LorenAZ

I changed my coolant at 53k because I live in Arizona and it gets HOT down here for a long time. I had purchased this 2012 Limited in Feb this year and the Carfax reported that it was a local purchase, so I knew it had gone through 4 years of hot AZ summers. I thought it would be a good maintenance idea to go ahead and change the coolant when I did. Like I mentioned in the original post, I did a drain and fill, not a full flush. I have always made it a point of changing all of the fluids and filters in cars I purchase. I have done the same to this one, with the exception of the transmission fluid which is next.

Snooping on YouTube I found how to reset the alert back to 100%.

Just today the "Change Engine Oil Soon" message alert came on. Is this alert driven by mileage or a sensor?

The owners manual for my 2012 Edge 2.0L EcoBoost recommends changing the anti-freeze at 60K miles. So I decided to go ahead and change it at 53K. I looked all over for information on this project, here and on YT, but could not any info, except on the V6. I can tell you the project is similar to the v6, with some differences. So I thought I would share with you what I did for this project. I did not do a complete flush. All I did basically was drain the radiator, coolant reservoir and any other fluid that would come out. I put my Edge on car ramps which gets it up high enough to have plenty of room to work under it. Make sure you use the parking brake and wheel wedges behind the rear wheels. Once its on the ramps, remove the lower engine protective pan. This comes off with 4 twist locks. The radiator drain plug is really hidden and hard to access. It is on the lower left corner of the radiator, just in front of the frame rail. The space around it is very tight and I could not get a good photo of it, or I would have posted one. The plug is NOT a nut type end, so you can't use an ope end/box end or socket on it. It looks like a giant twist lock, similar to the ones you twist to remove the lower engine pan. I used a 6 inch Cresent wrench, turned it down to about 3/16: opening so I could fit it on the head of the plug. It takes some fiddling to turn it out about 1 1/2 to 2 turns. It looked like the drain from the plug would drop down through a hole, directly under the plug. I took a 1/2 gallon plastic milk bottle and cut and twist cap end off and then cut the body to about an inch tall so it would slide under the drain hole and empty away from the air dam shroud and into the 5 gallon bucket I used. It worked great. I loosened the drain plug just enough to start dripping, slide the catch pan under the drain plug and the 5 gallon bucket under that. The plug is in a very awkward position, so take you time and open it just enough to start a manageable stream of anti-freeze. Make sure you remove the cap from the coolant reservoir so the system drains easier. It took about 30 minute to drain out all that it was going to drain. Once the last of the drips finished, I removed the bucket,the catch pan and tighten the drain plug. It drained out about 1 1/2 gallons of coolant, so I started pouring in the same amount of new fluid. Once up to the mark on the reservoir, I put the cap on and started the motor. The fluid dropped about an inch in the coolant tank, so I added that much more. Continued running the motor until it warmed up. No leaks! So I reattached the lower engine cover (4 twist locks), cleaned up the area, backed the car off the ramps and let the engine run for about 15 minutes. No change in the fluid level. I'll check it when we drive it some. I took my time, I was in no hurry and spent a couple of hours on the project. Hope this helps! I know it would have been nice had someone posted some notes earlier.

Hey Mac, You're using Amsoil and their filter with good results. Are you using the ATF also? Or any other products? I was looking through their website and was wondering how the other products work in the Edge. Like the Power steering fluid, anti freeze, etc. I am looking for good reasons to use their products throughout my 2.0 L EcoBoost motor. Like many Edge owners, I'd like to keep my Edge running well and lasting a long time. Thanks for your input, LorenAZ

Too much soot and misfiring are things I'm trying to avoid. I don't want to be too aggressive about cleaning the engine. I have 52K on my 2012 and I don't know if the previous owner did anything to the motor to keep it clean. I plan to use some Sea Foam gas additive once every 3-4 tanks of fuel to see if that makes a difference. I'm still looking for an OCC.

