Is that normal?

[popsovy]

Hello, I have a 2018 Mercury HP 40, FourStroke engine. I connected the muffs and ran the engine to test it before going fishing. As expected, the water comes from the discharge hole at the top, but I also notice that quite a bit of water comes out from the area in the back of the engine (see attached images), above the lower unit. Is that normal?

Thank you!

 

[Texasmark]

That's probably your exhaust relief port where exhaust gasses can escape then the engine is running and the boat isn't moving. As I said "exhaust........" and cooling water accompanies exhaust gasses through the midsection. Maybe you have the water pressure or volume higher than what you are used to seeing, or never paid that much attention to it before.