Ford Escape Quiz
Maintenance

Coolant Check

In this manual: Maintenance
Introduction — 1Symbol Glossary — 1Data Privacy — 7At a Glance — 1Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 9Personal Safety System™ — 1Airbags — 8Pedestrian Warning System. 911 Assist — 1Keys and Remote Controls — 8MyKey™ — 5Doors & Locks — 5Keyless Entry — 6Easy Entry and Exit — 1Liftgate - Vehicles With: Manual Liftgate — 3Liftgate - Vehicles With: Power Liftgate — 6Safety — 4Steering Wheel — 1Wipers and Washers — 7Exterior Lighting — 8Interior Lighting — 4Windows — 3Interior Mirror — 1Exterior Mirrors — 1Sunroof (if equipped) — 4Instrument Cluster — 16Instrument Cluster Display — 14Trip Computer — 3Head-Up Display (If Equipped) — 1Remote Start — 5Climate Control — 7Cabin Air Quality — 1Front Seats — 5Rear Seats — 1Rear Seat Reminder — 1Memory Function — 1Garage Door Opener — 7USB Ports — 3Power Point - Vehicles With: 12V Outlet — 1Wireless Accessory Charger — 1Storage — 1Starting and Stopping the Engine — 9Hybrid Electric Vehicle Information — 6Auto Start-Stop — 1Fuel and Refueling — 10Catalytic Converter — 1High-Voltage Battery — 1Charging Your Vehicle – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) — 7Automatic Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive — 1Brakes — 4Electric parking brake — 1Hill Start Assist — 1Auto Hold — 1Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 1Steering — 1Park Aid — 7Rearview Camera — 1Active Park Assist — 5Cruise Control — 1Adaptive Cruise Control — 10Drive Mode Control — 5Lane Keeping System — 6Blind Spot Information System — 5Cross-Traffic Alert — 5Pre-Collision Assist — 9Driver Alert — 4Traffic Sign Recognition — 4Loading — 6Cargo Area — 1Trailer Hitch Connection — 3Towing a Trailer — 4Trailer Sway Control — 1Driving Tips — 4Breakdown and Emergency Information — 7Towing Your Vehicle — 4Fuses — 4Maintenance — 14Vehicle Care — 5Body Styling Kits — 1Storing Your Vehicle — 1Wheels and Tires Information — 6Tire Care — 4Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit — 8Tire Pressure Monitoring System — 4Road Wheel Replacement — 1Capacities and Specifications — 16Vehicle Identification — 1Connected Vehicle — 4Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 8SYNC™ (if equipped) — 9SYNC™ 3 (if equipped) — 41Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 4Customer Information — 23Appendices — 3
14steps
~84min
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When the engine is cold, check the coolant concentration and level at the intervals specified in the Scheduled Maintenance information.

If the coolant level is at or below the minimum mark, add pre-mixed coolant immediately.

Maintain coolant concentration between 48% and 50%, which corresponds to a freezing point between -29°F (-34°C) and -35°F (-37°C). Coolant concentration must be checked with a refractometer. We do not recommend using hydrometers or coolant concentration test strips.

Adding Coolant

It is very important to use the approved pre-mixed coolant of the correct specification to avoid clogging the small passages in the engine cooling system. Do not mix different colors or types of coolant in your vehicle. Mixing engine coolant or using unsuitable coolant may damage the engine or cooling system components and may void the vehicle warranty.

To add coolant, do the following:

  1. Slowly unscrew the cap. Any pressure will release when the cap is loosened.
  2. Add enough pre-mixed coolant to reach the correct level.
  3. Reinstall the coolant reservoir cap. Turn the cap clockwise until it reaches the hard stop.
  4. Check the coolant level in the coolant reservoir the next several times you drive your vehicle. If necessary, repeat step 2.

If you need to add more than 1.1 quarts (1 L) of engine coolant per month, have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible. Operating the engine with low coolant may cause engine overheating and possible engine damage.

