A Mercury owner recently made a post to a boating forum, asking if he had to flush his 90 hp two-stroke outboard every time he used it in the ocean. We often receive this question in Customer Service, whether from owners of OptiMax or Verado engines, two-stroke or FourStroke. Most people want to know if fresh water flushing is recommended or required each and every time an outboard is used in salt water.

Mercury outboards are water-cooled, which means lake or sea water is drawn into the engine through water intakes, circulated through the engine block to cool it down, and then cycled back out through the tell-tale and exhaust. Because internal components of the engine are exposed to salt water, Mercury recommends flushing the engine with fresh water every time it is used in salt water. Ten minutes of fresh-water flushing each time the engine is exposed to saltwater can prevent corrosion to internal components. Failing to properly flush the engine will not void the engine warranty. However, if a failure is determined to have been caused by lack of maintenance, that particular claim could be denied. Remember: It’s always better to do preventative maintenance early on to prevent damage down the road!

If you’ve owned a few Mercury outboards over the years, you may have noticed some changes along the way to Mercury’s registration process. Years ago, Mercury sent owners a wallet-sized warranty card that included the engine serial number and warranty dates to present to your authorized dealer when you needed to have work done on your engine. Later, Mercury transitioned to small booklets called “Owner Resource Guides.” Each Owner Resource Guide contained information about Mercury and included the engine serial number and warranty dates on the back cover. Because an authorized dealer could enter an engine’s serial number into the dealer’s computer database to verify warranty coverage, no paperwork needed to be shown to the dealer when an engine was brought in.

This brings us to the latest change to Mercury’s registration process. Earlier this year, Mercury discontinued distribution of the Owner Resource Guide. In effect, Mercury no longer sends owners any notification of engine registration or warranty information. Any authorized Mercury dealer nationwide can enter an engine serial number into its database and retrieve registration dates and warranty coverage. Mercury does understand that some people like to have a hard copy of their warranty data. In this case, any authorized Mercury dealer can enter your serial number and print a hard copy showing your registration and warranty data.

You now have a pretty good idea of what occurs when you purchase a Mercury engine at a dealership. So what happens when you purchase an engine from a private party? Well, registering your motor is actually quite easy. Mercury needs you to fax or mail in a copy of a bill of sale showing you’re taking ownership of the engine. The bill of sale can be handwritten or typed and must be signed by each party. It should include the date of purchase, the engine serial number, the prior owner’s information, and the new owner’s information (name, address, phone number). This bill of sale can be mailed to Mercury Marine, Attn: Warranty and Registration, PO Box 1939, Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1939 or faxed to (920) 907-6663. If you fax the bill of sale to us, the registration should be transferred within one business day. After you verify that the registration has changed hands, any authorized Mercury dealer can give you a printout for your records.

How important is it to register your engine? Well, even if you know the engine you’ve purchased no longer carries a factory warranty, we still recommend having it registered under your name. For one, if there are any future service bulletins or fix campaigns released on the engine, they will be mailed directly to the registered owner, whether the engine is under warranty or not. The second reason is that Mercury can only release engine history (warranty claims, service history) to the registered owner.

Please feel free to contact Mercury at 920-929-5040 with any additional engine registration questions.

If you’ve looked at the “Contact Us” section of the Mercury Web site lately, you may have noticed a link to the Classic Mercury Hotline, a new service launched by Mercury last week. If you click on the link, you’ll see a lengthy disclaimer and a notification that a phone call to the hotline comes with a $10 charge. So what will you get for your money?

The Classic Mercury Hotline is staffed by four certified Mercury technicians with more than 135 years of combined experience with Mercury outboards! One of the technicians was a Mercury Technical Account Manager (TAM) who covered a territory for Mercury and traveled from dealer to dealer, assisting with diagnoses and engine repairs. Another technician worked as an engineer for Mercury before becoming a dealer technical service agent. A third technician has an extensive background with Force Outboards as well as the manufacturing side of Mercury outboards, and the fourth technician worked in engineering with Mercury’s High Performance Division and is a prominent figure in the American Powerboat Association. So it’s safe to say that if you dial the number, you’ll be in good hands.

