Ford 6R80 transmission fluid changes

[SureshR]

So I have a 2018 Endeavour (aka the Everest in Australia, basically a Ranger with a 7 seater SUV body) with a 6R80 transmission (ZF + Ford joint dev right?)

Usage conditions - 60% highway and 40% city (bumper to bumper in Indian tropical conditions) traffic.

Changed the original transmission oil at around 60k miles to a liqui moly "universal" ATF that claimed compatibility with Mercon LV and a laundry list of other european, japanese and american standards that it claims the fluid is "recommended" for.

https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/top-tec-atf-1800-p000243.html

Aisin Warner AW-1, BMW 83 22 0 142 516/83 22 2 152 426/83 22 2 289 720/83 22 2 305 396/83 22 2 305 397/83 22 2 355 599/M-1375.4, Dexron VI, Fiat 9.55550-AV5, Ford Mercon LV, Honda ATF 3.1/DW-1/Typ 3.0, Hyundai SP-IV/SP-IV-RR, Isuzu ATF WSI, JASO 1A-L ...

Now, barely 20k miles down the line, I started to get slippage in the transmission, slight jerks when shifting in low gears and such.

Drained as much of it as I could with a pan drop on a warm engine (a bit more than 6 quarts) and refilled with OE mercon LV from a ford parts store. There was very minor debris on the transmission filter so I cleaned the old filter and reinstalled it.

Now, again something like 25k miles down the line and the same thing is cropping up. I take it this claim of being one size fits all isn't quite accurate and the liqui moly is somewhat too thin for the 6R80. So I've got another 10 quarts of Ford OE mercon LV.

Just do another pan drop, drain and refill, so that more of the really old (factory fill fluid) and maybe not as suitable old (Liqui Moly) drains out, or do I do stuff like disconnecting the transmission cooler lines and draining at least a quart more of old oil out besides the 6+ quarts from a pan drop? I'm getting a new ATF filter this time around.

By the way, I of course refilled the transfer case as well, first with the liqui moly and then with the ford OE.

 

[Egg_Head]

How many total miles (km) on vehicle? EDIT: got it 60+20+25= 105k miles
Use this to determine how much of the Liqui moly is remaining. Your tranny takes 13.1 quarts (12.4 liters) at full level:

S

Thread 'Transmission Partial Drain CALCULATOR **Sticky'

Apr 3, 2014

Here's a link to my Partial Drain Calculator Spreadsheet.

You must dowload it for it to calculate for you, it is an EXCEL Worksheet. Dropbox will just show a preview.

I have seen to many people miscalculating the percents and numbers on partial drains and refills on their transmissions.

What folks commonly say is "if I drain 2 of 6 quarts over 3 times, heck I can have a full changeout by the tuird time..BEWARE! That's not the case... because of mixing, it wont be until the 7th fluid change that you actuially reach a 95% total new fluid.

I used university mathmatics people to design...

• SumpChump
• Replies: 28
• Forum: ATF, Differential, Trans, Brakes, P/S

• 

 

[Cujet]

The 6R-80 is very sensitive to fluid type and condition. I suggest installing a drain plug. It is likely you will drain as much as 7 quarts this way. A partial change every 30,000 miles is what worked for me. Always use OEM Ford fluid. The alternatives don't work.

Don't bother with a 'flush' by disconnecting the line. It simply pumps out your new fluid.

One thing you can do is to reset the TCM (transmission control module) properly. It adjusts line pressure and will learn your driving habits. After a reset, do the proper drive cycle. Often helps immensely.

These transmissions are very long lived when maintained carefully. Many of them exceed half a million miles without issue.

 

[martinq]

We have a similar tranny on a 2014 F150. Did you check for service bulletins and have you had the pan off for cleaning? The magnets do most of the important filtering and Ford added extra magnets because of the trouble they were having. Regardless of how many magnets are in the transmission they will not be effective if they are not cleaned.

I know Ford has some updates / recalls for the 2014 6R80 but don't know about 2018.

 

[martinq]

The 6R-80 is very sensitive to fluid type and condition. I suggest installing a drain plug. It is likely you will drain as much as 7 quarts this way. A partial change every 30,000 miles is what worked for me. Always use OEM Ford fluid. The alternatives don't work.

Don't bother with a 'flush' by disconnecting the line. It simply pumps out your new fluid.

One thing you can do is to reset the TCM (transmission control module) properly. It adjusts line pressure and will learn your driving habits. After a reset, do the proper drive cycle. Often helps immensely.

These transmissions are very long lived when maintained carefully. Many of them exceed half a million miles without issue.

OEM fluid is absolutely NOT required or desirable unless it is a "buy it now" deal. The transmissions are sensitive to fluid that is dirty, worn and overheated, not to the brand / label. Keep those magnets clean and monitor your temperatures.

