MERCURY 40 HP 40ELPT OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

The Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT outboard motor is a remote steer, electric start, fuel injected 40 hp FourStroke with power trim and tilt and a 20 inch long shaft. It uses a four cylinder, 995 cc (60.8 cubic inch) EFI powerhead, as shown on this listing, with an 18 amp alternator for charging. We sell it new, with the Mercury factory warranty, and we ship worldwide.

Power trim is what sets it apart from the gas assist remote 40s. You adjust the running angle from the helm with a switch on the control handle, so you can trim down to get on plane with a heavy load and trim out once you’re running for speed and economy. On a boat that carries different loads from one day to the next, that makes a real difference.

One thing to be straight about: Mercury has built the 40 hp FourStroke on both a three cylinder 747 cc block and a four cylinder 995 cc block over the years. This listing shows the four cylinder build. Before we ship, we confirm the exact model code and build with you so you know precisely which engine is going on your transom.

On this page:

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

Why the Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT outboard motor

A 40 with power trim is about the most useful small remote outboard you can put on a console boat. The long stroke design gives good low end torque, so the hull climbs onto plane without a fight, and the fuel injection starts it cleanly whether it’s the first cold morning of spring or the fifth start of a hot afternoon. The engine protection system watches oil pressure, revs and temperature and cuts power back if something is wrong, which has saved a lot of powerheads over the years.

Exhaust goes out through the prop hub, so it runs quietly. The 18 amp alternator keeps a starting battery topped up and runs a fish finder, a bilge pump and nav lights without complaint. And because trim is electric, you can raise the motor to clear weed, run in shallow water or put it up on the trailer without leaving the helm.

Model code: 40 hp, E electric start, L long shaft, PT power trim and tilt. No H means remote steering.

Boats the Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT outboard motor suits

• Aluminum center and side console boats of 16 to 18 feet
• Bass style and multi species boats rated for 40 hp
• Pontoons and deck boats
• Bay boats and utility skiffs that carry changing loads

Measure your transom and check the capacity plate for the maximum horsepower and weight before ordering. If you’re unsure, send us the boat details and we’ll check it with you.

On the water

Turn the key and it fires straight away. Shift into gear with the remote, trim down, and open the throttle. The boat lifts and planes, then you trim out a little until the bow settles and the steering feels light. At cruise the motor sits in the middle of its rev range and uses very little fuel. Coming home into a chop, trim down a touch to keep the bow in the water and the ride softer.

Buyer questions

“Is power trim worth the extra money?”

If your boat is heavier, carries different numbers of people, or you fish in shallow water, yes. If you want to save money and weight on a light boat with a steady load, look at the 40ELGA or 40EGA gas assist models.

“What about the other shaft length?”

The same motor also comes as the 40EPT (short shaft).

“What else do I need?”

A remote control box, throttle and shift cables, a steering system, a battery, a fuel tank or fuel line to a built in tank, and a propeller sized to your boat. We can quote any of these with the motor.

Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT outboard motor features

• Inline 4 (as listed) four stroke, SOHC
• Electronic fuel injection
• Electric (turn key) start
• 18 amp alternator
• Remote steering
• Power trim and tilt
• Through prop exhaust
• Low oil pressure, over rev and overheat protection
• Phantom Black finish
• Mercury Marine factory warranty

Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT 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 40ELPT outboard motor

Fuel: fresh unleaded, up to 10% ethanol, with a water separating filter.

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

Gear case: change the lube every year and look for water in it.

Trim unit: check the trim fluid level and keep the rams clean.

Cooling: watch the telltale every start and flush with fresh water after salt.

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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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.

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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT outboard motor somewhere dry. Twenty minutes in autumn saves hours of frustration in spring.

Paperwork, warranty and keeping records

When your Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT outboard motor

40ELHPT: tiller version with power trim.

40ELPTBT: SeaPro commercial build with the Command Thrust gearcase.

50ELPT: a step up to 50 hp.

30ELPT: lighter 30 hp with power trim.

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

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

The current price of the Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT 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 40ELPT 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 40ELPT outboard motor FAQ

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

Remote steering.

Does it have power trim?

Yes, power trim and tilt.

What shaft length is it?

20″ (Long).

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Contact us for a delivered quote to your country.

Order your Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT outboard motor

A fuel injected 40 with power trim, ready for your console boat. Add the Mercury 40 HP 40ELPT 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.