Why the need for a Classic Mercury Hotline? Believe it or not, there are many Mercury engines in the field from the 1940’s through the 1970’s that are still alive and kicking. Some people collect them, while others still use them as their main fishing or pleasure boating engine. Because of new technology and dealer training practices, some people may find it hard to get assistance on such an aged product.. When older technicians retire or get out of the business, they’re usually replaced by technicians who are trained in today’s engines like OptiMax, Verado and FourStrokes. Dealers simply don’t have the time or money to train new technicians on classic products like the Mark series. With dealer labor rates climbing, many engine owners prefer to perform standard maintenance work and other minor fixes themselves. Along with service manuals, Mercury can now provide expert advice and knowledge on a 40-year (1939-1979) span of engines.

Is the Classic Mercury Hotline a cure-all for your classic Mercury engine? We always advise that you have necessary service manuals and shop tools at your side before taking on any repair endeavor. While the technicians on the hotline cannot physically repair your engine over the phone, their expertise and insight will assist in the final outcome, while keeping professionalism and safety at the forefront. Do you own a classic Mercury? Then why not get information directly from the manufacturer that designed and built it?

Visit the Classic Mercury Hotline’s Web site at http://www.mercurymarine.com/serviceandwarranty/classichotline.php or call 920-929-5200.

Mercury Product Protection, or MPP, is Mercury’s factory-backed extended warranty program that’s available to most Mercury owners. What better way to care for your investment than by getting warranty coverage for up to seven years?

Unlike some of our competitors, MPP is factory-backed. This means that if issues arise during the contract period, you deal directly with Mercury and one of its 5,000-strong authorized dealers rather than a separate underwriter. Mercury has been the leader in marine propulsion for more than 65 years and no one knows your Mercury engine better than the people who manufacture it. There’s no need for claims adjusters and inspectors when you’re dealing directly with Mercury’s authorized dealer network.

What happens when you purchase a new boat and decide to sell the one you have, but you still have four or five years of remaining MPP coverage? Well, Mercury allows that coverage to be transferred as many times as the boat is sold while under contract, provided the transfer is made within 30 days of purchase. Some competitors will only allow one transfer. MPP coverage is a great plus when you’re thinking about resale value of your boat, especially when you consider that some people upgrade boats every year.

Another positive of MPP is that the coverage does not begin until your standard factory warranty expires. Many competitors begin their extended coverage the day the plan is purchased, which results in duplicate coverage and payment for an extended warranty on a product already under warranty!

One of the most frequent questions we receive is, “How does MPP differ from the factory warranty?” MPP still covers defects in parts and workmanship, just like the factory warranty, but there is a $25 deductible per claim under MPP. However, factory warranty does not cover hoist/haul-out or towing charges, while MPP provides up to $200 for hoist/haul-out on boats 26 feet or larger that are powered by covered engines, as well as up to $200 for on–the-water towing for approved repairs on covered product.

A lot of thought goes into the purchase of an investment like an outboard – reliability, resale value, customer service, product confidence all factor into the decision Make sure you also consider how the manufacturer protects its products. There’s no better peace of mind than knowing that the extended warranty you purchase is backed by the engine manufacturer and serviced through the dealers you already trust!

For more information about MPP, please click here.

Happy New Year!

The recent release of the long-awaited Verado 350 SCi has generated a lot of excitement, and along with that some great questions and discussion topics. Perhaps one of the most misunderstood subjects is the Verado 350 SCi’s fuel grade requirement, and why it differs between models sold in the US vs. EU (European Union) countries.

The EPA (US) version of the Verado 350 SCi requires 91 octane (R+M)/2, or premium fuel, which is a critical factor in ensuring the absolute highest combination of performance and fuel efficiency available while meeting EPA emissions requirements. The version sold in European Union countries requires 95 RON (89 octane (R+M)/2 equivalent) and meets the EU Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) requirements, but has different performance and fuel efficiency characteristics.

It’s important to note that emission regulations differ significantly between the EPA-regulated United States and the European Union countries, which are governed by the RCD. In addition, it is Mercury Marine’s goal to offer only the best products for our customers independent of where they operate their boats. To accomplish this, it is sometimes necessary to offer separate models with calibrations designed for specific markets. This is the case with the Verado 350 SCi, which is available in two configurations: an EPA calibration for the United States (and non-EU countries) and an EU calibration for countries belonging to the European Union.

