Ford Escape Quiz
Starting and Stopping the Engine

Engine Block Heater

In this manual: Starting and Stopping the Engine
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
~2min read
1special tools

(if equipped)

Engine Block Heater Precautions

We recommend that you do the following for safe and proper operation:

  • Use a 16 gauge outdoor extension cord certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). This extension cord must be suitable for outdoor use, in cold temperatures, and clearly marked "Suitable for Outdoor Use." Do not use an indoor extension cord outdoors. This may cause electric shock or create a fire hazard.
  • Use the shortest extension cord possible.
  • Do not use multiple extension cords.
  • Make sure the extension cord plug and the engine block heater cord connectors are dry and free of water during operation. This may cause electric shock or fire.
  • If the engine block heater cord is under the hood, do not move the wiring from its original location. Do not close the hood on the extension cord wiring.
  • Park your vehicle in a clean area free of combustible materials.
  • Securely connect the engine block heater cord and the extension cord.
  • Check the extension cord for heat along its entire length after the system has been operating for approximately 30 minutes.
  • Disconnect and properly stow the system before starting and driving the vehicle. The protective cap seals the engine block heater cord plug terminals when not in use.
  • Inspect the engine block heater system for proper operation before winter.

How the Engine Block Heater Works

The engine block heater warms the engine coolant. This allows the climate control system to respond quickly. The equipment includes a heating element installed in the engine block and a wiring harness. You can connect the system to a grounded 220-240 volt AC power source.

Using the Engine Block Heater

Make sure the outlet terminals are clean and dry before use. Clean them with a dry cloth if necessary.

The heater consumes 0.4 to 1.0 kWh of energy per hour of use. The system does not have a thermostat. It reaches maximum temperature after approximately three hours of operation. Operating the engine block heater for longer than three hours does not improve system performance and unnecessarily uses electricity.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Escape quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.