Was in Wally's today getting oil & filter for my '03 3.0 Ranger.

Noticed they are now carrying MOPAR oil filters.

My Wife has a 2006 PT Cruiser GT (Turbo)

I checked the book for the heck of it to see if they had a Mopar filter for the PT.

Well, Low & behold, I found the listing for the 2.4L Turbo PT, and there it was......as a filter choice : FL-400s......

Same as my 3.0 Ranger, and I guess same as ANY 3.0 Ford engine.

The MOPAR MO-452 is almost an inch longer than the FL-400s

I ALMOST bought the MOPAR filter thinking it might have some extra filter media over the Motorcraft.......

I think the Mopar filter will fit the 3.0's tight area, at least in my truck....

I was once told that a standard FL-1A Motorcraft filter would fit a 3.0 and the Taurus folks use it, I tried it at my first oil change, but couldn't get it to work.

 

Okay, call me "the sky is falling" paranoid, but if you use any other filter than what the filter's application book calls for, and the filter would happen to fail and destroy your engine, the manufacturer will not stand behind the filter and they will not pay for your engine replacement. They will claim that you installed the wrong filter. It's that simple.
What are the chances of a filter failing? Very small, it's just that occasionally you hear of it happening. With that being said, and because it's your truck, use whatever filter you want to sleep better at night.
As far as the 1A filter fitting your 3.0 engine, it WILL fit, depending on the brand of starter that you use and a little readjusting of the battery cable that attaches to the starter. I've had it work on a 3.0 Aerostar of mine from a few years ago. My engine wasn't a sludge monster and I think I eventually went back to the 400 filter because I really didn't feel that the extra-sized oil filter was needed.
BTW, I have a '98 3.0 Ranger and I know how tight the oil filter fits and how hard it is to change. I just simply remove a battery cable when I do an oil change and all is well.

 

Yes it will fit and it will work. But why not use the fl400 at my Walmart they are cheaper then the mo-par

 

I BOUGHT the FL-400s.........Just thought everyone would like to know about the Mopar filter.......I WILL NOT however try the FL-1A again, That is stupid to me.

The Mopar filter is the SAME diameter as the Motorcraft FL-400s, just about an inch longer.....