One of the most important aspects of vehicle maintenance is ensuring your spark plugs are in good working order. There’s a good probability you will need to replace your old and worn out spark plugs several times over the course of owning a 2013 Ford ESCAPE. Spark plugs are one of the most critical components inside your engine as they trigger the entire combustion process that starts and keeps your engine running for many thousands of miles. Similar to most engine components, spark plugs experience wear over time and eventually need to be replaced, but fortunately this is a repair you can do on your own. Odds are, if you’ve found yourself here, you have no idea how to do that, or maybe you’d just like to know what kind of spark plugs you need to buy. The complete process of changing your spark plugs should take approximately 20-45 minutes. This article will go over everything you should need to know about your Ford ESCAPE’s spark plugs, whether you need some general information or a full, step-by-step guide to performing a spark plug change.
Correct spark plugs on a 2013 Ford ESCAPE
Recommended 2.5L L4 2013 Ford ESCAPE Spark Plugs
For the 2.5L L4 2013 Ford ESCAPE, you can use ACDELCO 17 spark plugs. As this 2.5L L4 features 4 cylinders, ensure that you purchase at least 4 spark plugs in total.Recommended 2.0L L4 Turbocharged 2013 Ford ESCAPE Spark Plugs
For the 2.0L L4 Turbocharged 2013 Ford ESCAPE, you can use DENSO 5339 spark plugs. As this 2.0L L4 Turbocharged features 4 cylinders, ensure that you purchase at least 4 spark plugs in total.Recommended 1.6L L4 Turbocharged 2013 Ford ESCAPE Spark Plugs
For the 1.6L L4 Turbocharged 2013 Ford ESCAPE, you can use BOSCH 96326 spark plugs. As this 1.6L L4 Turbocharged features 4 cylinders, ensure that you purchase at least 4 spark plugs in total.These spark plugs are an exact fit for their respective engines and will match the required specifications. As this 2013 Ford ESCAPE features a 4 cylinder engine, ensure you purchase 4 spark plugs. We always try to recommend the best possible spark plugs for the money, and these spark plugs are either a factory recomendation or an equivalent replacement available now at an affordable price.
How often should I change my spark plugs?
In general, it is advised that you replace spark plugs once every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. Of course, please make sure to check your owner’s manual to determine the exact interval determined by Ford for the 2013 ESCAPE. Of course, if you drive your vehicle more aggressively or own a ESCAPE with some modifications, you may want to consider changing your spark plugs closer to the 20,000 miles end of that spectrum.
However, there are also telltale signs of a car that may potentially need a spark plug replacement prematurely, such as:
- Problems starting your engine
- Rough idle
- Engine misfiring
As a quick note, keep in mind that this list is certainly not comprehensive, and these problems on their own do not necessarily point to the spark plugs being the solitary culprit. However, the best way to prevent any issues with your vehicle is to take care of it with regular maintenance, and you are definitely doing so with the responsible decision to replace your Ford ESCAPE’s spark plugs on a regular basis.
Changing spark plugs on a 2013 Ford ESCAPE
This is a process you should be able to do on your own with some commonplace garage tools. Of course, consult your owner’s manual, as well as a factory service manual (FSM for short) or an equivalent Haynes or Chiltons manual. The video shown below does a good job of outlining the process.
Helpful Tools
As noted before, you should be able to do a spark plug change with some ordinary tools you most likely already have. However, there are a few tools that are specific to this job that you may not have, and we also want to recommend some commonplace tools that you should absolutely have in your toolbox if you don’t already.
- A spark plug gap tool. This allows you to check the gap of your spark plugs and increase or decrease it if necessary. Most plugs will come pregapped, but if this is not the case, you should absolutely have one of these.
- I also highly recommend you have a feeler gauge as it makes it a bit easier to check the exact gap, and it is useful for countless other jobs.
- A set of spark plug sockets – These come in extremely handy because many standard sockets are not deep enough for spark plugs. Additionally, some spark plug holes are a bit smaller, so it requires a thinner wall like the one featured in the product here to fit. The linked product also features a magnet to keep a good hold of the spark plug so you do not drop it into your engine bay!
- A torque wrench is a essential tool to have in your garage. You should check your FSM (factory service manual) to determine the correct torque rating to use when inserting the new spark plugs for your 2013 Ford ESCAPE to be certain they are installed properly.
- A spark plug tester – this is definitely a niche tool, but it can save you lots of time. Although we’ve discussed spark plug replacement being a good thing to replace regularly and not just when issues occur, you may also be replacing your spark plugs because of something going wrong. This tool can help you diagnose the exact problem.
Tips for changing spark plugs on your 2013 Ford ESCAPE
Ensure you watch the video above before you attempt to repair the spark plugs on your 2013 Ford ESCAPE, as well as review your FSM (factory service manual). Also, see the tips included below here to help you as you do this repair.
- It isn’t a bad idea to use dielectric grease when installing new spark plugs. You can apply a a little bit to the inside of the boot and the ceramic part of your spark plugs. It lessens the chance of voltage leak and helps avoid the misfortune of the boot fusing to the spark plug over time.
- During this process, one of the most vital things to ensure you do is to avoid overtightening the plugs or worse, cracking them due to overtightenting. Use a torque wrench capable of lower, more precise torque ratings to be sure that you don’t make this mistake.
- You should replace spark plugs on a cold engine. Ensure you wait at least 30 minutes after any kind of operation before attempting to replace the spark plugs on your 2013 Ford ESCAPE
- Note that this is not official advice as many spark plug manufacturers advise against the use of anti-seize. However, I have heard from numerous old-school mechanics that they always apply a tiny amount of anti-seize to the threads of their spark plugs, especially on older vehicles.
- Before you begin, disconnect the negative terminal of your battery. It’s a good idea to disconnect the battery anytime you work on the electrical system of your Ford ESCAPE or any other vehicle.