6F35 Transmission Filter and Pan Gasket Kit, Ford & Lincoln

If your Ford Escape, Fusion, Explorer, Edge or Transit Connect, or a Lincoln MKZ, MKC or MKT, has a 6F35 six-speed automatic and it is due for a fluid change, this is the kit that goes in with the fresh fluid. It contains the internal transmission filter with its inlet seal and a molded rubber pan gasket. It interchanges with Ford BB5Z-7A098-B, BB5Z-7A098-C and BB5Z-7A098-D, also cataloged as FT194, FT197 and FT199. People usually look for it when shifts have gone lazy, engagement into drive is slow after a cold start, or a shop said the old fluid looked dark and burnt.

What the filter and pan gasket do in a 6F35

The 6F35 is a transverse front-drive transaxle that shifts with clutch-to-clutch control. The TCM commands solenoids in the valve body, and those solenoids meter oil to the clutch apply circuits. Everything the pump picks up passes through this filter first. Clutch facing material, metal fines from bushings and gears, and varnish from cooked Mercon LV all settle into the pan, and the filter is what keeps that debris from circulating back through the pump and into the small valve and solenoid bores. The pan gasket is what keeps the fluid supply sealed. A seeping pan rail on a 6F35 drops the level slowly, and a unit that runs low aerates its fluid and loses pressure in hard corners and on hills.

Symptoms that point to a filter and fluid service

• Delayed engagement when shifting into drive or reverse, worst first thing in the morning
• A pump whine that rises with engine speed, a sign the pump is pulling against a restricted filter or a low fluid level
• Harsh or late 1-2 and 2-3 shifts that smooth out once the transmission is fully warm
• Wet residue along the pan rail or fluid spots under the front of the vehicle
• Dark, burnt-smelling fluid after a lot of towing, stop-and-go driving or heat

Fluid and a filter will not fix hard failures. The 6F35's best-known problems are 3-5-R clutch and wave plate damage and wear in the valve body pressure-regulator bores. If you already have slipping in specific gears or shift and ratio codes stored, a service only buys time.

How to confirm what you need before buying

Pull the codes first, then look at the fluid. Clean pink-red fluid at the correct level with a few mild symptoms is the case where a filter and fluid service helps most. Heavy friction material or metal glitter in the pan means internal wear, and the clutch packs or valve body need attention. Our guide to Ford 6F35 transmission problems walks through that order: harness checks, fluid assessment, a line pressure test, and then valve body work. If the diagnosis lands on a teardown, the 6F35 overhaul kit has the seals and gaskets to go with this filter.

Fitment

The listed applications are Ford Edge 2012-2024, Escape 2013-2019, Explorer 2012-2019, Fusion 2013-2020 and Transit Connect 2018-2020, plus Lincoln MKC 2015-2019, MKT 2013-2019, MKX 2016-2018, MKZ 2013-2020 and Nautilus 2019-2023. Not every engine in those model lines was built with a 6F35, and some years use a different transmission, so confirm the transmission in your vehicle with the ID tag or the VIN before you order. When the pan is down, compare the old filter to this one: the inlet neck position and the outline of the body must match. Ford released several filter numbers for this family, which is why the interchange list has three. If you are unsure, send us your year and VIN and we will check it. Other parts for this unit are on the 6F35 transmission parts page.

Install notes

• Drain the fluid with the vehicle level, then remove the pan bolts and lower the pan slowly; it still holds fluid.
• Pull the old filter straight down off the pump inlet. Make sure the old seal came out with it and is not stuck in the bore.
• Lube the new inlet seal with clean fluid and press the filter fully home.
• Clean the pan and magnet, wipe the case rail dry, set the rubber gasket in place, and tighten the pan bolts evenly in a crisscross pattern to the factory torque.
• Refill with Ford Mercon LV only. Ford's fluid chart lists Mercon LV for every 6F35 application. Set the final level with the vehicle level, the engine running and the fluid in the temperature window Ford specifies for your model.

If you are already chasing solenoid codes, this is the right time to replace them, since the pan is off. The 6F35 seven-piece solenoid kit covers early units, and the 6F35 pressure control solenoid for 2016-2018 fits later ones. A pump that whines after the service with a clean filter and correct level is a sign the pump is worn; see the 6F35 pump.

Which Ford part numbers does this 6F35 filter kit replace?

It interchanges with Ford BB5Z-7A098-B, BB5Z-7A098-C and BB5Z-7A098-D, which are also cataloged as FT194, FT197 and FT199. Compare the inlet neck and the body shape against the filter you remove before you install it.

Is the pan gasket reusable?

It is a molded rubber gasket, not a cork or paper one, so it can be reinstalled if it is undamaged at the next service. Inspect it for cuts, flat spots or swelling, and replace it if you see any.

What fluid does the 6F35 take?

Ford Mercon LV. Ford's automatic transmission fluid chart lists it for every 6F35 application, sold as Motorcraft XT-10-QLVC in quarts and XT-10-5Q3LV in a five-quart jug. Fluid is not included with this kit.

Will a new filter fix my slipping or harsh shifts?

It helps when the cause is restricted flow, a low level or worn-out fluid. It will not repair a damaged 3-5-R clutch pack or worn valve body bores. If the fluid is full of friction material or metal, plan on internal repair instead.

Does my Edge or Nautilus have a 6F35?

Only some of them. Several engines and later model years in these lines use other transmissions. Check the transmission ID tag or send us your year and VIN so we can confirm fitment before you order.

Do I need to do a relearn after the service?

A straight filter and fluid change does not normally need one. If you replace solenoids, the valve body or the TCM at the same time, follow the Ford adaptive relearn procedure for your vehicle.

• Ford 6F35 Transmission Problems: Real Causes and the Fixes That Last