The 2017 Ford Escape 1.5 Ecoboost is a powerful SUV that provides a sporty commute to work or a comfortable ride during extended road trips. But if you want to keep your Escape in top condition, you'll need to know its engine oil capacity—4.3 quarts.

It isn't cheap to own a car these days. Between

car insurance

payments, fuel costs, and even

routine vehicle maintenance

, your automotive expenses can climb quickly. You can cut down on those costs by doing your own maintenance, like oil changes, but don't forget to consult your owner's manual for the engine oil capacity first.

If you don't have your manual, don't worry—you're in the right place to find information about replacing your oil. Today, we'll cover everything you need to know about your 2017 Ford 1.5 Ecoboost engine oil capacity so you can maintain your vehicle like a pro.

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2017 Ford Escape 1.5 Ecoboost engine oil capacity

The 1.5-liter turbocharged engine in your 2017 Ford Escape holds 4.3 quarts or 4.1 liters of motor oil.

Before we go any further, it's important to highlight the difference between your car's oil capacity and engine displacement. While your Escape's oil capacity refers to the amount of oil that the engine is capable of holding for use as a lubricant,

engine displacement

refers to the total 1.5-liter volume taken up by the cylinders.

These two terms are not the same, and you should never use oil capacity and engine displacement interchangeably.

What kind of oil does a 2017 Ford Escape 1.5 Ecoboost take?

Once you understand how much oil to put in your 2017 Escape, you'll need to learn its oil type. That's right—not every jug of motor oil is the same, and you'll need to fill your Ford with the proper kind.

Instead of grabbing the first random bottle of oil you see, look for SAE 5W-20. That's the oil your owner's manual recommends using in your 2017 Ford Escape, and it's always a wise decision to use the manufacturer's recommendation.

If that code looks confusing, don't stress. It actually has a relatively simple meaning, and we'll break it down for you.

The "SAE" is an initialism that stands for the Society of Automotive Engineers. That's the group of automotive experts and scientists whose job it is to assign these codes to motor oil. The numbers that follow those letters describe the oil's thickness or viscosity.

The first number—in the case of your Ford, "5"—tells us how thick the oil is when the motor is cold. That one is easy to remember because it's right next to the "W," which means winter. The final number—here, it's "20"—explains how thick the oil is when your car's motor is hot and running.

These oil codes are important because they help us determine the oil's application. Small numbers mean the oil is thinner—and we use this type of oil for car engines because it can move smoothly and efficiently through the motor.

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How frequently should you change the oil on a 2017 Ford Escape 1.5 Ecoboost?

Ford encourages you to replace the oil in your 2017 Escape every 7,500 miles, or every six months.

But maintaining your car's oil involves more than replacing it—in between changes, you need to monitor its condition and level to keep your engine healthy. When you pop the hood and check your Ford's oil, look out for these signs that it's time to replace it:

The oil is dark brown or black (fresh oil looks like dark honey and is semitransparent)

Muddy, chunky, or sludgy oil

The oil is gritty or grainy

Your Escape's engine is emitting foul odors, like oil, smoke, or burning

Your Ford's engine performance suddenly goes down

Your Escape's motor is making unusual or new sounds, like knocking

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How to change your 2017 Ford Escape 1.5 Ecoboost oil and oil filter

Now that you know your 2017 Ford Escape's oil capacity and type, you're ready to get started changing it. You'll need these supplies and tools:

A 13-millimeter socket and a ratchet wrench

Something to lift your Escape off the ground, like a jack with jack stands or ramps (keeping best safety practices in mind when you use them)

A torque wrench

An oil filter wrench

Clean 5W-20 replacement oil

A clean oil filter

A drain pan

A funnel

A towel or rag to clean the mess

Before you crawl under your Escape, start it up and let it idle for about five minutes. This step is not compulsory, but it will allow the engine to heat up enough to make the oil drain more efficiently. When your Escape's motor is warm, shut it off and start working on the following steps.

Remove your Escape's oil fill cap and pull up the dipstick (doing this removes the vacuum, which allows the oil to drain more rapidly).

Crawl under your Ford and remove its oil drain plug. Use the drain pan to contain the dirty oil that pours out.

While the oil drains, remove the used oil filter.

Lubricate the new oil filter by applying a thin layer of clean oil to the gasket before installing it. Remember, don't over-tighten the filter—screw it on until it feels snug and then stop.

Replace the oil drain bolt, and use the torque wrench to tighten it to 25 lb-ft.

Fill your 2017 Ford Escape with clean 5W-20 motor oil.

After you complete these steps, start your Escape once more and let it idle for another 30 seconds. Afterward,

check the oil using your dipstick

and ensure that the level is within the appropriate range.

Finally, you'll need to recycle your old oil. You can do so by transferring the dirty oil into the new oil bottle before returning it to your local recycling center or auto parts store.

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