High km explorer transmission concerns.

[Wrksam]

Hello y’all, I’m up here in AB Canada so I’ll be in km not in bald eagle.
I have a 2008 explorer awd with (wait for it) 457,000 km on it and counting!
I got it from a old couple who had it from new, basically all hwy km and meticulously maintained by them ( hence the high km and few issues)
Original everything.
The main concern is the transmission, they said they did a fluid change like 6k before I bought it. Idk about flush. It shifts a bit hard from first to second but otherwise is perfectly normal up to 6. Downshifting to pass is feels like it has to pull out of the gear for a little longer then it should then engages just fine, no slipping or anything. Coming to a stop it downshifts into 1 with more of a clunk. Nothing bad enough to know for sure but it’s a bit uncomfortable every time. Feels like it shutters or wants to grab in first from like 5kph to 0 weirdly, but once stopped it’s fine.

Just wondering if that sounds like the clutch’s are maybe going or if that’s the tpm with its adaptive learning? Any insight would be appreciated, thanks and have a great day!
Sam.

 

[94Eddie]

Do you have a V8 or V6 model?

 

[wollimann]

Six speed should be a 6R60 transmission with the 4.6 in front.
A flush with MerconLV maybe help but with this high amount of KM???
Maybe the tranny was rebuilded before, if not i would say it's time to spend some money.

 

[Wrksam]

Do you have a V8 or V6 model?

V8 so 6R60 trans.

 

[Wrksam]

Six speed should be a 6R60 transmission with the 4.6 in front.
A flush with MerconLV maybe help but with this high amount of KM???
Maybe the tranny was rebuilded before, if not i would say it's time to spend some money.

They didn’t mention a rebuild so it just might be that time. I don’t want to do a flush if it needs a rebuild anyway so I’ll start preparing for the worst lol. Thanks

 

[94Eddie]

V8 so 6R60 trans.

If the previous owner did a transmission flush then they likely swapped out little to no fluid. The only way a flush works with the 6R60/80 transmissions is when they are up to full operating temperature. Otherwise, the new fluid is dumped straight into the waste fluid container. I suggest doing a pan drop, replace the filter and the bulkhead sleeve (~ $20 part) and refill. Then, in around 3k miles, drop the pan, replace the filter and refill. This will remove 75-80% of the old fluid from the transmission. Doing a single drain and refill only removes half of tbe fluid. Many times 6R60/80 transmission issues can be eliminated doing this along with clearing the learned data from the computer by disconnecting the battery for thirty minutes. The 6R60/80 transmissions are very reliable if properly maintained. Going forward, you should do a pan drop, replace the filter and refill every 60k miles.

 

[Bazz270]

In worst case try to rebuilt the valve body only ( i mean i dont think the bushings and the clutches,stators,rotors etc needs to be replaced )in this mileage all the VB seals and pistons are gone for sure and possibly even new fluid / filter / adaptation reset will not help. In some cases the TCM itself gone bad too ( cause of ZF stupid design to put the TCM inside the oil pan instead of like in 6r80 gearbox ). There are no miracles in this gearbox age ,you will need to try changing the fluid and filter and then proceed to the rest of the components

 

[Bazz270]

If the previous owner did a transmission flush then they likely swapped out little to no fluid. The only way a flush works with the 6R60/80 transmissions is when they are up to full operating temperature. Otherwise, the new fluid is dumped straight into the waste fluid container. I suggest doing a pan drop, replace the filter and the bulkhead sleeve (~ $20 part) and refill. Then, in around 3k miles, drop the pan, replace the filter and refill. This will remove 75-80% of the old fluid from the transmission. Doing a single drain and refill only removes half of tbe fluid. Many times 6R60/80 transmission issues can be eliminated doing this along with clearing the learned data from the computer by disconnecting the battery for thirty minutes. The 6R60/80 transmissions are very reliable if properly maintained. Going forward, you should do a pan drop, replace the filter and refill every 60k miles.

