015
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
!
WARNING
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.
!
WARNING
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
NOTICE
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:
•
If running the engine with the boat out of the water, provide water to both the engine and sterndrive seawater pickup
pumps. Refer to
Section 5—Flushing the Seawater System
.
• Trim the sterndrive to the full down (in) position.
•
Ensure that the engine crankcase is filled to the correct level with the specified engine oil. Refer to
Section 4:
Specifications—Engine Oil
.
• Ensure all electrical connections are secure.
•
Check all items listed in
Section 5—Maintenance Schedules
and the
Operation Chart
.
• Perform any other necessary procedures as indicated by your dealer or Mercury Diesel authorized repair facility.
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
!
WARNING
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
.
IMPORTANT: Mercury Marine DTS and Axius models are equipped with SmartStart. SmartStart features push and release
starting. The PCM completely controls the starting process after it receives a start command from the ignition key or start
button. The starting process will time‑out if the engine does not start after a few seconds or when cranking speed reaches 400
RPM. Attempting to start the engine with the engine already running will turn the engine off.
1. Turn on and run the engine compartment bilge blower (if equipped) for five minutes. Or, open the engine hatch to air out
the bilge before attempting to start the engine.