In an emergency, you may add a large amount of water without engine coolant to reach a vehicle service facility. Service your vehicle as soon as possible.

Using only water, without engine coolant, may cause engine damage due to corrosion, overheating or freezing.

Do not use the following substances as coolant, as they may cause damage from overheating or freezing:

  • Alcohol.
  • Methanol.
  • Brine.
  • Any coolant mixed with alcohol or methanol-based antifreeze.

Do not add supplemental inhibitors or additives to the engine coolant. They may be harmful and impair the corrosion protection of the engine coolant.

Severe Cold Climate

If you drive in a very cold climate, you may need to increase the engine coolant concentration above 50%.

If you drive in a very hot climate, you may need to reduce the engine coolant concentration to 40%.

Engine Coolant Replacement

Replace the engine coolant at the mileage intervals specified. Refer to the scheduled maintenance information.

Observe local regulations and recycling and disposal standards for automotive fluids.

Fail-Safe Cooling

Fail-safe cooling allows you to temporarily drive your vehicle before any additional component damage occurs. The safe driving distance depends on the ambient temperature, vehicle load and terrain.

How Fail-Safe Cooling Works

Ford Escape. Checking the CoolantIf the engine begins to overheat, the engine coolant temperature gauge moves toward the red zone:

Ford Escape. Checking the CoolantThe warning lamp illuminates and a message may appear in the information display.

If the engine reaches a preset overheating level, the engine automatically switches to cylinder deactivation operation. Each deactivated cylinder acts as an air pump and cools the engine.

When this occurs, your vehicle is still operational, however:

  • Engine power is limited.
  • The air conditioning system turns off.

Continued operation increases engine temperature, which may cause the engine to shut down completely. Your steering and braking effort will increase in this case.

When the engine temperature drops, you can restart the engine. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible to minimize engine damage.

When Fail-Safe Mode Is Activated

Your vehicle has limited engine power while in fail-safe mode, so drive with caution. Your vehicle will not sustain high speed operation and the engine may run poorly.

Remember that the engine is capable of automatic shutdown to prevent engine damage. In this situation:

  1. Pull off the road as soon as it is safe to do so and turn off the engine.
  2. If you are a member of a roadside assistance program, we recommend that you contact your roadside assistance provider.
  3. If this is not possible, wait a short time for the engine to cool.
  4. Check the engine coolant level. If the engine coolant level is at or below the MIN mark, immediately add pre-diluted engine coolant.
  5. When the engine temperature drops, you can restart the engine. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible to minimize engine damage.

Engine Coolant Temperature Management (if equipped)

If you are towing a trailer with your vehicle, the engine may temporarily reach a higher temperature under severe operating conditions, such as climbing a long or steep grade at high ambient temperatures.

At this time, you may notice the engine coolant temperature gauge moving toward the red zone, and a message may appear in the information display.

You may notice a reduction in vehicle speed caused by a reduction in engine power to manage the engine coolant temperature. Your vehicle may enter this mode if certain high-temperature and high-load conditions occur. The degree of speed reduction depends on vehicle load, grade and ambient temperature. If this occurs, it is not necessary to stop your vehicle. You can continue driving.

The air conditioner may automatically turn on and off during severe operating conditions to protect the engine from overheating. When the engine coolant temperature decreases to normal operating temperature, the air conditioner turns on.

If the engine coolant temperature gauge moves fully into the red zone, or if the engine coolant temperature warning or Service Engine Soon message appears in your information display, perform the following actions:

  1. Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. Fully apply the parking brake and shift into Park (P) or Neutral (N).
  2. Leave the engine running until the engine coolant temperature gauge returns to the normal position. If the temperature does not drop after a few minutes, follow the remaining steps.
  3. Turn off the engine and wait until it is cool. Check the engine coolant level.
  4. If the coolant level is at or below the minimum mark, add pre-mixed coolant immediately.
  5. If the engine coolant level is correct, restart the engine and continue.

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