You should be able to find the size of your Escape’s engine by looking under the hood or checking the window sticker in your vehicle—look for the words “Vehicle Description,” which indicate what size engine you have.

Once you’ve determined your engine type, you can figure out how much engine oil your car needs:

Standard engine: 4.3 quarts of engine oil

Optional 1.6L engine: 4.3 quarts of engine oil

Optional 2.0L engine: 5.7 quarts of engine oil

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What kind of oil does a 2014 Ford Escape need?

As with oil capacity, the type of oil your Escape needs will also depend on its engine type:

Standard engine (2.5L):

Motorcraft® SAE 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

Optional engine (1.6L): Motorcraft® SAE 5W-20 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

Optional engine (2.0L):

Motorcraft® SAE 5W-30 Synthetic Blend Motor Oil

As you can tell, both the standard 2.5L engine and the turbocharged 1.6L engine require the same type of oil—that is, 5W-20—while the turbocharged 2.0L engine takes a slightly more viscous 5W-30 oil blend.

That’s because its size and supercharged speed make the 2.0L engine run hotter—and therefore require a heavier oil to help manage all that extra heat.

Synthetic oil blends are suggested for your Ford for a number of reasons. On top of having a longer lifespan than conventional oil, synthetic oil blends tend to perform best under high engine temperatures thanks to performance additives that help reduce friction and improve gas mileage.

You’ll notice in every instance, Ford recommends using Motorcraft® engine oil to power your Escape. The Motorcraft® brand is a trademark of Ford Motors, making it the perfect fit for any Ford vehicle.

How often to change oil on a 2014 Ford Escape

Ford recommends changing your car’s oil every 7,500 to 10,000 miles when using a synthetic oil blend. For conventional oils, that timeline is shorter: every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

If you use your Ford Escape as a second car or only take it out on occasion, every six months may be a better benchmark to go by.

Generally, you should be able to rely on this standard to change your vehicle’s oil at the right time—but don’t just monitor your odometer and your calendar.

Make sure you’re also checking your oil level on a regular basis, and watch out following signs that it’s time for an oil change:

Oil that appears dark brown or black in color

Oil that looks grainy or gritty

New or unusual noises coming from your engine

New or unusual odors, particularly smells of oil, smoke, or burning

Decreased engine performance

How to change your oil and oil filter

Once you’ve determined it’s time for your Ford Escape’s oil to be changed, you can schedule an appointment with your local mechanic to have the service performed. On average, it costs between $120 and $140 to receive a routine oil change.

But there’s a cheaper way to change your oil: by doing it yourself! Changing your vehicle’s engine oil is a beginner-friendly skill that can help you save hundreds in the long run—and you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your driveway!

You’ll need a few basic tools before you can get started, including a filter wrench, socket wrench, drain pan, and a new oil filter—not to mention the correct amount of Motorcraft® engine oil!

Once you’ve gathered the necessary materials, follow these next steps to change your Ford Escape’s oil:

Remove the oil fill cap

Get underneath the engine and remove the oil drain bolt and washer using your socket wrench

Allow the old engine oil to drain into the drain pan (this may take up to five minutes)

Remove the old oil filter with your filter wrench and continue to let the oil drain

Install the new filter

Replace the oil drain bolt using a new washer

Refill the engine with your new oil and replace the fill cap

After changing your oil, it’s a good idea to turn your car back on and let the engine run for about 30 seconds to a minute before you check the oil level.

This will allow the fresh oil to soak into the new filter, giving you a more accurate measurement—then you can make sure that you’ve added enough oil to your engine by checking the level with your dipstick!

Remember the final step: clean up! You should never dump dirty engine oil out on the ground or throw it in the garbage. Rather, place it in a sealed container and bring it to a
local recycling center
for proper disposal.

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How to reset the oil life reminder light

As part of your 2014 Ford Escape’s maintenance system, a built-in oil life monitor reminder light is programmed to illuminate whenever it’s time for an oil change.

But if you’ve already replaced your Ford’s oil and the reminder light remains lit, you may have to reset it manually. Here’s how:

First, turn your ignition to the “ON” position without starting the engine

Next, press down fully on both the accelerator and brake pedals at the same time

Wait three seconds, or until a message appears on your display screen confirming the oil life monitor reset has been initiated

Continue pressing on both the brake and accelerator pedals for another 25 to 30 seconds, or until a second message appears confirming the reset is complete

Release both the brake and accelerator pedals

Switch the ignition off

And that’s it! Once this process is complete, your oil life monitor reminder light should no longer illuminate on the dashboard—at least, not until it’s time for your next oil change!