It’s been long 8 years now since Ford started the current generation of the Edge. And it’s a really legendary vehicle that’s very popular among American buyers even now. Next year, we hope to see the new generation that has already been shown in China. But now, we have some more time to talk about the current-gen Edge and one of its most popular engines – the 2.0L EcoBoost.
Today, I will tell you more about the 2.0L Turbo engine, the base powerplant in the Ford Edge, its problems, and also its major advantages. This is a really good engine and although I will criticize it in this article to give you the full view, I really like it in terms of its fuel economy, quality, and durability.
Here’s what I will cover in the article:
- The key facts about the Edge 2.0L Turbo engine.
- What should be the longevity of the 2.0L EcoBoost engine in the Edge?
- What are the common problems with the Edge 2.0L engine?
- Tips and tricks to prolong the life of the engine.
What should you know about the 2.0L EcoBoost in the Edge?
I’ve met some people who were sure that the base engine in the Edge, which is exactly the 2.0L EcoBoost is very weak and isn’t worth its money. But no, the engine is cool and it’s absolutely enough for this big SUV.
The Edge also comes with the 2.7L V6 EcoBoost – the more powerful option for those who want a faster vehicle. In this generation, the model was also offered with a non-turbocharged 3.5L V6 but after the 2019 facelift, this engine wasn’t offered anymore.
I have nothing against the 2.7L option, but the 4-cylinder engine is also great and deserves your attention. Let’s look into some details:
- this is the 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine with a twin-scroll turbocharger offering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque;
- the engine is equipped with a good eight-speed automatic transmission – reliable and great to drive;
- it’s the second-generation EcoBoost engine that was manufactured since 2015 and we know quite a lot about it;
- the engine has the twin independent variable cam timing that’s pretty reliable and improves its performance greatly;
- the engine has the timing chain which is pretty durable but still won’t last as long as other parts of the engine;
- direct injection is cool in terms of efficiency but it’s still one of the problems of this engine due to carbon buildup on intake valves;
- the engine offers 21 MPG in the city traffic and 28 MPG on highways which is really great for such an SUV.
The combination of great power, small size, and wonderful fuel economy should take this engine up in the rating of American powerplants. If you want to drive the 2.7L version, be ready to spend more fuel – it will drive at least 2 MPG less than the 2-liter option.
Overall, the engine looks good and I can’t say that it will be problematic. Though, if you ask unbiased Ford mechanics, they will tell you a long story of problems that have been registered with these engines. Some of them are well-researched and any dealership can deal with them but some issues are much harder to locate and repair.
How long will the 2.0L engine live in the Edge?
When I’m talking about the durability of a certain engine, I always emphasize the car this engine powers. In the case of the Edge, I see a big and heavy SUV that will probably be used for towing some boats sometimes. And this affects the overall durability of the engine.
Anyway, the second-gen 2.0L EcoBoost doesn’t seem like a bad engine at all. It is good to go at least 200,000 miles if maintained well. I’ve seen Edge models with more than 300,000 miles on them and just some minor repairs. But those are rather exceptions and they survived thanks to very careful maintenance and professional driving.
The 8-speed transmission that comes with this engine is really great. It’s just a simple tranny with the torque converter. No dual-clutch, no CVT, just a simple and reliable unit that will most likely live as long as the engine.
But still, this engine may throw some issues and you should be ready for them. While some owners will drive a decade with only some minor problems, some will need to invest money in repairs.
What are the common problems with the 2.0L EcoBoost in the Edge?
As I’ve already said, this is not a non-problematic engine. Although you will not experience any problems during the warranty period, you will most likely have some issues once it ends. The standard warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles which is not a lot, so you should be aware of the problems that can spoil your mood when owning the new Edge.
Here are some of the most common ones:
1. Coolant leak into cylinders
There was a class-action lawsuit and as far as I’m concerned, you can get some free help from Ford dealerships if you ever have this issue. But the problem is hard to detect and locate. Because of some issues with the construction of the engine, coolant may start unexpectedly leaking into cylinders and burning there. This leads to contamination of the exhaust system, including the catalytic converter.
Also, this leads to quick coolant level drop and can even lead to engine overheating. You shouldn’t ignore the problem. Visit the nearest dealership and ask if they can help you with the recall or some service bulletin.
2. Fuel supply problems
Injectors are surprisingly good and long-lasting but the fuel pump that’s located in the tank (LPFP or low-pressure fuel pump) is not really durable. On one bad day, you may find your Edge not starting. The engine cranks and everything seems to be OK, but the engine doesn’t start. This may be the LPFP issue.
There is no way you can deal with this problem on your own. Even taking this pump out of the tank is a hard and risky task. Also, the LPFP (OEM) will cost you a fortune while cheaper aftermarket parts aren’t worth their money and will fail much sooner than the defective OEM pump.
3. Direct injections problems
While the direct injection system is good for fuel economy and great power, it has several important drawbacks: it causes carbon buildup on intake valves and it’s also very expensive to maintain and repair. The injectors can clog and they cost a fortune to replace or even clean.
Carbon buildup is just a standard problem with any direct injection engine and you should remember about it. Once you feel worse acceleration, poor gas mileage, and uneven work when idling, have the valves checked and cleaned. This is not cheap, but your engine will run like new after that.
4. Timing chain problem
Unfortunately, the timing chain is able to live up to 140,000 miles and will not live as long as the engine. At about 120,000 miles, I recommend replacing the chain kit and forgetting about this problem. This 2.0L Turbo engine doesn’t rattle much when the chain is fatally stretched. It can just fail (jump or break) and you will end up stranded on the road with zero chances of starting the car.
Also, after the timing chain jumps or breaks, it’s quite expensive to repair the engine. The repair will cost you just as much as the replacement engine if the valves and pistons hit each other as a result of the issue.
What can you do to prolong the life of this engine?
If you own the new Ford Edge with the 2,0L EcoBoost engine, you should be just fine for many years. The only thing you need to remember is the regular maintenance. I recommend changing the oil at least every 10,000 miles, also at this point, you will need to change the oil and air filters. Fuel filters can be changed once every 20,000 miles.
Pay attention to any warning lights and messages. They can greatly help you in preserving the 2.0L EcoBoost engine for a longer time. Once you see the error, you may go to the dealership or repair shop and have the car diagnosed. If the problem is caught at the beginning phase, you will easily and cheaply repair it.
These engines don’t need much attention, but driving them without caring about the vehicle at all will lead to premature death. Abusive driving is one of the reasons why they die early. Also, if you tow more than 3,500 lbs, the engine will most likely experience heavy loads and wear extensively.
So, just care about the engine and maintain it a little more often than Ford says. Don’t experiment with the quality of parts and fluids for this engine and always chose OEM offers.
Final thoughts
The 2.0L EcoBoost engine that is now used in Ford Edge 2023 was updated in 2020 and Ford changed the cooling system a little. Now it won’t misfire heavily and throw CEL on lots of occasions but it still has the problem of burning some coolant. You need to remember this so that you could locate the major problem fast enough and have it repaired.
Other than that, this turbocharged engine is as good as any other Ford engine that is currently made. It’s fuel-efficient, powerful, reliable, and doesn’t require a lot of money for operation. Also, the engine is cool to drive even though it has a relatively small displacement for the big and heavy Ford Edge.
Overall, I can still recommend this engine, even though it has some serious issues, especially when poorly maintained.