The carbon build up in the engine seems to be located mostly on cylinders 2 and 3 as the return pipe from the PCV is right in the middle of the air intake. Because this engine is a direct injection, no fuel is passing over the intake valve. In a multi-port fuel injected engine, fuel passing over the valve helps keep the valve cooler and cleaner. In the 2.0 L EB motor the incoming air, most likely contains oil fumes from the PCV because of the higher pressure from the turbo. That's why we have been looking for an oil catch can kit, which isolates the oil fumes between the PCV and the air intake, so the air is cleaner, helping to reduce the carbon buildup on the back side of the intake valve. So the only way to clean the valve is to manually clean them, or do a chemical clean like the BG's commercial application or one similar to the Sea Foam method. I know Amsoil make a product for this purpose and probably other companies as well. I was wondering if the chemical would clean the exhaust and turbo chambers too? Probably some cleaning I would imagine. I have not done the chemical clean to my 2012 Edge 2.0 L EB yet, as I just purchased it, but it is on the list, as well as the OCC install. Hope this helps, LorenAZ

I just watched the BG's top end cleaning. You can do the same thing yourself with Sea Foam Top End Cleaner and Lube available at Amazon and other automotive dealers. Here 's a video from Chris Fix on YouTube that shows you how to do it. I have not done this to my 2012 Edge 2.0L EcoBoost as I just purchased it last week. But it is on the list. Check out Chris's other videos as he has a lot of good information. You might also check out the use of an Oil Catch Can. We are discussing this topic on another thread on this forum. It will help eliminate the recycling of oil fumes coming through the PCV to the air intake. We're still trying to find a source for the kit and the installation. Hope this helps, Loren

We are trying to get a idea of how and where to put the OCC on the Edge. Appartenly, there is not a kit specifically made for the Edge, so we have to adapt one to work. I did think the one way valve would be a good idea, catch cans seems to be plentiful, so now it boils down to where to tap into the PCV line. I would think that if a company would put together a kit, that it would sell pretty well.

Both of these installs were on the Focus 2.0l. The first install has a PCV plate baffle replacement and a check valve in the line, the second has neither, but is similar. The first has the OCC in the engine compartment, the second vid has the location under the engine.

If I remember correctly, this kit is for the V6 twin turbo EcoBoost, not the 2.0L EcoBoost. It is more engaging that it would be for the simple little 4 cylinder. I watched one video where a Focus with the 2.0L EB had a OCC installed. That looked too easy, and I thought for as long as the 2.0L EB has been out, that surely someone has installed the OCC on it. Just looking for some insight on how and where to mount it and tap into the hoses. Thanks again, Loren

OK Guys, I've found videos on installing an oil catch can on the v6 twin turbo EcoBoost, and others on the 2.0L Ecoboost on the Ford Focu, but nothing on installing the OCC on the Edge. It looks like a relatively simple install, if the PCV line is the origin of the modification. All the articles I read, indicate it is a benefit to the engine to have it. Catching the oil blowby seems to be important for better performance. Has anyone installed the OCC on their 2.0L EB Edge? Where did you purchase it, what is it and how did you install it?

That's great news regarding the Amsoil Signature oil Would you recommend the gas additive and AT oil as well? And also their oil filter? Or what brand of oil filter do you guys use? I'm always looking for ways to improve my cars. Thanks again, LorenAZ

I just purchase a 2012 Ford Edge 2.0L EcoBoost with 52k miles. I have used many brands of synthetic oils in my vehicles as well as gas additives. AND I am thinking of doing the same with the EB. However, I have not read or seen any articles on this forum, regarding these fluids being used in the 2.0L motor. Is there any problems using synthetics with this motor? I have had great success with the Amsoil products and would like to use them in my Edge. If you do use synthetics, what brands are you using? If not using synthetics, what brands of dino oils are you using (5w-30)? Thanks for you input, LorenAZ