6R80 Transmission Cooler 2015-2019

Shoppers land on this page for two reasons: a 6R80-equipped F-150 that runs hot while hauling or towing, or a factory cooler that has started to seep ATF after years of road salt and gravel. This listing is a new aluminum tube-and-fin transmission cooler that drops into the front cooler position of the 2015-up F-150 body style, with mounting brackets and fasteners included. It covers the 2015-2019 window, which is wider than most people expect for the 6R80, and the reason for that is explained in the fitment section below.

What the transmission cooler does in a 6R80

In a 6R80 the converter is the main heat source. Every time it slips (launching a loaded bed, idling in gear in summer traffic, holding third up a long climb) it converts engine power into fluid temperature. The pump sends that fluid out of the case through the cooler lines to a liquid-to-air exchanger at the front of the truck, then back into the lube circuit that feeds the planetary sets and bushings. If the exchanger cannot keep up, fluid temperature keeps rising until the PCM changes shift and converter strategy to protect the unit. A cooler with a deeper, denser core keeps the fluid in a range where Mercon LV holds its friction characteristics, which is what the 6R80 solenoid strategy is calibrated around.

Symptoms that point to the cooler

• Red or brown fluid on the lower radiator support, the cooler end tanks or the line fittings
• A crushed or plugged core, common on trucks that see gravel roads or off-road use
• High transmission temperature readings while towing that never settle on flat road
• Fluid that smells burnt or has darkened well before the normal service interval
• Low fluid level with no leak at the pan, the case or the output seal
• A transmission rebuild or valve body replacement planned, where the old cooler may still hold metal and friction material

How to confirm before you order

Start with a leak check: clean the cooler and its two line connections, idle the truck to temperature and look for new wetness. Check the core for physical damage and packed bugs or mud, which can be washed out with low-pressure water from the engine side. Confirm the fluid level at the pan check plug with the engine running hot, since the 6R80 has no dipstick. If the complaint is a harsh shift, a neutral condition when shifting to reverse or a sudden downshift rather than heat, the cause is more likely the lead frame, a solenoid or the valve body. Our 6R80 common problems and fixes guide walks through those codes and recalls, and the F-150 shift problems guide covers the drive-cycle side.

Fitment

This version is listed for the 6R80 in the 2015-2019 F-150. Most F-150s left the 6R80 behind early: the 3.5L EcoBoost got the 10-speed 10R80 for 2017, and the 2.7L EcoBoost and 5.0L V8 followed for 2018. Ford's own fluid chart shows the base 3.3L V6 kept the 6R80 through the 2020 model year, which is why a 2018 or 2019 F-150 can still need a 6R80 part. The cooler mounts to the truck rather than the transmission, but the line routing and cooler package can differ by engine and towing equipment, so read the tag on the transmission case or send the year and VIN before ordering. Trucks without the factory liquid-to-air cooler may need added hose. This is an F-150 part and does not fit the Expedition, Navigator or Mustang. See the rest of the range on our 6R80 parts collection.

Install notes

• Catch the fluid that drains from the lines when you unlock the quick-connect couplers; plug the lines so dirt stays out.
• Remove the old cooler, fit the brackets to the new one and set it in place without forcing it against the A/C condenser or radiator.
• Reconnect the lines until they click, then pull back on each to confirm it is latched.
• Refill with Mercon LV. Run the engine, cycle through the gears, and set the level at the check plug at operating temperature.
• If the cooler is going in with internal repairs, replace the lead frame connector and valve body seal while the pan is down, and consider a 6R80 solenoid kit if shift timing has been erratic. Load the new solenoid data into the PCM and complete the adaptive relearn.

Does this fit a 2018 or 2019 F-150?

Only if the truck has the 6R80. In those years that is mainly the 3.3L V6. The 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.5L EcoBoost and 5.0L V8 use the 10R80. Read the transmission tag or send the VIN and we will confirm.

Do I have to replace the lines or fittings?

Normally no. The cooler is designed to connect to the factory lines. Replace a line if it leaks, is rubbed through or carries debris from a failed transmission.

What else should I replace with it?

On a healthy truck, nothing beyond fluid. On a truck coming back from a failure, flush or replace anything that held contaminated fluid, and do the lead frame connector, filter and pan gasket while the pan is off.

How much fluid does a cooler swap take?

Only what drains out of the old cooler and lines, plus a little extra for the larger core. Do not fill by quart count; set the level at the check plug with the engine running hot.

Will it stop my transmission from overheating when I tow?

It adds cooling capacity, which lowers fluid temperature at the same load, but it cannot make up for a slipping converter clutch or a low fluid level. Fix those first.

• 6R80 Common Problems and Fixes
• 6R80 F150 Shift Problems: Diagnosis and Fix
• 6R80 F150 Common Problems and Fixes