The root problem is the block. That's clearly outlined in many places with a little research. A new block, with a round passage between the cylinders rather than a slit solves the problem. A gasket alone won't help. If the problem occurs, you will usually find a crack and that's not something you can bandaid. I hate to have the cleaver of an engine failure hanging over my head but really like this Escape. My '17 1.5L Escape is nearing 80k. It has had the software update, whereby they changed the cooling strategies so it runs a little cooler. I also check coolant levels to the millimeter. On top of that, as above, I do UOA every other OCI. The engine has remarkably low wear numbers (7.5K OCI) and seems easy on the oil. I changed the coolant to the latest Ford spec'ed yellow stuff as soon as it came out. I also keep it out of boost as much as possible (for several reasons). Since I am an old man, I feel no need to keep my foot in it. It's not all that fast anyway so any adrenaline gained from spirited driving is pretty low octane ( : < ). Besides that proactivity, I also am concerned with the usual spectre of DI intake valve buildup. To that end, I use high NOAK oil to prevent as much oil vapor as possible from entering the intake tract... which is the primary reason I watch the boost gauge and strive to stay out of boost. Boost increases blowby which increases PCV flow and, potentially, gunk on the valves. I also make sure the air filtration system is tight and run a high efficency air filter, changed only when indicated by a restriction gauge. That way whatever deposits there are will not be made sedimentary by dirt. While it's real, I think the block problem is a little overhyped. If it were as bad as some chicken littles like to claim, Ford would probabaly be in chapter 11 by now. They made hundreds of thousands of Escapes (looks to me at least 500K) with that engine, not to mention Fusion and Focus plus their overseas equivalents.The general impression you get is that every one has died or is on life support and the evidence I see doesn't support that conclusion. I know the service manager of a Ford dealer quite well and he has told me that his dealership, a reasonably large one in NW Ohio, hasn't done many 1.5L engine changes. I'm not happy with the propect of possibly having to replace an engine but I'll probably do it if it comes up. I like it that much. In every way, it's been totally reliable. I even tow with it a little. Gets great mpg. Great in the snow. Drives well. Very comfortable and quiet. All the features I want and none I don't. It will be cheaper to put an engine in than to buy a new (or newer) equivalent.
