2020 Yamaha 40 HP F40LA Outboard Motor

The 2020 Yamaha F40LA is a 40 hp, three-cylinder, propeller-driven midrange four-stroke on a 20-inch shaft, with remote mechanical control and electric start, weighing 214 pounds. It's built around a 747cc engine paired with an electronic control module that lets a technician pull detailed running history for diagnosis.

Protection built in

Yamaha's Phaze Five anti-corrosive paint applies a five-layer barrier standard on this engine, and a single-piece cowling with an air-drain design is built to keep water out of the intake path even in rough running conditions. An on-engine fuel filter with a water sensor adds a second layer of protection against contaminated fuel.

Numbers that matter under load

At the top of the throttle, the propeller shaft turns out 40hp at 5500rpm, the alternator puts out 17 amps to keep a battery and accessories charged, and compression sits at a 9.4:1 ratio. A freshwater flush device lets you flush the engine without running it, and trim adjusts from -3 up to +20 degrees.

Accessing diagnostics

Because the control module logs running conditions, a dealer with the right software can pull history on this specific engine rather than guessing at a problem from scratch, which is worth knowing if you ever suspect something isn't running quite right.

Upkeep

Yamaha recommends 87 octane fuel and Yamalube 4M oil at a 1.7-liter fill, with spark plug DPR6EB-9 and a CARB rating of 3 stars.

Common questions

Propeller or jet drive? Propeller-driven, and it is sold new.