MERCURY 40 HP 40ELHPT OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor is a tiller steer, electric start 40 hp FourStroke with power trim and tilt and a 20 inch long shaft. It uses Mercury’s 0.747 litre inline three cylinder with electronic fuel injection and an 18 amp, 226 watt alternator. The lightest version of this engine weighs around 204 pounds. It’s a premium tiller motor for serious anglers and busy utility boats. We have it for sale new with the Mercury factory warranty and ship worldwide.

Mercury’s idea with the FourStroke is simple: start it up and go, any time, all season. The Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor lives up to that, and power trim on the tiller makes it one of the nicest 40s to run.

On this page:

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

Why the Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor

It’s as close to maintenance free as Mercury could make it, with tougher components, reliable fuel injection and optional SmartCraft digital monitoring. The long stroke three cylinder gives strong low end torque for quick planing, and the full throttle range of 5,500 to 6,000 rpm gives a good turn of speed on a 16 to 18 foot boat.

Power trim and tilt, controlled from the tiller, lets you trim in for a quick hole shot, trim out for efficient cruising, and raise the motor for shallows and trailering without leaving your seat. Electric start and the 18 amp alternator make it effortless and keep your electronics powered.

Model code: 40 hp, E electric start, L 20 inch long shaft, H tiller, PT power trim and tilt.

Boats the Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor suits

• Aluminum and deep V tiller fishing boats of 16 to 18 feet
• River boats and jon boats that run shallow
• Utility and work boats
• Boats where the owner prefers tiller control and open deck space

On the water

Trim down, clip on the lanyard, put it in neutral and press start. Trim in and throttle up to get on plane, then trim out to find the best cruise. Trim up when running into shallows or onto the trailer.

Real world setups

A 17 foot tiller walleye boat on a big, windy lake is the textbook match. The Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor gets the crew and gear on plane quickly, and power trim lets you soften the ride when the chop builds. On a shallow river boat, power tilt lets you creep over bars without leaning back over the transom.

Buyer questions

“40ELHPT or 40ELHGA?”

The 40ELHGA has gas assist tilt and costs less. The 40ELHPT adds power trim for easier running and better ride.

“Is SmartCraft included?”

SmartCraft digital gauges are available as an option. Ask us if you’d like them.

Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor features

• Inline 3, 0.747 litre four stroke
• Electronic fuel injection
• Electric start
• 18 amp, 226 watt alternator
• Tiller steering
• Power trim and tilt
• 20 inch long shaft
• 2.00:1 gear ratio
• SmartCraft compatible
• Mercury Marine factory warranty

Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT outboard motor

Fuel: fresh 87 octane, up to 10% ethanol.

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

Gear case: change the lube yearly.

Power trim: check fluid level and wiring.

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 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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.

Why power trim is worth having

Trim is the angle of the motor relative to the transom, and on a planing boat it makes a real difference. With the Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor trimmed in, the bow stays down, which helps the boat climb onto the plane quickly and ride more softly in a chop. Once you’re planing, trimming out slightly lifts the bow a touch, reduces the wetted hull and drag, and usually adds speed and saves fuel. Power trim lets you make those adjustments on the move, at the press of a button, as load and conditions change.

Power tilt also raises the motor fully for trailering, beaching, launching and running through shallow water, all without lifting heavy weight over the transom.

Getting the propeller right

The propeller is the part of your Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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 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 40ELHPT outboard motor somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

Paperwork, warranty and keeping records

When your Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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 40ELHPT 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.

Why fuel care matters so much

If there’s one thing that decides whether an outboard starts first time or leaves you pulling and swearing at the ramp, it’s fuel. Modern petrol, especially with ethanol blended in, starts to break down within weeks. It absorbs moisture, separates and leaves gummy deposits that block the tiny passages in fuel systems.

For your Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor, the rules are simple. Buy fresh fuel from a busy station. Don’t store it for months in a can. Keep the tank vent closed when the boat isn’t in use. Use a fuel stabiliser if the boat will sit for more than a few weeks. And before any long lay up, deal with the fuel system as the owner’s manual describes, rather than leaving old fuel inside the engine. It’s a few minutes of effort that saves a lot of cost and frustration.

Alternatives to the Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor

40ELHGA: tiller with gas assist.

40ELPT: remote with power trim.

50ELHPT: more power, tiller with power trim.

40ELHPT Command Thrust SeaPro: commercial version.

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

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

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

Propeller, fuel tank and battery can be supplied 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 40ELHPT outboard motor FAQ

Does the Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor have power trim?

Yes, on the tiller.

How much does it charge?

18 amps, 226 watts.

What shaft length?

20 inches.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote.

Order your Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT outboard motor

Start it and go, any time, with power trim right at your hand. Add the Mercury 40 HP 40ELHPT 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.