Garrett PowerMax Turbocharger 13: Specs, Fitment, and Is It Worth It

The Garrett PowerMax Stage 1 turbocharger upgrade kit for the 2013-2018 Ford 2.0L EcoBoost is a direct-fit performance upgrade for one of Ford's most widely used turbocharged four-cylinder platforms. The 2.0L EcoBoost engine appeared across a broad range of Ford vehicles in this generation -- including the Focus ST, Escape, Fusion, Edge, and Explorer -- and attracted a dedicated aftermarket following due to its strong base performance, compact packaging, and responsiveness to ECU calibration. The factory turbocharger on the 2.0L EcoBoost is a correctly sized unit for OEM output, but it operates near its compressor surge boundary when a Stage 1 tune raises the boost target above the factory setpoint. Garrett's PowerMax Stage 1 upgrade kit replaces the factory turbocharger with a larger-compressor direct-fit unit engineered to deliver the surge margin and improved efficiency a Stage 1 calibration needs -- without requiring supporting hardware changes beyond the turbo and a compatible tune. This guide covers the Garrett PowerMax specifications for the 2013-2018 2.0L EcoBoost, which applications it fits, and what Stage 1 upgrade owners should expect from this Garrett turbocharger on their build.

Fitment: Garrett PowerMax Stage 1 for 2013-2018 Ford 2.0L EcoBoost

The Garrett PowerMax Turbocharger Stage 1 Upgrade Kit (886195-5001S) fits the following 2013-2018 Ford applications equipped with the 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine:

• 2013-2018 Ford Focus ST (2.0L EcoBoost)
• 2013-2018 Ford Escape with 2.0L EcoBoost
• 2013-2018 Ford Fusion with 2.0L EcoBoost
• 2013-2018 Ford Edge with 2.0L EcoBoost
• 2013-2018 Ford Explorer with 2.0L EcoBoost (confirm trim-level fitment)

The 886195-5001S installs at the factory turbocharger location using the factory oil supply and return ports, coolant connections, exhaust manifold inlet flange, and charge pipe outlet connection. The electronic boost control solenoid interface is retained so the factory PCM manages boost pressure through the standard boost control circuit without requiring a piggyback or standalone controller. No modifications to the factory charge pipes, intercooler, or exhaust system are required for a Stage 1 installation alongside a compatible ECU calibration.

The 2.0L EcoBoost platform covers a wide range of vehicles and applications, from the performance-focused Focus ST to the utility-oriented Escape and Fusion. The Stage 1 upgrade kit is appropriate for any of these applications where the owner wants to add a supporting ECU tune and needs the compressor map to sustain the elevated boost the tune commands. The Focus ST owner looking for more power from a tune and the Fusion or Escape owner replacing a worn high-mileage turbocharger and wanting an upgrade over stock specification are both served by the same 886195-5001S kit.

Top Picks: Garrett PowerMax for the 2013-2018 2.0L EcoBoost

The Garrett PowerMax Turbocharger 13-18 Ford 2.0L EcoBoost Stage 1 Upgrade Kit (886195-5001S) is the single Stage 1 turbocharger option Garrett offers for this platform. The PowerMax kit uses an updated compressor wheel with a larger inducer diameter than the factory turbo, which pushes the surge line outward and raises the compressor flow ceiling compared to the OEM unit. The practical result of these changes is that the Stage 1 PowerMax sustains stable boost at the boost target a Stage 1 tune commands, whereas the factory turbo -- particularly a unit that has accumulated significant mileage -- begins to surge at those elevated conditions. A Stage 1 ECU calibration is the required companion to access the upgrade's full benefit; at factory boost levels the PowerMax operates with better efficiency and surge margin than a worn stock unit but does not deliver Stage 1 power gains without the supporting tune. Browse the complete Garrett PowerMax turbocharger catalog for Stage 1 upgrade options across supported Ford EcoBoost applications.

