MERCURY 40 HP 40ELGA OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor is a remote steer, electric start, fuel injected 40 hp FourStroke with a 20 inch long shaft and gas assisted tilt. It uses Mercury’s inline three cylinder, 747 cc engine with an ECM 70 control module and an 18 amp, 226 watt alternator. Dry weight is around 204 pounds. We have it for sale new with the Mercury factory warranty and ship worldwide.

It is one of the most common setups for small console boats: a long shaft, remote steer 40 with electric start and gas assist tilt, without the extra cost and weight of power trim.

On this page:

• Why the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor
• Boats it suits
• Features
• Specifications
• Maintenance
• Alternatives
• Price and shipping
• FAQ

Why the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor

It gives a console boat a proven, economical 40 with very little fuss. The long stroke three cylinder delivers strong low end torque, so the boat gets up on plane quickly and cruises at relaxed revs. Electronic fuel injection with Mercury’s ECM 70 engine control gives reliable starting and crisp throttle response, and the engine protection system warns of low oil pressure, over revving and overheating before small problems become big ones.

The exhaust leaves through the prop hub, keeping noise down. The 18 amp alternator keeps batteries charged for lights, electronics and a bilge pump. Gas assist tilt, with a 20 degree shallow water trim range, lets you raise the motor by hand without straining, and set it partly up to run slowly through shallow water.

Model code: 40 hp, E electric start, L long shaft, GA gas assist tilt. No H means remote steering.

Boats the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor suits

• Aluminum side and center console boats of 16 to 18 feet
• Small runabouts and bowriders rated for 40 hp
• Pontoons and deck boats
• Console skiffs and utility boats

Check your transom height and your boat’s maximum horsepower rating before ordering.

On the water

Turn the key, and the fuel injected three cylinder starts cleanly and idles smoothly. Use the remote control to shift and throttle. The boat planes quickly and cruises quietly. Set the trim with the gas assist to suit your normal load, and use the shallow water trim range when you need to creep through thin water.

Buyer questions

“Do I need power trim?”

On lighter boats with consistent loads, gas assist works well. If your load or conditions vary a lot, a power trim model such as the 40ELPT or 40EPT is worth considering.

“What’s the other shaft length?”

The same motor is also available as the 40EGA (short shaft).

Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor features

• Inline 3, 747 cc four stroke, SOHC
• Electronic fuel injection with ECM 70
• Electric (turn key) start
• 18 amp, 226 watt alternator
• Remote steering
• Gas assist tilt with 20 degree shallow water trim range
• Through prop exhaust
• Low oil pressure, over rev and overheat warnings
• Phantom Black finish
• Mercury Marine factory warranty

Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor specifications

For the manufacturer’s own overview of the range, see Mercury’s FourStroke outboards page. Mercury updates details between model years, so if one spec really matters to your purchase, ask us and we’ll confirm it on the exact unit we ship.

Maintaining the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor

Fuel: fresh unleaded, up to 10% ethanol.

Oil: Mercury four stroke oil; check before each trip and change on schedule.

Gear case: change the lube yearly.

Controls: keep cables adjusted and lubricated.

Cooling: check the telltale every start; flush after saltwater use.

If you’re newer to boating, the US Coast Guard boating safety site is worth a read. It’s written for US boaters, but the advice on kill cords, life jackets, fuel handling and navigation rules applies wherever you are in the world.

About Mercury’s 40 hp FourStroke engine

Most of Mercury’s recreational 40 hp FourStrokes, including the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor, are built on a compact inline three cylinder engine of 747 cc (45.6 cubic inches), with a single overhead cam and two valves per cylinder. The bore is 65 mm and the stroke 75 mm, a long stroke design that favours torque low in the rev range. In practice, that means strong acceleration and the ability to push a loaded boat without having to rev the engine hard.

Mercury also made these engines easy to live with. They’re designed to be as close to maintenance free as practical, with a valve train that doesn’t need regular adjustment, an easy access oil filter, thermostatic cooling for steady running temperatures, and engine protection that warns of low oil pressure, over revving and overheating. Electric start models add an 18 amp, 226 watt alternator, which is plenty to keep a battery charged with a fish finder, lights and a livewell running.

What electronic fuel injection means for you

The Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor uses electronic fuel injection, or EFI, instead of a carburetor. In plain terms, a small computer measures things like air temperature and engine load and injects exactly the right amount of fuel every time. You don’t need to fiddle with a choke. It starts easily whether it’s a frosty morning or a hot afternoon, it idles smoothly, and it responds cleanly when you open the throttle.

