2008 Ford Escape Gas Tank Size & Fuel Capacity

SUV 9 trims listed ← 2007 2009 →

Fuel tank capacity

16.5gal · 62 L

The 2008 Ford Escape has a fuel tank capacity of 16.5 gallons (62 liters) on every trim.

A full tank is good for roughly 363–462 highway miles or 281–363 miles around town, going by the EPA ratings.

16.5 gal · Smaller than 75% of 2008 models we list.

Listed separately: 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid (15.0 gal).

Highway range
363–462 mi
City range
281–363 mi
Fuel
Regular unleaded
EPA combined
19–24 MPG
EPA size class
Sport Utility Vehicle

2008 Ford Escape fuel tank capacity by trim

What changes the tank sizeTap an option to filter the table

Drive
no difference
Engine
no difference

All 9 trims

MPG and range are city / highway.

TrimEngineDrive Tank MPG city / hwy Range city / hwy
Limited 4dr SUV 3.0L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 18 / 24Range 297 / 396 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 18 / 24 297 / 396 mi
Limited 4dr SUV AWD 3.0L 6cyl 4A · AWD MPG 17 / 22Range 281 / 363 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 17 / 22 281 / 363 mi
XLS 4dr SUV 2.3L 4cyl 4A · FWD MPG 20 / 26Range 330 / 429 mi 2.3L 4cyl 4A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 20 / 26 330 / 429 mi
XLS 4dr SUV 2.3L 4cyl 5M · FWD MPG 22 / 28Range 363 / 462 mi 2.3L 4cyl 5M FWD 16.5 gal62 L 22 / 28 363 / 462 mi
XLS 4dr SUV AWD 2.3L 4cyl 4A · AWD MPG 19 / 24Range 314 / 396 mi 2.3L 4cyl 4A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 19 / 24 314 / 396 mi
XLT 4dr SUV 2.3L 4cyl 4A · FWD MPG 20 / 26Range 330 / 429 mi 2.3L 4cyl 4A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 20 / 26 330 / 429 mi
XLT 4dr SUV 3.0L 6cyl 4A · FWD MPG 18 / 24Range 297 / 396 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A FWD 16.5 gal62 L 18 / 24 297 / 396 mi
XLT 4dr SUV AWD 2.3L 4cyl 4A · AWD MPG 19 / 24Range 314 / 396 mi 2.3L 4cyl 4A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 19 / 24 314 / 396 mi
XLT 4dr SUV AWD 3.0L 6cyl 4A · AWD MPG 17 / 22Range 281 / 363 mi 3.0L 6cyl 4A AWD 16.5 gal62 L 17 / 22 281 / 363 mi

Tank figures are the manufacturer's rated capacity, sorted smallest tank first. Range is tank size times EPA city or highway MPG.

How far a 2008 Ford Escape goes on a tank

Gallons left and the distance they cover at each mark on the fuel gauge, at EPA city and highway mileage. At the combined rating of 22 MPG, a full 16.5-gallon tank covers about 363 miles.

GaugeGallonsHighway milesCity miles
Full16.5429330
3/412.4322248
1/28.3215165
1/44.110783
1/82.15441

Over 15,000 miles a year (the EPA's yearly estimate) this configuration uses about 682 gallons, roughly 41 full tanks.

In real driving: owners who log fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 22.1 MPG in the Escape (36 drivers), about 365 miles on a full 16.5-gallon tank.

Fuel gauges aren't perfectly linear and the low-fuel light comes on with a few gallons still in the tank, so plan your stop before the last eighth.

EPA combined
19–24 MPG
Tailpipe CO2
370–468 g/mi
Source
EPA ratings

What it costs to fill up a 2008 Ford Escape

$70.45 to fill the 16.5-gallon tank from empty with regular, at this week's US average of $4.27 a gallon.

TankFuelUS avg / galFrom emptyFrom 1/4 tank
16.5 galRegular$4.27$70.45$52.84

By region, 16.5-gallon tank

RegionRegular / galFill from empty
East Coast$4.02$66.33
Midwest$4.27$70.45
Gulf CoastLowest$3.70$61.05
Rocky Mountain$4.46$73.59
West Coast$5.42$89.43
CaliforniaHighest$5.89$97.18

Prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration retail averages for the week of October 26, 2026. This week's prices by state and city.

Your own price

  • 16.5-gallon tank$70.45
  • A year of driving (15,000 mi)$2,911

Starts at the US average for regular; type in what your station charges. For other tank sizes, use the fill-up calculator.