Match to the Build

• 2013-2018 Focus ST at Stage 1 tune: The Focus ST is the most common performance-oriented platform among 2.0L EcoBoost applications; a Stage 1 tune on the Focus ST raises boost and fueling above the factory setpoint, and the PowerMax Stage 1 kit provides the surge margin and flow ceiling that the elevated boost target requires; the Focus ST's performance heritage makes it the primary application Garrett's Stage 1 kit addresses, and the 886195-5001S is sized for Stage 1 output levels on this engine
• 2013-2018 Escape or Fusion 2.0L EcoBoost with high-mileage factory turbo due for replacement: The 2.0L EcoBoost turbocharger on Escape and Fusion applications accumulates boost cycles over years of daily driving; the PowerMax Stage 1 kit is the correct premium replacement that restores full compressor performance and provides improved surge margin over the factory unit's new-condition specification, giving the owner an upgrade path alongside the required replacement
• 2.0L EcoBoost with cold-air intake and Stage 1 tune: A cold-air intake on the 2.0L EcoBoost reduces inlet restriction and lowers the temperature of air entering the compressor; the PowerMax Stage 1 kit delivers better results when paired with a cold-air intake and Stage 1 tune, since the reduced inlet restriction allows the compressor to operate more efficiently and the tune takes full advantage of the PowerMax's improved flow ceiling
• 2013-2018 Edge or Explorer 2.0L EcoBoost replacing a worn factory turbo: The utility-vehicle applications of the 2.0L EcoBoost see sustained highway loads and towing use that accumulate turbocharger cycles faster than city driving; the PowerMax Stage 1 kit delivers a fresh, upgraded compressor assembly as a replacement for worn factory units on these higher-mileage applications

Signs the 2.0L EcoBoost Factory Turbo Needs Replacement

• Compressor surge under hard acceleration on a Stage 1 tuned 2.0L EcoBoost -- a cyclic flutter or stutter from the intake at wide-open throttle indicates the factory compressor pushed past the surge line by the elevated boost the tune commands; the PowerMax Stage 1 kit's larger compressor wheel moves the surge boundary outward and eliminates this condition at Stage 1 boost levels
• Oil consumption or blue smoke at startup on a high-mileage 2.0L EcoBoost -- compressor shaft seal wear allowing oil past the seal and into the intake charge; identifiable by oily residue inside the charge pipe at the compressor outlet and by blue-tinted smoke that appears on cold startup before the turbo reaches operating temperature; a fresh PowerMax Stage 1 kit restores clean seals and eliminates oil ingestion into the intake
• Boost pressure not reaching the commanded target on a tuned car -- the factory compressor reaching its maximum mass flow rate before the tune's boost target is achieved; audible as a plateau in power delivery at high RPM on a Stage 1 tuned 2.0L EcoBoost; the PowerMax Stage 1 kit's higher flow ceiling allows the compressor to sustain the boost pressure the tune commands throughout the RPM range
• Audible bearing noise from the turbocharger at idle or under acceleration -- worn bearing surfaces on the CHRA producing a grinding or roughness that changes with engine RPM; turbocharger bearing wear is a service interval failure mode on high-mileage 2.0L EcoBoost engines; replacing with the PowerMax Stage 1 kit before complete bearing failure prevents debris from entering the engine through the intake or oil system

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Garrett PowerMax Stage 1 kit work on both the Focus ST and the Escape 2.0L EcoBoost?

Yes. The 886195-5001S kit covers all 2013-2018 Ford applications fitted with the 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, including the Focus ST, Escape, Fusion, Edge, and Explorer. The turbocharger mounting location, oil and coolant connections, and boost control interface are consistent across these applications because they share the same 2.0L EcoBoost engine. The Focus ST and Escape are both common applications for this kit; the Focus ST typically uses it with a Stage 1 tune for performance improvement, while the Escape and Fusion applications more commonly use it as a premium replacement for a worn factory unit.

What supporting modifications does the Stage 1 kit require?

A Stage 1 ECU calibration is the primary required companion for the PowerMax Stage 1 kit. At factory boost levels the PowerMax operates with improved surge margin and efficiency but does not deliver Stage 1 power gains. A cold-air intake is a beneficial addition that reduces inlet restriction and helps the compressor operate in its efficiency range at Stage 1 boost. A front-mount intercooler and downpipe are not required for Stage 1; those are Stage 2 supporting modifications that the 886195-5001S is not sized to support at Stage 2 boost levels.

Bottom Line

The Garrett PowerMax Stage 1 turbocharger upgrade kit (886195-5001S) is the direct-fit performance upgrade for the 2013-2018 Ford 2.0L EcoBoost. It fits the Focus ST, Escape, Fusion, Edge, and Explorer applications, installs at the factory turbocharger location without modification, and provides the improved compressor map that Stage 1 tuned 2.0L EcoBoost builds require. Pair it with a Stage 1 ECU calibration and optionally a cold-air intake to access the full benefit of the upgraded compressor wheel.