You dont have to wait reaching fluid high temp to flush it if you do the cooler valve delete convertion kit.also you dont have to wait to check the fluid level near hot cat. converters with welding gloves if you throw this valve away

 

[94Eddie]

You dont have to wait reaching fluid high temp to flush it if you do the cooler valve delete convertion kit.also you dont have to wait to check the fluid level near hot cat. converters with welding gloves if you throw this valve away

Where can I get the conversion kit?

 

[Bill MacLeod]

The downshift to first in very common for the 6 spd trans. There was a TSB concerning this "bump". Mine does it occasionally, so I'm quite use to it. There is also a small dipstick on the right side of the trans just above the pan. You can check the condition of the fluid there.

All good info above, if you decide to do a pan dump, have a drain plug installed in the pan.

The 6R is a very robust trans. It does require regular service.

And, welcome to the site.

 

[94Eddie]

The downshift to first in very common for the 6 spd trans. There was a TSB concerning this "bump". Mine does it occasionally, so I'm quite use to it. There is also a small dipstick on the right side of the trans just above the pan. You can check the condition of the fluid there.

All good info above, if you decide to do a pan dump, have a drain plug installed in the pan.

The 6R is a very robust trans. It does require regular service.

I had a drain plug welded into the pan the last time it was down. I am looking forward to the next 60k mile service since I only change the filter every 120k miles.

 

[Bill MacLeod]

I had a drain plug welded into the pan the last time it was down. I am looking forward to the next 60k mile service since I only change the filter every 120k miles.

Like this?

 

[Bazz270]

Where can I get the conversion kit?

Ive bought this one:

6R60 6R75 6R80 Cooler Flow Bypass STL009 by Superior.

Note: need to drop the VB for the install plus transmission lube grease to hold it until you install the VB‏

 

[Bazz270]

The downshift to first in very common for the 6 spd trans. There was a TSB concerning this "bump". Mine does it occasionally, so I'm quite use to it. There is also a small dipstick on the right side of the trans just above the pan. You can check the condition of the fluid there.

All good info above, if you decide to do a pan dump, have a drain plug installed in the pan.

The 6R is a very robust trans. It does require regular service.

And, welcome to the site.

According to ATRA 6r60 webinar ,this 2 to 1 downshift is the 6R gearbox construction feature.
Ford added forward clutch to the 6R80 2-1 downshift clutch sequence.

On early 6R60 the TCM trying to compensate for this

 

[94Eddie]

Like this?

Mine is a little more toward the sump. I picked a plug with a beveled low external profile which made me a little more comfortable mounting it in a lower spot on the pan.

 

[GuinnyIre]

Hello y’all, I’m up here in AB Canada so I’ll be in km not in bald eagle.
I have a 2008 explorer awd with (wait for it) 457,000 km on it and counting!
I got it from a old couple who had it from new, basically all hwy km and meticulously maintained by them ( hence the high km and few issues)
Original everything.
The main concern is the transmission, they said they did a fluid change like 6k before I bought it. Idk about flush. It shifts a bit hard from first to second but otherwise is perfectly normal up to 6. Downshifting to pass is feels like it has to pull out of the gear for a little longer then it should then engages just fine, no slipping or anything. Coming to a stop it downshifts into 1 with more of a clunk. Nothing bad enough to know for sure but it’s a bit uncomfortable every time. Feels like it shutters or wants to grab in first from like 5kph to 0 weirdly, but once stopped it’s fine.

Just wondering if that sounds like the clutch’s are maybe going or if that’s the tpm with its adaptive learning? Any insight would be appreciated, thanks and have a great day!
Sam.

My 07 xlt shifts hard. Bought it with 225k, kid burned out the transmission, had it rebuilt and shifts tough. So I don't know if it was the quality of the build or it seems to be typical of this generation from the research I did. That's awesome on the mileage count. I think these will be the next vehicles that get rebuilt and restored.