Ford 6R transmission explained

6R
Production:	2005–present
Model Years:	2005–present
Manufacturer:	Ford Motor Company
Class:	6-speed longitudinal automatic transmission
Predecessor:	Ford AOD
Successor:	Ford 10R80
Related:	GM 6L ZF 6HP Aisin AWTF-80 SC

The 6R is a six-speed automatic transmission for longitudinal engine placement in rear-wheel drive vehicles. It is based on the ZF 6HP26 transmission^[1] and has been built under license by the Ford Motor Company at its Livonia Transmission plant in Livonia, Michigan. The 6R debuted in 2005 for the 2006 model year Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer.

The 6R 80 was available in 2009–2017 Ford F-150 trucks (and 2018–2020 only paired with the 3.3L V6 engine). It features an integrated "Tow/Haul" mode for enhanced engine braking and towing performance. For the 2011 model year, the transmission was revised to provide smoother shifts, improved fuel economy, and overall better shift performance. Most notable of the improvements was the addition of a one-way clutch that provided smoother 1–2 up-shifts and 2–1 down-shifts. The transmission has a relatively low 1st gear and two overdrive gears, the highest of which is 0.69:1. This provides exceptional towing performance when needed, while maximizing fuel economy by offering low engine speeds while cruising.

The 6R 80 can be found behind the 3.7L V6 all the way up to the 6.2L V8. Ford has stated that while the transmission is used in multiple applications, each transmission is optimized and integrated differently depending on the engine it is mated to. The 6R 80 features "Filled for Life" low viscosity synthetic transmission fluid (MERCON LV), though a fluid flush is recommended at 150,000 miles if your truck falls under the classification of "Severe Duty" operation. The transmission, as used in the Ford F-150, has a fluid capacity of 13.1 quarts and weighs 215 lbs.

Specifications

Basic concept

A conventional planetary gearset and a compound Ravigneaux gearset is combined in a Lepelletier gear mechanism,^[2] to reduce both the size and weight. It was first realized with the 6HP from ZF Friedrichshafen. Like all transmissions realized with Lepelletier transmissions, the 6R also dispenses with the use of the direct gear ratio, making it one of the very few automatic transmission concepts without such a ratio.

It also has the capability to achieve torque converter lock-up on all six forward gears, and disengage it completely when at a standstill, significantly closing the fuel efficiency gap between automatic and manual transmissions.