Regardless of version, all Verado 350 SCi engines MUST run the specified fuel grade (91 octane (R+M)/2 on US versions and 95 RON on EU versions). Because the Verado 350 SCi does not include a knock protection system, running these engines on fuel grades that differ from what is specified above could result in significant engine issues. In addition, product issues that result from running non-specified fuel grades are not covered by the Verado 350 SCi’s limited warranty.

To learn more about this exciting new offering from Mercury Racing, please visit http://mercuryracing.com/verado350.

Proper engine maintenance is essential to ensuring your outboard engine will provide you with years of trouble-free operation. Mercury Authorized Dealers have the expertise and training to handle all of your engine maintenance service and needs.

In accordance with the maintenance guidelines outlined in our new promotional warranty (5 & Drive Sales Event) and the engine owner’s manual, failure to properly maintain the engine may result in a denied warranty claim.

Should you choose to perform the required engine maintenance work, you must work with your local Mercury Authorized Dealer to ensure the maintenance has been performed and the correct parts installed. The authorized dealer will then log the information into the Mercury Dealer Engine Service log on the Mercury on-line dealer system (MercNET).

Please also keep your receipts and compile a maintenance log for your records. This practice not only helps you keep track of the maintenance done on your engine, but also helps instill confidence with potential buyers or dealers when it comes time to sell or trade in your engine.

In the United States, the amount of ethanol allowed for use in gasoline is federally controlled by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Based on these regulations, the current maximum allowable ethanol content in gasoline is 10%. In conjunction with this mandate, most outboard manufacturers – including Mercury Marine – have designed their outboards to tolerate up to 10% ethanol. Unfortunately, some of the fuel samples Mercury has tested that were taken directly from the engine’s fuel system have actually shown ethanol content as high as 30%, or three times the maximum allowable amount. This is most likely the result of phase separation that has occurred inside the boat’s fuel system (not necessarily from the gas pump having higher ethanol content).

Phase separation essentially means that the ethanol in the fuel has attracted water (usually already present from condensation and/or other sources) into the fuel mix. When the right amount of water enters the mixture, most of the ethanol and water will tend to separate from the fuel (into a different “phase”) and drop to a lower level or layer inside the tank (water is heavier than fuel). If this layer of concentrated ethanol and water is drawn into the engine’s fuel system, significant damage can occur. Further, the level at which phase separation occurs is determined by a number of variables, one of which is the temperature of the environment. This may help to explain why some regions of the country may be more affected by ethanol than others. Mercury Marine believes this higher ethanol exposure has caused product failures in fuel system components on two-stroke and four-stroke product.

Ethanol has very different solvency behaviors than gasoline and is a proven contributor to the deterioration of certain rubber and/or plastic components and electrical potting compounds. Mercury is aware of this potential and is constantly working to implement material improvements to better withstand the effects of ethanol. One such improvement in place on all 75-115 hp four-strokes since 2006 and Verados since June 2007 (most easily identified by the polished chrome graphics package) is an improved float switch in the fuel supply module that ensures the integrity of the switch itself, even when exposed to higher ethanol concentrations. This change alone should address the majority of ethanol-induced product failures within the fuel system.

Mercury continues to monitor the ethanol situation worldwide and makes every effort to upgrade materials as necessary to ensure the continued reliable, durable operation of all of its outboard products.

For more information on ethanol, including what you can do to minimize its effects on your outboard, please review Mercury Marine’s comprehensive Ethanol FAQ document at http://www.mercurymarine.com/serviceandwarranty/outboardfaqs/ethanol.php.

