[ralph7up]

Hi Bob, I have a 2017 Escape and noticed my coolant level is low. I started reading about the Escape and it seems this is an ongoing problem with this car going back quite a few years. Ford's answer is to put a gauge on the dash to monitor the coolant level, but they haven't fixed the main issue.....a new car should not leak coolant. I just witnessed my neighbors escape go up in flames due to this issue. I have an appointment at Ford tomorrow, but I am mad and will get the media involved if I have to. I don't want to drive a car where I have to worry about the car bursting into flames. If you start googling this issue it dates back to at least 2009.
It will be interesting to see what Ford says to you. I think we all have to band together to get something done.

Hello H34JO,

I am just curious about a couple of things. You state that this is an old issue and has not been corrected by Ford. What is the basis of that statement? The 1.6 and 1.5 are two different engines. Do you have access to data that you have not shared?

You also state that your neighbor's car "bursting into flames" but you failed to provide the year, make and model of your neighbor's car. Could you please provide it so we can be of assistance?

Thanks

 

[ralph7up]

Can anyone comment on brands that are safe to use and compatible with Ford's orange coolant?
Had my car at the dealer a week ago for 15K mile service (oil change and tire rotation, and fluid and safety checks) and see that the coolant level is slightly below the Min line. I suspect they didn't do any fluid checks. The VWs and BMW I owned all got fluids topped off during similar scheduled services at the dealers, even including topping of the windshield washer reservoir.

Your Ford dealer should have done this. This is especially true if you specified "the works" which is their term for oil change etc. They even should give you a colorful check sheet that identifies status of all fluids, tire pressure, etc. Here is the one they gave me after my last service. Of course this will not take away the worry of someone just checking things but I like it and use it to discuss the status of my car with the service advisor.

P.S. I am a strong believer in the "trust but verify" concept. Before I leave the dealer or any other location, I will randomly check an item or two. For example, occasionally, I will mark my tires before I specify a tire rotation.

 

[ralph7up]

I specified "The Works" and even brought the printout from the Ford web site for the Works special ($39.95).
I did not get this multi-color printout you showed, just a black and white multi-page receipt listing the basic services (supposedly) performed.
I'm learning that the neighbors were right: this dealer is bare bones in regards to sales and service. The salesman did very little familiarization on delivery - about 5 minutes. I wasn't concerned about that since I figured on tinkering with the car's controls and reading the owners manual when I got back home, as I usually do with a new car.
The car wasn't prepped at all between the time I test drove the car and when I picked it up several hours later. In fact, they wanted me to take it right away after I signed the papers even though I didn't have the title for my trade-in with me.
I guess I was spoiled by VW and BMW service: coffee and donuts in the waiting area, very detailed cleanup before delivery of a new car. Every service at VW or BMW, the car was vacuumed and washed, or if it couldn't be washed due to inclement weather, I was given a voucher either to come back to the dealer or to use a local car wash.
In contrast, the Ford dealer has a Keurig machine and a tiny microwave in the waiting area, but no coffee, no cups or anything else.
With that said, the car is great, my local dealer is mediocre. I've had 2 oil changes at the dealer and one at the regional tire dealer (Mobil 1). I think I'll stick with the tire dealer for regular maintenance even though they charged more for the oil change. Then again, I had them put in Mobil 1 instead of Synthetic Blend that Ford specifies so not too concerned about the price difference. My old BMW was 125 bucks for an oil change of 8 quarts of full synthetic, 135 at the local shop, so 75 for the Ford seems reasonable.

Sounds like you have "bad Ford dealer". Depending on where you live, you could always try another as an option to see if you get better service. Whatever works. My trust but verify concept has saved me on an occasion or two.

 

[ralph7up]

Getting way OT here, but the next closest Ford dealer is near the BMW and VW dealers which I used to use for service but decided to buy local (Ford and Chevy were closest options) in order to avoid that 22 mile drive and the horrendously dangerous traffic circle (aka roundabout for Europeans). There's another Ford dealer about 30 miles away, not too far from one of my weekly hangouts, so that is an option.
Getting back OT, Advance Auto claimed that the GM Dexcool wasn't compatible with the Ford. They had the FoMoCo coolant in stock at twice the price of the Prestone GM Dexcool.

