Good work for choosing the Escape pan. That is my theory and I'm sticking to it. I haven't had a single client spin a rod bearing in well over 30 3L's, as I include the Escape pan on my dime for each and every customer. I do install the 2.5L pan on some customers who are really tight on a buget though (still use the newer Escape pick up tube as it bolts up without mounting bracket to windage tray issues). I have replaced 3L's that were knocking, and they all had Taurus pans. Coincidence? Maybe. Could be that the inital installer dug into the 3L in a dirty enviornment and ran some crud through the motor. Could be that a high mileage motor in rough shape was installed. Or, it could be that Ford designed the Escape/Contour pans and pick up tubes with a cant for a reason considering how the motor rests in these vehicles compared to the Taurus. Ford engineers might occasionally think! I know some of you call BS, but we have nothing to go with but by actual instances of experience. It would be way to costly to run some serious long term controlled tests; so I will agree with your choice and let others run their Taurus pans.
And any Escape pan you order from Ford will have the new integrated gasket... unless they dig up an old one way on the back shelf somewhere!
REebs
