Ford Escape Quiz
Fuel and Refueling

Fuel Quality

In this manual: Fuel and Refueling
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
~3min read

Selecting the Correct Fuel

Selecting the Correct Fuel

Ford Escape. Fuel Quality

Your vehicle runs on regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum anti-knock index (R+M)/2 of 87.

Some gas stations, especially at high altitude locations, may offer fuel labeled as regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87. Using these fuels may cause engine damage that is not covered by the vehicle warranty.

For best vehicle and engine overall performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel is especially noticeable in hot weather and under conditions such as towing a trailer.

Do not worry if the engine occasionally knocks slightly. However, if the engine knocks heavily when using fuel with the recommended octane rating, contact an authorized dealer to prevent any engine damage.

We recommend using Top Tier detergent gasolines where available to help minimize engine deposits and maintain optimal vehicle and engine performance. For more information, see www.toptiergas.com.

Do not use:

  • Diesel fuel.
  • Fuel containing kerosene or paraffin.
  • Fuel containing more than 15% ethanol or E85 fuel.
  • Fuel containing methanol.
  • Fuel containing metallic-based additives, including manganese-based compounds.
  • Fuel containing the octane-boosting additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
  • Leaded fuel. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law.

Using fuels with metallic compounds such as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (commonly known as MMT), which is a manganese-based fuel additive, degrades engine performance and affects the emission control system.

Selecting the Correct Fuel - Flexible Fuel Vehicles

Flexible fuel vehicles have one of the following identifiers:

  • Yellow fuel filler cap.
  • Yellow frame around the fuel filler opening.
  • Yellow fuel tank cap.
  • Yellow E85 label on the fuel tank door.
Ford Escape. Fuel Quality

Your vehicle runs on regular unleaded gasoline with a minimum anti-knock index (R+M)/2 of 87, or regular unleaded gasoline containing up to 85% ethanol (E85).

Some gas stations, especially at high altitude locations, may offer fuel labeled as regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating lower than 87. Using these fuels may cause engine damage that is not covered by the vehicle warranty.

For best vehicle and engine overall performance, premium fuel with an octane rating of 91 or higher is recommended. The performance gained by using premium fuel is especially noticeable in hot weather and under conditions such as towing a trailer.

Do not worry if the engine occasionally knocks slightly. However, if the engine knocks heavily when using fuel with the recommended octane rating, contact an authorized dealer to prevent any engine damage.

We recommend using Top Tier detergent gasolines where available to help minimize engine deposits and maintain optimal vehicle and engine performance. For more information, see www.toptiergas.com.

Do not use:

  • Diesel fuel.
  • Fuel containing kerosene or paraffin.
  • Fuel containing more than 85% ethanol or E100 fuel.
  • Fuel containing methanol.
  • Fuel containing metallic-based additives, including manganese-based compounds.
  • Fuel containing the octane-boosting additive methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
  • Leaded fuel. The use of leaded fuel is prohibited by law.

Using fuels with metallic compounds such as methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (commonly known as MMT), which is a manganese-based fuel additive, degrades engine performance and affects the emission control system.

Test yourself

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