Bulletproofing 6R80 Trans

[Muddy Bean]

A question for you guys that are in the know about the 6R80 trans. Would a kit like this actually help to prevent a premature trans failure like some guys are seeing at 150k? They claim the clutch packs and intermediate shaft are the weak points. Any thoughts?

https://www.vmpperformance.com/Bullet-proof-your-6r80-p/bullet6r80.htm


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[AllBoostNoEco]

A question for you guys that are in the know about the 6R80 trans. Would a kit like this actually help to prevent a premature trans failure like some guys are seeing at 150k? They claim the clutch packs and intermediate shaft are the weak points. Any thoughts?

https://www.vmpperformance.com/Bullet-proof-your-6r80-p/bullet6r80.htm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The intermediate shaft may be a weak point in an 800-hp Mustang, but your daily driver 400-hp Expedition isn’t going to gain any life expectancy out of it.
Clutches and bands may improve it, as they are designed for more power than you’ll likely ever see out of your EcoBoost. I personally feel that the slow, soft shifts do more damage and cause greater wear than anything else. Especially in the Expedition, whose shift programming is even softer than an F-150.
The cost of putting everything in would be nearly as much as rebuild though, since everything has come out and go back in.

 

[mossback]

I personally feel that the slow, soft shifts do more damage and cause greater wear than anything else. Especially in the Expedition, whose shift programming is even softer than an F-150.

As someone who doesn't know much about transmissions, would you explain this more?

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

Slow, soft shifts mean the transmission is slipping the clutches to produce those shifting characteristics.
It’s the same equation as slipping the clutch on a manual in order to avoid jerking during shifts.
That slipping creates added wear and produces heat, which kills an automatic faster than anything.
When the transmission is programmed to shift fast and hard, there is less slippage and less heat. Seems counterintuitive to shockload the transmission, but in the long run it’s generally healthier.

 

[mossback]

Understood. Is this one of things addressed by tunes? And regardless of that, does driving style influence this at all? i.e. Does driving like a grandmother necessarily harm the transmission?

 

[John Christopher]

Understood. Is this one of things addressed by tunes? And regardless of that, does driving style influence this at all? i.e. Does driving like a grandmother necessarily harm the transmission?

I believe that running the truck hard, with dead stop sprints on regular basis is hard on your trans and drive train. It will cost you more repairs in the long run. Although it is a lot more fun.

 

[oldpaddy]

I drive like a little old lady. Takes me a while to get up to speed, though I do drive 8-9mph over the limit. I also come to slow stops.
Does that really save my transmission much?

 

[JExpedition07]

It’s more important to change your fluid when it’s due and more often when you tow. If you tow a lot you should be changing the trans fluid every 60,000 miles, if not 100-150,000 miles. I wouldn’t drive worrying about it. Mine was getting funny and I changed the fluid and filter out and it improved. I then was seeing a clunk coming to a stop which I still get once in a while, apparently it’s driveline related on not trans.

 

[Trainmaster]

I believe, but am not sure that there's a bracket that goes on the transmission that has a rubber bushing in it. When that bushing wears, it clunks when stopping. Next time you're under there take a good look.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The best preventive medicine for any automatic transmission is an auxiliary transmission cooler. The bigger the better. Second best is change your fluid every 50,000 miles. Only use the RECOMMEND MOTORCRAFT OEM FLUID ! Even if you only do a "partial" drain (just drop the pan).

If you already have a lot of mileage, it is kind of late for "preventive" measures !

 

[JExpedition07]

Your fine changing your fluid late. Ford recommends the first change at 150,000 miles. I changed mine at 160,000 with no consequence.

 

[JExpedition07]

Yea the bushing makes sense. That’s what my mechanic had mentioned last time the truck was there for inspection, he didn’t think it was internal but a mount or bushing starting to go out.

 

[txracer16]

Anybody had any luck programming the soft shift out so that it shifts more like an F150. I noticed this right away on our newly acquired '15 Expy, have since gotten used to it, but sure would like it to shift like an F150. Did clear KAM and adaptive learn and was only barely to slightly better for little while. Might be time for a programmer?

 

[AllBoostNoEco]

I personally believe that to an extent, accelerating slowly and not causing the trans to shift at higher RPM is probably better for it in the long run. I’m also the type who likes to flog his truck fairly often, and I’m on tune version 4 because of that. The shifts in this truck were terrible in factory configuration, and my first tune wasn’t much better. Most Expedition owners seem to prefer the stock shifts apparently.
With my current tune, the truck normally shifts no lower than 3K RPM in first and second gear, and they are considerably harder and faster than stock. Not quite as good as my old F-150 with their “race” tune, but getting close. Torque management greatly affects the 1-2 shift, as it feels like the truck dies during the shift, which isn’t as noticeable for me on part-throttle upshifts where it keeps the power on.
Most tuners are wary of pulling it back too much on a modified EcoBoost.