Like many other companies, Ford is looking for ways to improve performance while protecting the environment. One of the ways that it does this is with the EcoBoost engine. The EcoBoost is more fuel-efficient and produces fewer emissions while also being more powerful than other engine options. This leaves many drivers confused as to how it works, since eco-friendly options are generally thought to be less powerful than their counterparts. Here is a look at what makes the EcoBoost engine of the 2018 Ford Escape so powerful. 
Turbocharging
One of the most common ways of boosting engine performance is through turbocharging, which involves using different methods to increase air intake. Increasing the airflow rate allows for faster, stronger, and all-around better combustion. The EcoBoost engine harnesses the power of the exhaust system to turbocharge its air intake.
The exhaust cannot be fed back into the engine, but it is used to spin a turbine that compresses air and feeds it into the engine quickly. By doing so the engine gets a higher airflow rate and creates a burst of extra energy.
Direct Injection
Gas engines mix air with fuel. This mix is often done before it reaches the combustion chamber located above the piston. While proven and widely used, this method can also waste fuel. Instead, the EcoBoost engine mixes air and fuel in the combustion chamber by spraying the fuel directly into the chamber. It uses a special nozzle to turn the fuel into a fine mist, which makes it combust easily and doesn’t let the fuel be wasted in other places.
Twin-Independent Variable Cam Timing
Another method that the EcoBoost engine uses is twin-independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT). Inside the engine, there is a series of valves that allow different processes to happen. When timed properly, these valves can maximize the power output in different ways. The EcoBoost engine takes advantage of this by analyzing what the Escape is doing and how much power it needs. Then, it adjusts the timing of all of the valves to either provide more power or to conserve fuel.
Improved All-Around Efficiency
Ultimately, the EcoBoost engine is more powerful than other models because of its improved all-around efficiency. With various systems in place to maximize efficiency, it is better at conserving power and fuel for when it is needed. On top of that, it produces fewer emissions since more of the fuel is conserved and no power output is wasted. As EcoBoost engines become more efficient, they will also become more powerful.
Ford will continue to develop the EcoBoost engine for the Ford Escape, as well as many of its other vehicle lines. It has proven to be the best option for vehicles that don’t require extremely high-output levels like trucks or diesel vehicles. It is likely that you will see the EcoBoost engine in future Ford models depending on what their needs are. Regardless, the Ford Escape is a much better and more powerful vehicle thanks to its EcoBoost engine.
Image via Flickr by RL GNZLZ used under CC BY
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