I'm looking at a 1994 Mercury 2 stroke 4 cylinder 40. Motor is in great shape and has ridiculously low hours for its age. Have any of yall run one of these motors? If so, how did you like it? From what I've read the impeller can be an issue, but on the flip side of that other people have said that they are running the original water pump and never had an issue. I know the 1997 and up "red stripe" 3 cyl 40's are more desired, but for the price i could get this motor I have to seriously consider buying it. If anyone has any experience with the 4 cyl mercs I would greatly appreciate some info.

them engines are a beast. been running a mariner 50 magnum. its a 4cylinder also. gave it hell crawfishing and hunting and had no issues. broke skegs and had another welded on. just bought a 60 merc 4-stroke and gonna give it a try. ol betsy gonna be on standby

I had a 1991 model. I had to put a new oil tank on it because the sending unit went out on it and also replaced motor mounts. I ran it vary hard and abused it. I was happy with how it handled the abuse and it always started and ran well.

My dads been running a slightly newer 4 cyl 40 hp merc (1997) I believe and its been a great motor to us. He's ran it since new and always took great care of it but its got to have at least 5000 hours on it now and still runs like a top. Only problem we had was last year he had to replace the trim and tilt but that being said the motor is 18 years old and that to be expected with a motor this age. Also the 4 cylinders definitely run smoother and have more bottom end torque than the 3 cylinders.

I have a 1992 4-cylinder Merc 40 which was one of the last made in Belgium. It has been awesome. Only used in saltwater for the first 20 years of its life. Used it for everything - Wakeboarding and kneeboarding in summer, fishing with average trip of 70 miles round trip for the first 15 years until I switched to fishing elsewhere, loading it up to go to the camp, duck hunting (didn't always have a surface drive), search and rescue in New Orleans for hurricane Katrina (the water in N.O. ate some of the paint off of it), beach sweeps, you name it.

Not sure what you mean about problems with the impeller. I never had any. I think I only replaced it once and it was still working when it was replaced, I just thought it might be time after 18 years or so. Had to replace a coil, which was like a $15 bolt on in a couple-minute fix. I think a part on the throttle broke around the 20 year mark, but other than that, I don't think it even saw a mechanic in the first 15 years. I do change out my plugs every year (NGK's) because the lower two start falling apart from the saltwater after a year.

Merc also made a 2-cylinder 40 when I bought this one. I vaguely recall them saying the 4-cylinder was a Commercial model. I would take this one over both the 2-cylinder and the 3-cylinder though it is pretty heavy compared to the other old 2 strokes.

Same motor on a boat we recently just threw to the side. GREAT motor. solid