2020-2024 Ford Escape 2.0L EcoBoost Engine: Problems, Longevity, and Specs

The new Ford Escape offers two pure-gasoline powertrains - the base 1.5L 3-cylinder engine and the more respectful 2.0L Turbocharged unit. I've already written the article about the 1.5L engine and now I want to tell you about the more expensive option that is not going to be as popular as the cheaper counterpart but still appeals more to all our writers and editors.

Today, I will tell you about the 2.0L Turbo engine from expensive trims of the new Ford Escape and will also show you why this engine is better than the base one. The Escape totally changed its engines when going to the new generation in 2020 and I just have to finish what I started and tell you more about it.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2010-now
• Average lifespan of 2.0L EcoBoost:150,000-200,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:direct injection
• Power range:160-301 hp
• Fuel efficiency:average
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:medium
• The most common problems:intake manifold problems, turbocharger failure, carbon intake on intake valves, weak phasers, engine knocking issues.

Facts about the 2.0L EcoBoost powerplant in the Escape

The simple 2-liter EcoBoost engine powers the most expensive trims of the Escape. This turbocharged unit appeared to be really good and popular in lots of other vehicles. But we should warn you that the 2-liter EcoBoost that you will find under the hood of the Escape was updated recently and we still don't know how those updates will affect some of the features of the machine.

Overall, this is a very well-known engine with a simple and reliable turbocharger. It has 4 cylinders, a lot of power, good AWD in all trims, etc. It's not as risky as the 1.5L 3-cylinder base engine offered in cheaper trims.

Here are the key facts about the 2-liter turbo engine in the new Escape:

• this is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger that offers 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque;
• the engine has been installed in numerous other models like the Maverick, Edge, Everest, bronco Sport, some Lincolns, etc.
• this engine, just like the 1.5L one, is equipped with an 8-speed automatic transmission which is quite reliable and looks great for this powerplant;
• it comes only with the AWD system and this is weird because it will obviously affect its fuel mileage and not needed by some buyers at all;
• the engine will take your Escape from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.7 seconds which is not bad for an SUV;
• surprisingly, the EPA estimated gas mileage is not bad at all - 23 MPG in the city and about 31 MPG on highways.

Nothing bad so far! We have here a really good engine that was already tested in over a dozen of models and proved to be very reliable. Also, the engine offers great driving emotions. It takes your Escape from zero MPH to decent speed in seconds and doesn't limit you much on your driving style like the base engine obviously does.

This is the second generation of the 2.0L EcoBoost and it has lots of changes in the block, head, timing system, etc. The timing is driven by the chain and this may sound like good news, but just keep reading to see why it's not. Also, the turbo is much more efficient than in the pre-2015 version of the 2-liter EcoBoost and it delivers a low-end torque which makes the engine even more interesting to drive.

How many miles will the 2.0L Turbo Ford Escape last?

In this case, I will not limit the estimated lifespan with the transmission's life. It's a traditional automatic transmission made by Ford and it's actually made to last. Also, you can repair it if needed without selling your kidney.

The engine itself is not as durable as you might have expected when reading the first part of the article. I believe the estimated lifespan of 200,000 miles will be just the golden middle. This is the average mileage that you will be able to get out of this engine.

Still, some owners will lose their turbo engines much earlier and some of us will get it to 300,000 miles without serious damages and issues.

The durability of the 2.0L EcoBoost engine in the new Ford Escape highly depends on maintenance. If you don't maintain and service your engine when needed, it will fall apart soon after the warranty period is over. Don't want this? At the end of the article, I will give some tips on how to prolong the life of the engine.

What are the common problems with the 2.0L Turbo engine in the Escape?

Although the engine is overall good and reliable, there are still some common issues that you should know about. They are not always connected to the manufacturer's mistakes. Sometimes, we just don't know how to use this engine properly and attract these issues. If you are driving the Escape with the proper understanding of what your engine needs, the 2.0 EcoBoost will live many years and go many miles without any issues.

Here's what you should consider:

1. Timing chain problems

In the Escape 2.0L EcoBoost engine, Ford doesn't recommend a certain interval for the timing chain replacement and this is a huge mistake. I'm sure that the chain should be replaced (with the kit) at about 90,000 miles and then at 160,000 miles again. If your engine is still alive at 220,000 miles, change the chain kit again to avoid problems if it breaks or jumps.

I've seen several 2-liter EcoBoost engines in repair after the chain jumped and they were awfully damaged. Chains start rattling at about 100,000 miles in all Ford EcoBoost engines equipped with timing chains. And this is a clear sign that the replacement is needed as soon as possible.

2. Twin-scroll turbo failure

Turbochargers in the first generation of the 2-liter EcoBoost were a little better. They were simple in terms of engineering and didn't require so much attention. The new twin-scroll turbo is complicated and, what's disappointing, much more expensive to repair.

I've found a lot of reports about turbo failure even before the Escape could hit a 40,000-mile mark. By the way, this is one of the reasons the warranty mileage for the new Escape is only 36,000 miles!

3. Exhaust manifold can crack

In the American version of the 2.0L EcoBoost, the exhaust manifold is integrated into the head. It's made of stainless steel and seems like a good thing to last long. But when you find a crack in it, you will never be fooled again. The exhaust manifold has some kind of additional load in this engine and it cracks really often.

When it cracks, the engine will throw several malfunction messages on the dash and will refuse to give you access to the full power of the machine. You will only be able to drive slowly to the dealership to learn that the repair cost is insane because of this poor design with the exhaust manifold integrated into the head.

4. Fuel pump failures

I've heard that Ford solved this problem for the new generation of EcoBoost engines and decided to see if the number of reports dropped. But no, it didn't. So, the LPFP or Low-Pressure Fuel Pump is still faulty and can cause problems in your Escape at any time. I've seen vehicles with only 20,000 miles having this issue.

When the LPFP fails, you will have to call a tow truck because there is no chance you can start your car and drive it to the dealership.

5. Direct injection issues

These EcoBoost engines like the majority of other ones in this series have direct injection. After about 40,000 miles, you will have to clean the intake valves and also injectors from carbon buildup and other contaminants.

This is a common issue for all direct-injection engines, but in the 2.0L EcoBoost, these problems may appear much earlier than in any other engine model.

How to prolong the life of the 2-liter EcoBoost in the Ford Escape?

To drive your new EcoBoost longer, you should take care of the vehicle from the very first day. Maintaining is as important as washing your car. Maintain it every year and change the oil and filters at least once a year or every 10,000 miles.

Also, you should remember the following:

• timing chain replacement is still needed and better don't wait till it rattles;
• transmission fluid should be changed at least twice within the life of the transmission;
• let your engine idle for 30-50 seconds when you start it in the morning;
• don't let the car sit for more than 2 weeks - start the engine and drive it a little regularly;
• don't buy aftermarket parts and cheap fluids - these will kill your engine faster;
• don't abuse the engine - it's not made for sport and racing;
• pay attention to all error messages and warning lights to prevent serious issues.

If you just stick to these simple recommendations, you may drive your new Escape way more than 200,000 miles. But without this, the engine may fail at 100K miles or even earlier and the repair may cost more than the replacement engine.