Technical data

Final Drive!Car Type!Ratio

	4.10
	3.73
	3.55
	3.31
	3.15
	2.73

With Assessment!colspan=3

Planetary Gearset: Teeth Lepelletier Gear Mechanism	Count	Total	Avg.
Simple				Ravigneaux
Manufacturer Model	Version First Delivery	S1 R1	S2 R2	S3 R3	Brakes Clutches	Ratio Span	Gear Step
Gear Ratio	R {i _{R}}	1 {i _{1}}	2 {i _{2}}	3 {i _{3}}	4 {i _{4}}	5 {i _{5}}	6 {i _{6}}
Step	- \tfrac{i _{R}} {i _{1}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{1}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{2}}	\tfrac{i _{2}} {i _{3}}	\tfrac{i _{3}} {i _{4}}	\tfrac{i _{4}} {i _{5}}	\tfrac{i _{5}} {i _{6}}
Step 2			\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{2}} : \tfrac{i _{2}} {i _{3}}	\tfrac{i _{2}} {i _{3}} : \tfrac{i _{3}} {i _{4}}	\tfrac{i _{3}} {i _{4}} : \tfrac{i _{4}} {i _{5}}	\tfrac{i _{4}} {i _{5}} : \tfrac{i _{5}} {i _{6}}
Shaft Speed	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{R}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{1}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{2}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{3}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{4}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{5}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{6}}
Δ Shaft Speed	0 - \tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{R}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{1}} - 0	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{2}} - \tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{1}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{3}} - \tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{2}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{4}} - \tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{3}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{5}} - \tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{4}}	\tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{6}} - \tfrac{i _{1}} {i _{5}}
Ford 6R 60 · 6R 80	600Nm · 2005 800Nm · 2005	37 71	31 38	38 85	2 3
Gear Ratio		\tfrac{ 9 , 180 }{ 2 , 201 }		\tfrac{ 108 }{ 71 }		\tfrac{ 4 , 590 }{ 5 , 293 }	\tfrac{ 85 }{ 123 }
Step		1.0000		1.5382		1.3178	1.2549
Step 2			1.1589	1.1559		1.0502
Speed	–1.2258	1.0000	1.7826	2.7419		4.8096	6.0354
Δ Speed	1.2258	1.0000	0.7826	0.9593		1.1599	1.2258
Ford 6R 140	1400Nm 2005	49 95	37 47	47 97	2 3
Gear Ratio		\tfrac{ 13 , 968 }{ 3 , 515 }		\tfrac{ 144 }{ 95 }		\tfrac{ 13 , 968 }{ 16 , 271 }	\tfrac{ 97 }{ 144 }
Step		1.0000		1.5293		1.3389	1.2744
Step 2				1.1594		1.0504
Speed	–1.2703	1.0000	1.7143	2.6216		4.6290	5.8993
Δ Speed	1.2703	1.0000	0.7143	0.9073		1.1710	1.2703
ZF 6HP	All · 2000	37 71	31 38	38 85	2 3
Ratio
Ratio R & Even	- \tfrac{R _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)}{R} _{1} S _{3} }	\tfrac{R _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)} (S _{2} + R _{2} )}{R _{1} S _{2} (S _{3} + R _{3} )}		\tfrac{R _{2} R _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)}{R} _{2} R _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)-} S _{1} S _{2} S _{3} }		\tfrac{R _{3} }
Ratio Odd	\tfrac{R _{2} R _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)}{R} _{1} S _{2} S _{3} }		\tfrac{S _{1} + R _{1} }		\tfrac{R _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)}{R} _{3} (S _{1+} R _{1)+} S _{1} S _{3} }
Algebra And Actuated Shift Elements
Brake A		❶	❶	❶	❶
Brake B	❶			❶		❶
Clutch C			❶				❶
Clutch D	❶	❶
Clutch E					❶	❶	❶

Applications

6R 60

• 2006–2008 Ford Explorer/Mercury Mountaineer w/ 4.6L V8

6R 75

• 2007–2008 Ford Expedition

6R 80

• 2009–2017 Ford F-150 (except 2017 with 3.5L EcoBoost)
• 2018–2020 Ford F-150 3.3L
  • 2009–2018 Ford Expedition/Lincoln Navigator 2009–2010 Mercury Mountaineer
• 2011–2016 Ford Territory (SZ TCDi)^[3]
• 2011–2017 Ford Mustang V6, GT, 2015–2017 EcoBoost
• 2011–present Ford Ranger (on 3.2L and 2.2L single-turbo diesel engines)
• 2011–present Mazda BT-50 (on 3.2L and 2.2L single-turbo diesel engines)
• 2015–present Ford Everest (on 3.2L and 2.2L single-turbo diesel engines)
• 2015–2019 Ford Transit

See also

• List of Ford transmissions

External links

• Web site: Ford Shifting Six-Speeds into High Gear. Ford Motor Company press release. February 7, 2006. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001040/http://media.ford.com/newsroom/feature_display.cfm?release=21449. September 27, 2007.
• Web site: 2009 F-150 Technical Specifications. Ford Motor Company presskit. November 10, 2008. September 29, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080929214938/http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_display.cfm?vehicle_id=1687&press_section_id=398&make_id=92. dead.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2011 Ford Territory's Diesel Heart Revealed . The Motor Report . 2011-03-09 . 2011-04-06.
2. Web site: Riley . Mike . 2013-09-01 . Lepelletier Planetary System . 2023-03-03 . Transmission Digest . en-US . 2023-06-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621163418/https://www.transmissiondigest.com/lepelletier-planetary-system/ . live .
3. Web site: Review: Ford SZ Territory (2011–16) . AustralianCar.Reviews . 2 August 2016 . 18 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151018141050/http://australiancar.reviews/reviews.php#!content=review&make=Ford&model=Territory&gen=271 . dead .