EFI is also less fussy about sitting. Carburetors have tiny jets and a fuel bowl that gum up when old fuel evaporates inside them. A sealed injection system is much more tolerant, although fresh fuel is still the best policy. And because the fuel is metered precisely, EFI motors tend to be more economical, which means more time on the water per tank.

Mercury’s small EFI engines can even start and run without a battery on manual start models: the pull of the cord generates enough power for the fuel injection system to fire. That’s a clever bit of engineering, and it means you get the benefits of EFI without having to carry a battery if you don’t want to.

What rigging a remote steer motor involves

A remote steer outboard like the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor is controlled from a helm rather than a tiller. That means a few parts are needed to connect it to your boat: a remote control box (side mount or binnacle), throttle and shift cables of the right length, a steering system with a cable or hydraulics, an ignition wiring harness, a key switch, and a suitable battery with properly sized cables. If your boat already has a helm set up for a Mercury, some of these parts may carry over.

Because every boat is laid out differently, these parts are normally chosen to suit the installation. We’re happy to put together a complete package for your boat, or to supply the motor alone if you’re working with a local mechanic. Proper rigging makes a big difference to how smoothly a remote motor shifts and steers, so it’s worth getting right.

Getting the propeller right

The propeller is the part of your Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor that actually turns engine power into movement, and the right one makes a big difference. The goal is simple: with your boat loaded the way you normally use it, the engine should reach the top of its recommended full throttle rpm range. If it can’t get there, the prop pitch is too high and the engine is labouring. If it goes past the top of the range, the pitch is too low and the engine is over revving.

As a rough guide, each inch of pitch changes full throttle rpm by around 150 to 200 rpm. Heavier loads and bigger boats usually want less pitch. Lighter, faster boats can take more. If you mainly carry heavy loads or tow, a lower pitch prop helps. If you run light and want top speed, a higher pitch may suit. Tell us about your boat and how you use it, and we’ll help you choose.

Trailering with your motor

Most owners of a motor like the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor leave it on the boat and trailer them together. A few habits protect the motor on the road. Use a transom saver or motor support bracket where recommended, so the motor isn’t bouncing on its tilt mechanism over bumps. Make sure there’s good ground clearance under the skeg. Close the fuel vent and disconnect the fuel line. And check the motor mounting bolts or clamps before every trip, because vibration on the road can loosen them over time.

At the ramp, lower the motor only once there’s enough water under it, and raise it before you drive the boat onto the trailer. It sounds obvious, but a surprising number of skegs and props get damaged at the ramp rather than out on the water.

New versus used: why buying new makes sense

We get asked this a lot. A used outboard can look like a bargain, but you rarely know its real history: how it was stored, whether it sat with stale fuel, whether it was flushed after saltwater, or whether it was run hard without oil changes. Problems like a worn water pump, a corroded cooling system or a damaged gearcase don’t always show up on a quick test.

A new Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor comes with a known history, which is none, and a full Mercury factory warranty that starts on the day you buy it. You get the latest version of the engine, fresh seals and gaskets, and years of trouble free running ahead with basic care. Over the life of the motor, that peace of mind is usually worth far more than the saving on a used one. And when the time comes to sell or trade, a well kept Mercury with a service record holds its value well.

Using your motor in saltwater

The Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor is rated for saltwater use, and Mercury builds its outboards with corrosion resistance in mind. Still, salt is hard on any engine, and a few habits make a big difference to how long your motor lasts.

• Flush the cooling system with fresh water after every saltwater trip, using a flushing attachment or muffs as the owner’s manual describes.
• Rinse the outside of the motor with fresh water, and wipe it down.
• Check the sacrificial anodes regularly and replace them when they’re about half worn. They protect the metal parts of your motor from corrosion.
• Tilt the motor out of the water when the boat is moored, if possible.
• Spray exposed metal parts under the cowl with a corrosion inhibitor from time to time.

Owners who follow those simple steps routinely get many years of service from their motors, even in hard saltwater use.

Using your motor through the seasons

In spring, check the oil, fit fresh fuel, look over the fuel line and connectors for cracks, and run the engine on a flushing attachment or in a test tank before the first real trip. Look for a strong cooling stream and a smooth idle.

Through summer, the main jobs are fresh fuel, regular oil checks and rinsing after saltwater use. Keep an eye on the propeller for dings. A damaged prop costs you speed and fuel, and can cause vibration.

