Opinions sought; ranger auto boxes

Hi Paul E6

The current Ranger/BT50 box is the Ford 6R80. The six is for six speed, don't know what the R is for, the 80 means rated for engines up to 800Nm torque.

The Ranger and BT are 470nm in standard form, so on specs the box is not heavily stressed.

The transmission has an excellent reputation for towing and I can vouch for that from my own experience. No hunting, it will just find the right gear in both standard and sport modes. (Sport mode moves the shift points and generally calls for higher RPM before changing up.)

In cruise on a big hill it will do two downshifts before the cruise kicks out. Downhill on a trailing throttle, in or out of cruise, it will do two downshifts if necessary for engine braking.

It has some reported quirks, a common one being a thumpy shift if you're at low speed on light throttle and then accelerate mildly. Eg, approaching an intersection or roundabout, see your gap and then accelerate mildly. It's more pronounced when cold.

A more serious issue is the inadequate factory transmission cooler. The transmission is "sealed for life" according to the owners manual, requiring no service until 250,000km. Yet after 45,000 km, half of that touring at high Combined weight (but always within all the weight limits) the trans fluid was black and required changing. Part of the reason is high transmission temperatures. It normally operates around 97 degC, but on big hills, etc I've seen 135. That's too hot and I've had to stop and let it cool.

If towing at high weights the transmission fluid need regular inspection and replacement and for longevity an after market transmission cooler would be advisable.

Cheers

My son has a Ranger with the 6 speed auto box. He tows a Ski/Wakeboard boat 2 Tons plus. Tows it easily. I follow him in my 4.2 TD Patrol towing nothing and can't keep up!!

Mind you that probably says more about my Patrol than the Ranger!!!

All joking aside it is great tow vehicle.

Took a Ford ranger and Dmax top of the range, both autos for a est drive in Mackay QLD recently. The Dmax box stood out as much better than the Ford, but both had very few Kms on them and no load. The dmax changed much quicker and smoother than the ford, came up to a roundabout in the ford and punched it before the fellow on my right entered the roundabout and the ford left me hanging not so with the dmax
Didn't buy either too bloody expensive.

Grant

If changing/having the auto fluid changed, then make sure whoever is doing the work does a complete pan and torque converter flush so as much oil as is possible is replaced.
Most places don't bother repeatedly filling and flushing the exit line from the box to ensure TC is also done.
TC contains the majority of the system fluid and when doing the job at least 12 to 15 litres of new fluid will be required.

If the job takes less fluid there is no way it was all done and all flushed. Impossible.

You wouldn't just drain half of the engine oil and top it up would you?
Same for autoboxes. FULL or don't bother.

I've got a 2015 BT 50 auto and prior to that a px ranger in auto. Both did/are doing a lot of towing and very happy with the transmission other than the inadequate transmission cooler.

As per other comments temps are to high when towing and even without can be at 98 degrees on a moderately warm day on highway 110 kmh driving.

I've just fitted a cooler - Wyong Automatics. $600.00 fitted. Made a huge difference. They commented to change oil at 40,000km intervals.

My gearbox temp monitoring is by a Scangauge.

I have the latest Dmax with 5 Speed auto , like all the others they have no dip stick supposedly sealed for normal use ,
I have a Scan Gauge to monitor the auto temps , it gets just as hot as any other auto , I often see temps of 100+ in ambient temps of low to mid twenties , when the speeds get drop to 40 - 70 kph on slower winding roads , even when not towing .
I have recently changed the oil at 50k and fitted a extra cooler the oil was very dark in colour.
I have driven both the latest Hilux and Ranger the 6 speed auto's in those do seem to be another step up from the 5 speed .

90 km on my ranger auto now. Tows all the time. Nil upgrades. Love it. We have just got two new sr hilux autos at work. I'd take my 3 yo ranger over them every time. The dmax is honest enough but a fair bit cheaper and smaller and that's how it feels to me when I drive one. It's not only the 6 speed box in the ranger that makes it tow well, it's the long wheelbase and short rear overhang as well. Plenty of dmax out there towing and doing fine, but hook some decent weight up to any of them and you'll see why the ranger wins the awards.