Ford 6R60, 6R75 & 6R80 Transmission ID & Parts Guide
Ford 6R60 | 6R75 | 6R80 six-speed automatic transmissions
The 6R family is Ford's license-built version of the ZF 6HP26 six-speed, made at Ford's Livonia plant starting with the 2006 model year. The 6R60 and 6R75 went into Explorers, Expeditions and Navigators; the 6R80 became the workhorse behind the F-150, Mustang, Expedition and Transit. The three look the same from the outside, so the year and vehicle matter most when choosing parts.
6R Family at a Glance
| Model | Years | Typical vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 6R60 | 2006–2008 | Explorer and Mountaineer (including Sport Trac) with the 4.6L V8 |
| 6R75 | 2007–2008 | Expedition and Navigator |
| 6R80 | 2009 on | F-150 (2009–2017, plus the 3.3L through 2020), Expedition and Navigator from 2009, Explorer/Mountaineer 4.6L (2009–2010), Mustang (2011–2017), Transit (2015–2019), and overseas Ranger / Mazda BT-50 diesels |
| Gear | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | Reverse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ratio (6R60 / 6R75 / 6R80) | 4.17 | 2.34 | 1.52 | 1.14 | 0.87 | 0.69 | 3.40 |
Fluid and Checking the Level
- Fluid: Ford's current Motorcraft chart lists Mercon LV for the 6R60, 6R75 and 6R80.
- Checking the level. How the level is checked depends on the vehicle. Some have a dipstick; others are checked at a fill/level plug at operating temperature. Follow the procedure for your model.
How to Tell a 6R60, 6R75 and 6R80 Apart
Sonnax notes that the three look identical from the outside, and the valve body has to come apart to tell them apart by hardware. The easy way is the vehicle certification label on the driver's door: read the code under "TR".
For the 6R80, the generation matters more than the name:
| Generation | Years | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | 2006–2014 | 6R60, 6R75 and early 6R80. The first units carry the control module on the valve body. Around 2010–2011 the module moved into the engine computer, a one-way clutch was added, and the separator plate became a bonded plate. |
| Gen 2 | 2015 on | 6R80 with a revised valve body. Many valve body kits, seal kits and the overhaul kit are different from Gen 1. |
Parts That Change by Generation
| Part | Gen 1 | Gen 2 (2015 on) |
|---|---|---|
| Overhaul kit | 6R80 2009–2014 (3042); 6R60/6R75 2006–2008 gasket & seal kit (KP37900J) | 6R80/6R100 2015–2018 (3042A) |
| Sealing ring kit | 6R60/6R75 2006–2008 (K37901J), 6R80 2009–2014 (K37901KA-SP) | non-Transit (K37901KB-SP), Transit (K37901KC-SP) |
| Solenoid foam insulator seal | 2009–2014 (37263) | 2015 on (37263A) |
| Sonnax Zip Kit | ZF6-6R60-ZIP | 6R80L-6R100-ZIP |
| TransGo shift kit | SK6R80-A | SK6R80-G2 |
| Oversized pressure regulator valve | Sonnax 95740-01K | 95740-46K |
Filters also vary by vehicle: the standard 6R60/6R75/6R80 filter (A95010E), the shallow-pan filter (A95010G), the F-150 start/stop filter (A95010H) and the Transit filter (A95010T). Check the pick-up size against your old filter.
Common Problems and the Parts That Fix Them
- Overheating from a stuck thermal bypass valve. The wax-pellet valve that controls flow to the cooler can stick and block cooler flow. Superior's Sure-Cool thermal bypass valve (STL009) is our best-selling 6R part; also see the cooler bypass delete kit.
- Torque converter shudder and erratic line pressure. Gen 1 units are known for a converter shudder around 28–46 mph, slipping lockup and harsh shifts. Wear in the pressure regulator valve and sleeve is a common cause; Sonnax and TransGo both make valve kits for it (see the table above).
- Solenoid and lube regulator wear. Solenoid lube regulator repair kit (Gen 1), plus replacement variable bleed solenoids for 2010-up 6R80s.
- Leaks at the case connector. Sonnax traces some 6R80 leaks to a plugged vent. Replace the connector seal and check the vent.
Common Rebuild Parts
| Part | Notes |
|---|---|
| 6R80 custom rebuild kit (CRK6R80) | Build your own kit. |
| Friction module, Raybestos (RCP96-287) | Or the GPZ high-performance module; steels: OE (STMFORD18) or Kolene (STMFORD18K). |
| Bushing kit (3198) | No pump bushing; Sonnax bushing kit also listed. |
| Pan gasket (3153) | 6R60, 6R75, 6R80 and 6R100. |
| Valve body checkball (13930T) | Plus valve retainer clips and Superior end plug kit. |
| Snap ring pliers kit | Specialty pliers for 6R80 and 6R140 snap rings. |
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