In autumn, before the boat is laid up, do the full storage routine: flush, change the oil and gear lube, deal with the fuel system as the owner’s manual describes, grease the moving parts and store the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

Paperwork, warranty and keeping records

When your Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor arrives, write down the serial number and keep it with your invoice. Take a photo of the serial plate on your phone too. If you ever need warranty work, a dealer will ask for both, and it makes the process much quicker. The Mercury factory warranty starts from the date of purchase, so hang on to that paperwork.

It is also worth keeping a simple log: date, engine hours if you have them, oil changes, gear lube changes, impeller replacements and anything unusual you noticed. It takes seconds after each service, and it adds real value if you ever sell the boat. Buyers pay more for an engine with a clear service history, and it helps any mechanic you work with understand the motor quickly.

Check your boat insurance as well. Many policies have specific requirements for outboard security, such as a lock on the clamps or bracket, and some ask for the serial number. Better to sort that out on day one than find out after a problem.

Why buy from us

We deal in outboard motors every day, and we would rather give you a straight answer than make a quick sale. If you are not sure the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor is the right motor for your boat, message us with the make, model and length of the boat, how you use it and where you boat. We will tell you honestly whether it is a good match or whether something else would suit you better.

Every motor is packed carefully for the journey, and we keep you updated from dispatch to delivery with tracking. We ship worldwide, and we are happy to explain in advance what to expect with import duties and local taxes in your country, so there are no surprises when it arrives.

After you buy, we are still here. If you have questions about setup, break in or maintenance, just ask.

A small spares kit worth carrying

You do not need a workshop on board, but a few cheap parts turn most breakdowns into a ten minute fix. For the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor, we suggest a spare spark plug and the right spanner, spare propeller hardware, a spare kill cord, a small bottle of engine oil, a couple of fuses if the motor has electrics, and a fuel line O ring or connector seal. Add some cable ties, a roll of self amalgamating tape and a basic multi tool.

Pack it all in a small dry bag, keep it in the boat, and check it every spring. Most owners never need it. The ones who do are very glad it was there.

A quick checklist before every trip

It sounds obvious, but most days that go wrong on the water start with something small that got missed at the dock. Before you head out with your Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor, run through this in your head:

• Enough fresh fuel for the trip, plus a sensible margin
• Engine oil checked and at the right level
• Motor mounted securely and everything tight
• Kill cord clipped to you, not left on the tiller or dash
• Cooling telltale spraying water once the engine is running
• Life jackets, a way to call for help, and a small spares kit aboard

It takes a minute or two. It is also the habit that separates relaxed boat owners from the ones waiting for a tow.

More questions we get asked

Can I install the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor myself?

Many owners do, following the owner’s manual. If you are not confident with mounting, rigging or electrics, a local marine mechanic can set it up quickly, and it is money well spent.

How often does it need servicing?

Check the oil before every trip. Change the engine oil and gear lube at least once a year, or at the hour intervals in the owner’s manual, whichever comes first. Inspect the water pump impeller regularly and replace it as recommended.

What fuel should I use?

Fresh unleaded petrol of the octane rating shown in the specifications, with no more than 10% ethanol, unless it is a propane model. Old fuel is the cause of most running problems.

Can I pay in instalments?

Payment options vary by country. Contact us and we will tell you what is available for your order.

Alternatives to the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor

40ELPT: remote with power trim.

30ELGA: lighter 30 hp remote.

50ELPT: 50 hp remote with power trim.

See our Mercury 40 HP section and the main Mercury outboard motors category.

Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor for sale: price and worldwide shipping

The current price of the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor is shown at the top of this page. You can add it to your cart and check out straight away, or if you’d rather talk to a person first, send us a message through our contact page and we’ll come back to you with a full delivered price to your country.

What you get

• Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor, new
• Owner's manual
• Mercury Marine factory warranty from the date of purchase

Remote control, cables, steering, propeller and battery can be quoted to suit your boat.

Shipping worldwide

We ship to buyers all over the world. Every motor is packed securely for the journey and sent by courier, freight or sea depending on its size and where you are, with tracking from dispatch to delivery. Import duty and local taxes depend on your country, and we’re happy to explain what to expect before you pay so there are no surprises.

Buying with confidence

Have a read of our refund and return policy, see what other boat owners have said on our customer reviews page, and find out more about who we are on the about page.

Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor FAQ

Is the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor remote or tiller?

Remote steering.

Does it charge a battery?

Yes, 18 amps.

How heavy is it?

About 204 pounds dry.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote.

Order your Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor

A proven, economical fuel injected 40 for console boats. Add the Mercury 40 HP 40ELGA outboard motor to your cart now, or send us a question first. You can also compare it with the rest of our outboard motors for sale.