For compatability, I would check your manual and see if it provides any guidance. I always try and stay with the OEM spec stuff for fluids. Worse case is that you could buy a gallon from your Ford dealer which would be a bit expensive but you have the safety of knowing it is correct. That is what I did for my 2013.

 

[ralph7up]

Hello,

I have a 2017 Escape....1.5 eco boost 4 WD. Since my friends escape had this issue,(same year, and model as mine.... I have been researching and have found that this is an ongoing issue. When I contacted Ford I was told my vehicle is not affected, however less than two months later my coolant level is below normal. I just heard back from the dealer today, and as expected was told there isn't a leak. So now, i will monitor it, and if the level is low again soon, will escalate this issue. At just one year old, I don't want to have to drive this vehicle in fear of a major problem. Also....my friend had the vehicle in the shop for the same thing three months prior. She wasn't told to monitor the coolant, and didn't realise the possible repercussions.
The only fix Ford seems to offer.....not to me however...... is to put a gauge on the dash to notify of a low coolant level, however this makes no sense to me as it doesn't explain the disappearing coolant, or correct the inherent problem. I have seen discussions of this issue dating back to 2011 in this vehicle.
I am very frustrated as I sold my beloved Hummer to get a vehicle that would last me a long time.

Personally, I do not think you have a problem. I am not saying coolant is not low but that you do not have the same problem with the affected 1.6 engines (I have one in my 2013). By the way, thus far I have had no problems with this car. The recall fix seemed to have worked for me.

So your friend's vehicle that burned was a 2017 Escape with the 1.5 EB engine? When did the fire occur? What determination did Ford make as to the cause of the fire?

 

[ralph7up]

Seriously?? A one year old vehicle and I should have to check the coolant every second day and top it up? After topping it up and driving only 20 km, it was low again....not as low as the first time, but noticeably lower.
Ford is not getting involved with my friends issue stating her vehicle was not included in the recall, so she is dealing with the insurance company.
Do you work for Ford?? Cause this is the answer I would expect from them.

The answer is NO, I do not work for Ford! Just a bit of advice, try not to personalize things so much. My comment was my comment. You have your position. It does little good as far as getting assistance from folks on this board if you discount ideas that you do not agree with. By the way, you still have not answered my questions about the 1.6 and 1.5 being two different engines.

 

[ralph7up]

I respect your opinion, however you stated I don't have a problem......when clearly a new vehicle losing considerable coolant is a problem.
I did state I have a 1.5 not 1.6. I realise the recalls have been for 1.6, however if you look at many other comments when googling this problem, the 1.5 are having the same issue.
I did state what Ford said about my friends vehicle. That it wasn't included in the recall therefore they bear no responsibility.
This really is frustrating and not my imagination. Bottom line is that I shouldn't have to constantly check and top up the coolant on a one year old vehicle.

Final comment from me. I DID NOT state that you had no problem. I stated that I did not believe that it was related to the documented issues of the 1.6 EB for select VIN numbers.

 

[ralph7up]

as the owner of a 1.6L and part of the recall, and having a car that has never displayed a problem,and had the recall done, i none the less monitor the coolant level every other day, and am not using a drop. seems to me that one would need to ask why people are having so many problems.

from an uninformed perspective i wonder if it is where the cars are being assembled.

the UK and EU cars are predominantly Diesel so a very different animal, our cars in Australia are built in Spain, and i guess as a very small market segment we don't seem to have the same issues, South Africia seems to have kicked it off with Fires.

US cars are locally assembled ( is that the problem??)

i have to ask, and it is apparent from many of the comments that there are a surprising number of owners who have absolutely no idea about vehicle maintenance, and simply leave all responsibility to the dealer service dept.

im an older guy and have always done my own servicing , unless the task required specialised tools, and have always taken the attitude that all cars new or used are individuals and you need to get to know them, checking fluids regularly is perhaps the first step.

