I need to know if your factory oil filter had a red alignment(?) stripe painted on it?
I have had my L at the Ford dealer twice for oil changes. Well, I finally get around to change my oil myself, but I find what seems to be the factory oil filter. I am not positive, but the painted stripe seems to be a factory marking, and if it is, I am gonna be one pissed off Ford owner. I will have the service manager's head if it is the factory filter. How do I know if they even changed the oil? I am so furious right now.
I took a picture of it to post, but i don't know how to post pics, so that doesn't help. Hopefully one of you know what I am talking about.

 

In 8 years, i've never seen a red mark or stripe. The factory filter was most likely solid gray. They probably put the stripe/mark on there themselves so that if you come back with like 20thousand more miles on it with a engine problem, they will know you havent serviced it since they did. Also some places put a paint mark on the oil plug to tell if someone has let any oil out since they last did their service work on it.

 

That seams logical with som many oil changing places forgeting to put the drain plugs back in or not screwing the filter on all the way

 

The factory filters have 2 square red dots, 180 degrees apart. If you remove the filter you will also find the letters "ZZ" stamped into the metal, just inboard of the seal.

 

The filter on the left was the original factory filter, changed at 232 miles.
The filter on the right was purchased at the FORD parts counter.
They are very easy to change and can be done anywhere with a drain pan, filter wrench and drain plug wrench.
Absolutely no excuses for not changing your own oil! I've done it it the rain in the parking lot at work. Recycling is easy.