Escape tank size in other years

The 2008 Escape uses the same 16.5 gal tank as every Escape since 2006.

Model yearTankLongest highway range
2013 Escape 15.1 gal 498 mi
2012 Escape 15.1–17.5 gal 490 mi
2011 Escape 17.5 gal 490 mi
2010 Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
2009 Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
2008 Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
2007 Escape 16.5 gal 446 mi
2006 Escape 16.5 gal 446 mi
2005 Escape 15.0–16.5 gal 446 mi
2004 Escape 16.0 gal 400 mi
2003 Escape 15.0–16.0 gal 375 mi
Ford Escape fuel tank by model yearSmallest tank Larger tank options

2008 Ford Escape vs similar 2008 SUVs

At 16.5 gallons, the Escape's largest tank ranks third of the seven 2008 SUVs compared here. The Kia Sportage carries the most (17.2 gal) and the Jeep Compass the least (13.6 gal).

2008 modelTankLongest highway range
Kia Sportage 15.3–17.2 gal 396 mi
Hyundai Tucson 15.3–17.2 gal 413 mi
Ford Escape 16.5 gal 462 mi
Mazda Tribute 16.5 gal 462 mi
Mercury Mariner 16.5 gal 429 mi
Honda CR-V 15.3 gal 413 mi
Jeep Compass 13.5–13.6 gal 381 mi

Other 2008 SUVs of a similar size, one model per brand.

2008 Ford Escape fuel system recalls

None of the 3 recalls NHTSA lists for the 2008 Ford Escape involve the fuel system.

All Ford fuel recalls Look up your tank by VIN

2008 Ford Escape fuel pump and gauge parts

NHTSA lists no fuel-system recall for the 2008 Ford Escape, so a failed pump or gauge is a normal repair. These are the part numbers the makers list for it.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the fuel tank capacity of the 2008 Ford Escape?

The 2008 Ford Escape holds 16.5 gallons (62 liters) on every trim we list.

How many gallons and liters does the 2008 Ford Escape gas tank hold?

The 2008 Ford Escape tank holds 62 liters, or 16.5 gallons in US gallons.

Does AWD change the 2008 Ford Escape gas tank?

No. FWD and AWD versions of the 2008 Ford Escape use the same 16.5 gal tank.

How far can a 2008 Ford Escape go on a full tank?

About 363–462 miles on the highway and 281–363 miles in town, going from full to empty at its EPA ratings. Expect less in practice, since nobody runs the tank dry.

How many miles can a 2008 Ford Escape go on a quarter tank?

About 107 highway miles or 83 in town from the 16.5-gallon tank, which has roughly 4.1 gallons left at the quarter mark. Gauges aren't exact, so treat that as a guide.

How many miles does a 2008 Ford Escape really get on a tank?

Drivers who log their fill-ups at fueleconomy.gov average 22.1 MPG in the 2008 Ford Escape (36 drivers), which works out to about 365 miles on a full 16.5-gallon tank.

What gas does the 2008 Ford Escape take?

Regular unleaded. The label inside the fuel door confirms it for your car.

How much does it cost to fill up a 2008 Ford Escape?

At the US average of $4.27 a gallon for regular (EIA, week of October 26, 2026), filling the 16.5-gallon tank from empty costs $70.45. It ranges from $61.05 in the Gulf Coast to $97.18 in California.

How much does a full tank of gas weigh in a 2008 Ford Escape?

About 102 pounds for the 16.5-gallon tank. Gasoline weighs roughly 6.2 pounds a gallon.

Does the 2008 Ford Escape have a bigger gas tank than the Mazda Tribute?

No, they match: both top out at 16.5 gallons in 2008.

Has the 2008 Ford Escape had a fuel pump or fuel system recall?

No. None of the 3 recalls NHTSA lists for the 2008 Ford Escape involve the fuel system.

Sources

  • Tank sizes: manufacturer-rated capacities from US-market specifications, checked against independent references. Updated October 2026.
  • MPG and range: EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov). Range is tank size times EPA MPG.
  • Fuel prices: U.S. Energy Information Administration, week of October 26, 2026 (this week's prices).
  • Recalls: NHTSA recall database (Ford fuel system recalls).
  • Real-world MPG: driver-reported fill-ups shared at fueleconomy.gov (My MPG).

Does your owner's manual say something different? Let us know and we'll fix it. More on how we check the numbers.

Other 2008 Ford models