I'm old enough to remember my farther doing a tune up and service BEFORE taking us all on a trip, and always with his head under the hood.

i suspect that new vehicle owners would do well to do the same today, once you know the vehicles unique characteristics ( just like a partner) you can enjoy a happy life together,

just my thoughts, and not intended to minimise others frustrations.

This is most certainly one possibility for coolant disappearance. There could be others:

1. Bad parts
2. Poor assembly (alluded to here)

The bottom line is that one must be very careful in assuming that all coolant leaks are due the same common problem. There are literally hundreds of possibilities for coolant leakage.

 

[ralph7up]

I have a 2017 1.5l Eco-boost and it was loosing/using coolant and after throwing two codes (twice) it was found to be coolant leaking into cylinders 2 and 4. I had a new engine installed a 4240 miles and now I have 5430 miles on it. The coolant level has continued to go down but at a slower rate and I used about a quart of oil in the last 1200 miles. The original engine didn't use any oil in the first 4240 miles but the new engine does. Time will tell if the new engine is the answer or if I still have a problem. I have the upgraded liner in the new engine and I have just had the new software programmed to the EMU today. All of this has happened at very low miles. My dealer has replaced around 100 of these engines in the last 13 or 14 months.
Feel free to comment.

What is entailed in the "upgraded liner"?

 

[ralph7up]

I interpreted it as being thicker bores in the block. Aren't the cylinders coated with a nickel-silicon compound rather than sleeved?

Engine is open block design. No bores. Google open, closed, and semi open block.

 

[ralph7up]

H

I know this is not Focus related thread, but i want to share similar problem i encountered.
Ford Focus 2017 1.5 ecoboost 4 cylinders started loosing coolant at 23 000 km.
The dealer performed three pressure tests.
Last one was performed today (35 000 km)....engine internal leak in cylinder no. 2 was seen on borescope.
Internal engine inspection will be performed next week.
More and more 1.5 ecoboost (4 cylinders) engines develope this issue.
It seems (from what i read on other forums) that repairs don't last and the issue develops again.

ave not read anything definitive on fixes don’t last but many discussions on this board on the various fixes and also the design of the engine.

 

[ralph7up]

2019 Escape, 17, 649 mi., catastrophic failure, engine replacement. Picked up 10/22/2020. Today, 10/31/2020, affter only 733 miles, check engine light on, Degas bottle is empty of c. It's going back to dealer Monday.

Any codes? Check engine light? Short block or long block?

 

[ralph7up]

Engine light w/wrench symbol. Don't know about codes yet. This is a complete new engine.

Hopefully all it is was the coolant system not properly filled and you have air bubble.

 

[ralph7up]

Wow. 4 days? I find that hard to believe. The only way that could of happened is if they had the block and all the parts sitting there waiting. Did you check the old and new engine sticker? For it to cost you zero dollars the dealership has to submit documentation first then order the parts. Something smells fishy.

Might be a good idea to see if the guy has any paperwork from dealer clearly stating engine was replaced. If Ford, it should be on white warranty paper and I'd dealer some other. If Ford warranty paperwork does not jive with engine work done (confirmed old engine), I would report the dealer to Ford for possible fraud.

 

[ralph7up]

I just joined the forum and own a 2018 Escape with the 2.5 liter engine. Also, I just bought a 2021 Ecosport with the 1.0 liter (3 cylinder) ecoboost. I did some research before buying the 1.0 and could not find a similar problem in the forums (Ecosport, Fiesta, and Focus) with coolant leaking into the cylinders. The 1.0 is used in the Ecosport, Fiesta and Focus. The 1.0 is an open deck design and has the slits between cylinders just like the 1.5. However, the big difference between the 1.0 and the other Ford small ecoboost engines (1.5, 1.6, and 2.0) is that the 1.0 has a cast iron block. The cast iron block may be able to withstand the pressures of a turbocharged engine better than the aluminum blocks found in the 1.5, 1.6, and 2.0. Perhaps, Ford should use cast iron blocks in all their small ecoboost engines.

Interesting point. I was not aware of the materials difference. From my very old metallurgy classes, you could be on to something.