 

[Impatient]

I have some direct experience with the 6r80 in a 2015 Transit 250 van, and a lot of hearsay, so take it for what it’s worth. It sounds like you know at least as much as I do, so reading this is probably doing you no real good, other than encouraging you to keep trying.

It sounds like each time you drain and fill, it improves, but then it gets tired again in 20k-25k miles. So doing another may give you some temporary relief. Here in U.S. some dealers can do a PROPER 100% exchange, which involves working with fluid at very high temperatures (100c?), using a machine that provides that heat; some others will lie and tell you they can, then do some other half-baked or improper flush or drain-fill at the same high dollar.

Personally, I would take a sample now, get it tested, then decide after I got results. If you did 2 back-to-back drain and fills with the 10 qts you have on hand, you should be buying yourself at least another 20-25k miles??? And assuming no warning signs from the analysis, maybe having 10 qts new ( or maybe effectively only ~8 qts since you have to do 2 drains, is enough to neutralize the effects of the remaining factory fill and LM.

And I assume you have figured out how to check the fluid level when it’s all said and done, because Ford made it quite difficult: must be at full temperature and running.

 

[Elroy the Brave]

So I have a 2018 Endeavour (aka the Everest in Australia, basically a Ranger with a 7 seater SUV body) with a 6R80 transmission (ZF + Ford joint dev right?)

Usage conditions - 60% highway and 40% city (bumper to bumper in Indian tropical conditions) traffic.

Changed the original transmission oil at around 60k miles to a liqui moly "universal" ATF that claimed compatibility with Mercon LV and a laundry list of other european, japanese and american standards that it claims the fluid is "recommended" for.

https://www.liqui-moly.com/en/top-tec-atf-1800-p000243.html


Now, barely 20k miles down the line, I started to get slippage in the transmission, slight jerks when shifting in low gears and such.

Drained as much of it as I could with a pan drop on a warm engine (a bit more than 6 quarts) and refilled with OE mercon LV from a ford parts store. There was very minor debris on the transmission filter so I cleaned the old filter and reinstalled it.

Now, again something like 25k miles down the line and the same thing is cropping up. I take it this claim of being one size fits all isn't quite accurate and the liqui moly is somewhat too thin for the 6R80. So I've got another 10 quarts of Ford OE mercon LV.

Just do another pan drop, drain and refill, so that more of the really old (factory fill fluid) and maybe not as suitable old (Liqui Moly) drains out, or do I do stuff like disconnecting the transmission cooler lines and draining at least a quart more of old oil out besides the 6+ quarts from a pan drop? I'm getting a new ATF filter this time around.

By the way, I of course refilled the transfer case as well, first with the liqui moly and then with the ford OE.

Maybe try Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...3bcc26b5/40f96d44-dab8-f011-b824-9440c99fa601

 

[tcp71]

I've had 3 6R80s since my 2009 F150 (bought in 2011) and the 2015 and 2016 I have now. All have had pan drops and dorman pans installed with drain plugs built in. Each got a new filter with the pan drop and moved the magnets over to the new pan after cleaning them up. Drain and fills after the pan swap for all of them. 330k miles across the three of them and I've never noticed a change in driving after a splash/fill or the pan changes. I've always used actual Mercon LV.

The one difference is the temperatures you are regularly driving in breaking down the fluid faster. I would install a pan with a drain plug and swap fluid every 20-25k miles with original mercon LV and call it good. Just a regular maintenance item I guess.

 

[SureshR]

Maybe try Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...3bcc26b5/40f96d44-dab8-f011-b824-9440c99fa601

Unfortunately what I can get in India is their max life atf and no restore and protect products of any sort at all.

 

[SureshR]

The one difference is the temperatures you are regularly driving in breaking down the fluid faster. I would install a pan with a drain plug and swap fluid every 20-25k miles with original mercon LV and call it good. Just a regular maintenance item I guess.

Yeah thanks, I’m just going to do that. Thanks to import duties Mercon LV retails at near on $13.40 a quart compared to what is it, five bucks stateside. Still, a small price to pay for a trouble free transmission.

I’m just measuring exactly how much old mixed fluid drains out and putting exactly that amount of fresh OE fluid back into the transmission. Hopefully there isn’t any fluid loss - but no way to tell, given it’s all circulating around the transmission.

Changing the filter this time, I’d just cleaned it out the last time around. And I believe drain it when cold and let it drip overnight might get me an additional quart or so drained compared to a pan drop with hot fluid?

 

[tcp71]

I wouldn't worry about dropping the pan again. I would just get a hand or electric pump and suck it out the fill hole. suck it into a container that has gradients to see how much came out and put that much back in. while refilling the last couple of quarts, you do need to run the engine or it just overflows. Then check it with the tiny dipstick to confirm. Drive a bit and do it again if you want.