While looking through a Mercury product guide or browsing www.mercurymarine.com, you may find it difficult to keep up with all of the terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms Mercury uses for its products. Here’s a cheat sheet you can use to navigate the plethora of information:

E Electric Start
L Long Shaft (20”)
XL X-tra Long Shaft (25”)
XXL XX-tra Long Shaft (30”)
C Counter-rotating engine
H Tiller Handle
PT Power Trim
O Oil Injected
DFI Direct Fuel Injected (OptiMax engines)
EFI Electronic Fuel Injected
M Manual Start
BF Bigfoot Gearcase (Gearcase with larger gear ratio than standard gearcase)
DTS Digital Throttle & Shift (Used on certain OptiMax and Verado engines)
WOT Wide Open Throttle (Mercury uses this when assessing proper RPM)
RPM Revolutions per Minute (How fast the prop is spinning)
MER Mercury
MAR Mariner
FOR Force
MET Mercury Tracker (Mercury engine with Tracker decals)

So, for example, when you see an engine tag or description that reads 2002 MER 60 ELPTO you now know that this designates a Mercury 60 horsepower Electric start, Long shaft, Power Trim, Oil injected engine.

Hopefully this cheat sheet comes in handy the next time you’re looking over an engine you’re not familiar with or trying to interpret some information on our Web site.

Every industry experiences hot and cold seasons throughout the year. Most major retailers see a lull in sales throughout the year and may make as much between Thanksgiving and the December holidays as they do the rest of the ten months of the year. The Service department at Mercury Marine experiences its busiest season as summer descends upon the U.S. In a previous blog, I explained how our Service department tries to get in most of its training over the winter months, taking and completing engine classes to gain better product knowledge to assist our customers. What does that training prepare us for? SUMMER!!

Our customer service department is comprised of diverse employees—young and old, male and female, boaters and non-boaters. Collectively, we have decades upon decades of experience in the customer service field and the marine industry. Summers are definitely challenging, but it’s a challenge we feel we can handle, without a doubt. We are dedicated to answering all of your phone calls live, and if you do happen to receive voicemail, we will contact you the same day! That also goes for e-mails we receive through the Mercury Web site. In addition to phone calls and e-mails, we also take care of each and every letter we receive on a day-to-day basis. As you can see, our service department is anything but one-dimensional.

I often hear customers surprised when I answer the phone; they express their delight that a human was on the other end of their call. We very much pride ourselves on giving our customers the human contact and attention they deserve. We may not be able to answer every single call as it comes in, but we will return your messages as soon as we can. We may not have an answer for you immediately, but we’ll get it—and it will be the correct one! So, please contact us with your questions and concerns and remember to be patient so we can give you the most up-to-date and correct information we have!

Mercury Customer Service contact info:

(920) 929-5040, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST

http://northamerica.mercurymarine.com/utility/contact/contact_outboard.php

Mercury Marine, Attn: Customer Service, P.O. Box 1939, Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1939

The snow is melting and the weather is warming up. Mercury is running a warranty promotion through the middle of April that grants extra warranty on new outboard purchases. You dream of taking the family water skiing and tubing or hitting up the local lake for some prime fishing. You take advantage of the warranty promotion and pick out a new boat with a Mercury engine and are excited to take delivery so you can get out on the water ASAP.

You toss your owner’s manual into the boat and head to the lake. You back the boat into the water, crank the engine, and get ready to….run the engine up to ¾ throttle for an hour?! How can that be fun? What’s the point? You wouldn’t buy a new red sports car to cruise the suburbs at 25 mph, right? Well, you might be surprised to learn that the first four to ten hours of run time on your engine may very well be the most important hours you put on it.

Engine break-in is performed to manipulate certain surfaces within the engine. Even with current machining processes, there may still be some irregularities on machined and honed surfaces. The break-in process allows the engine to wear down the high spots of these irregularities, providing a smoother surface before the engine experiences the rigors of normal use. The main areas of break-in focus are the cylinder walls, cam lobes, clutch engagement surfaces, and gear engagement surfaces. Engine break-in also helps seat the piston rings and helps to maintain tighter tolerances and better lubrication of moving parts, prolonging engine life.

Break-in procedures vary from engine to engine. For instance, the break-in on a FourStroke is different than that of an OptiMax. It is very important to read the owner’s manual and follow the break-in procedure as directed. It’s understandable that cruising across the lake for four or five hours when you’d rather be fishing or tearing up the water on skis is an inconvenience, but it’s an inconvenience that will reap rewards in the way of years of enjoyable boating!