Ok, guys, here's the deal:
There is no specific 2.5 windage tray or 3.0L windage tray. The Duratecs have always shared windage trays between the 2.5 & 3.0L. However, the 3.0L Taurus and 2.5L have always had different oil pans & pickup screens. Emphasis on only the Taurus, here.
Late in the 2000 model year with the launch of the 2001 3.0L Escape, a new windage tray was released to reduce oil aeration. This new YL8E windage tray is now used on all 2.5 & 3.0L engines (Mondeo, Cougar, Escape, MPV, Mazda 6, Taurus) except the Jags & Lincolns which have their own special windage tray.
Now, the new YL8E windage tray bolts down differently as well. There are 2 6mm nuts on the front & rear of the engine (4 total) and 4 8mm nuts on the middle of the engine. The old baffle had the 4 6mm nuts front & rear plus one in middle for the pickup screen. There are a few new main bolts now which have an 8mm stud on the end instead of a 6mm stud.
Here's a rundown of the parts:
2.5L Before Upgrade:
F5DE Windage Tray, F63E Pickup, F73E Oil Pan
3.0L Taurus Before Upgrade:
F5DE Windage Tray, F5DE Pickup, F7DE Oil Pan
2.5 & 3.0L Non-Taurus After Upgrade:
YL8E Windage Tray, YL8E Pickup, YL8E Oil Pan
3.0L Taurus After Upgrade:
YL8E Windage Tray, 1F1E Pickup, F7DE Oil Pan
Remember, the 3.0L Taurus always has a unique pan & pickup, I suppose for packaging issues.
The F73E and YL8E pans are practically the same. Last year, they switched from the YL8E pan to a 2S7E pan which has these 2 rib/baffle things at the front of the pan. Now, the 2S7E has been changed to a 3M4E pan. The 3M4E pan is the same as the 2S7E pan with a different internal baffle. The newer baffle is smaller around the edges, looks like it would let the oil drain back better from the sides of the pan.
The F73E, YL8E, 2S7E, and 3M4E pans all have the same depth to the point where the pickup sits.
The F63E and YL8E pickups tubes have the same depth to the bottom of the pan. However, the YL8E is made to bolt to a slightly different location on the windage tray. Remember those new 8mm main bolts I talked about? This is why I would not recommed bending the bracket to fit a different location. I don't think you'll be able to get everything to line up correctly.
My advice:
Buy the new bolts, so you can use the YL8E windage tray. Just ask for a set of 2001+ main bolts. This will require you to use the YL8E pickup as well. Use the old or new pan since the actual pickup location is the same. My preference is the 3M4E pan. They don't spend lots of money to revise these things for no reason, especially with their current financial situation.
